7 Arrested in Slaying of Yachtsman

Brazilian police arrested seven men and said they were closing in on another suspect Friday in the slaying of Peter Blake, a yachting champion from New Zealand shot to death by pirates in the Amazon.

“The suspects claimed they fired in self-defense. They said they didn’t know anyone famous was aboard and they weren’t expecting any resistance,” federal police agent Jose Araujo said by phone from Macapa, in the northern state of Amapa.

He said masked pirates boarded Blake’s yacht Wednesday night where it was anchored, in the mouth of the Amazon River near Macapa, intending to rob it.

“They were probably attracted by the boat’s shiny appearance. They saw it was a rare boat, owned by a foreigner, so they figured there was money aboard and lots of expensive equipment,” Araujo said.

Police were led to the suspects after questioning a man who they believe was shot by Blake or a crew member during the melee. His hand was wounded by a gunshot.

Another suspect confessed to shooting Blake after the yachtsman opened fire with a rifle, police said.

Six of the suspects were from the Macapa area and one was from the neighboring state of Para, Araujo said. Police were searching for an eighth suspect, who allegedly ferried the assailants to Blake’s boat.

Blake, 53, who led New Zealand to America’s Cup victories in 1995 and 2000, was on a worldwide expedition to monitor global warming and pollution when he died.

His body will be kept at a funeral home in Macapa and then flown to New Zealand on Monday.