Grant Dalton remembers Peter Lester as a very good friend, easy to talk to and a man with a passion for his sport and craft.
Lester, a legend of New Zealand sailing who became a beloved voice for the sport in the commentary booth, died on Friday night after suffering a heart attack last week at 70.
The news of his passing has shocked the sailing community, with Lester a well-loved figure in sailing circles around the world.
Dalton was among those to share tributes for Lester, with the Emirates Team New Zealand chief executive saying the sport would not be the same without him.
“Pete was a very good friend. He had a strong understanding of the Cup, the dynamics round the people and the boats. He loved the technology and I spoke to him a lot about different boats, what we thought and why we had made certain decisions,” Dalton said.
New Zealand Herald
Lester was an icon of the sport and became one of the voices of the America’s Cup following a decorated career on the water.
The New Zealand sailing team paid tribute to the former America’s Cup tactician and sailing expert in a social media post on Sunday. [...]
Lester was a two-time winner of New Zealand yachtsman of the year and competed in three America’s Cup campaigns; in 1988, 1992 and 1995. [...]
Dalton’s tribute was echoed by the New Zealand sailing team, who described Lester as a world class sailor, coach and one of the most respected voices in the sport.
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