In the heart of the Brazilian rainforest Sir Peter Blake, one of the greatest sailors of all time and now, at 53, a passionate environmentalist, wrote in his daily log: 'Macapa, our destination, little known. He had been named a special envoy of the United Nations and was trying to focus attention on the world's water resources, from the Amazon to the North Pole, and on pollution.
The expedition arrived in Brazil in September, sailed the most isolated areas of the Amazon basin without incident and was greeted warmly everywhere. Blake's original plan was to sail up Rio Negro, in the heart of the Amazon jungle, cross into Venezuela and sail down the Orinoco to its mouth. But it was the dry season and water levels were extremely low so Seamaster was unable to cross from one river to the other. Instead, they turned round and sailed back down the Amazon.
After a leisurely journey from Manaus, more than 1, miles up river, Seamaster arrived in Macapa, a small city on the northern bank of the Amazon straddling the equator.
It was the last port of call - a stop-off to restock the vessel and obtain customs clearance to leave Brazil before heading up the coast past the Guyanas to Venezuela. Seamaster anchored about yards off Fazendinha, a popular beach eight miles west of the city centre. River crime is a plague in the Amazon and the local harbour master, Claudio Roberto Pereira Lira, advised them to anchor closer to his post, but they decided to remain where they were.
Blake finalised the paperwork and the federal police gave him permission to go. He planned to set sail the following morning. Just before 10pm, Blake and the crew were winding up a relaxed dinner when four masked men, including two carrying handguns, clambered aboard. Shouting 'Money! The situation took a fatal turn when Blake fired a rifle, hitting Izael Pantoja da Costa, 27, in the hand. Ricardo Tavares Collares, 23, named by police as the ringleader, fired back.
