According to a news story published nzherald.co.nz, Ricardo Colares Tavares, a masked Brazilian bandit fired two shots blind into Sir Peter Blake’s cabin on Seamaster, killing the yachting legend almost instantly as he had his back turned while trying to fix his jammed rifle.

The last seconds of Sir Peter’s life were recounted publicly yesterday for the first time by his close friend, yachtsman Geoffrey Bullock, as he gave evidence against Colares and five other bandits in a Brazilian court.

The six are charged with armed robbery resulting in death after they allegedly stormed Seamaster on 9 December. Sir Peter was shot during the attack at Fazendinha, about 10km from Macapa at the mouth of the Amazon River.