"If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." These wise words were once regarded as a throwaway line in the pub after a hard day's racing but today, they will evoke sad memories as the world's sailing fraternity gather in Emsworth to mourn the loss of Sir Peter Blake.

These words represented his underlying philosophy to sailing and for the hundreds who were lucky enough to work with him before he was tragically killed by armed robbers on the Amazon a week ago, they struck a chord that will resonate whenever an anchor is slipped in anger.

Blake was unique in the sailing world. Not only was he highly regarded for his seamanship skills and competitive nature, he also commanded huge respect among colleagues and much love among family and friends for his extraordinary humility and passion.

News of the death of the 6ft 5in Kiwi legend, who was described as 'the Edmund Hillary of the seas' brought his home city of Auckland to a halt.

Parliament was scrapped for the day and big red socks - Blake's famous trademark - were flown at half-mast on flagpoles throughout the city of sails.

"He could get on with Prime Ministers and he enjoyed the guys who swept the roads. For him there was no barrier - he would laugh with all of them," commented Hamble yachtsman Ed Danby, who raced alongside Blake on Enza, which set a new Jules Verne Trophy record in 1994.

"For me his death appeared to be senseless - he was a man who truly made a difference to the world. Sailing was one thing but he had moved on - he was an environmentalist and wanted to save the planet and I think he would have done that. He had the drive and passion to make us believe he could do it."

Danby, speaking from the GBR Challenge America's Cup base in Auckland said Peter Blake died heroically, trying to defend his Seamaster crew to whom he was devoted.

"I can see him trying to save them - it was typical Blakey," he said. "We loved him and had absolute respect for his judgement - if he told us to walk through fire, we would have done it without thinking.

"We knew we were safe with him because he was so assertive and sure of himself whether it was ordering 25 rum and cokes in the pub or getting a 100-foot catamaran round Cape Horn in a storm.

"He was a supreme master of the sea and there are not many people who have achieved what he did. He had only been doing this environmental thing for a couple of years but I really don't believe there is anyone who can now carry on in that role. No one."

Sir Peter Blake was married to Pippa and had two children Sarah-Jane, a student at Bristol University and James, still at school in Dorset.

The funeral is at St Thomas a Becket Church, Warblington at 11am. A memorial will be held on December 23 in Auckland, New Zealand.