Peter Lester 1954 – 2025
There was such sad news over the weekend with the untimely and unfathomably unexpected death of the much-loved Kiwi sailor and broadcaster Peter Lester.
I first met Peter in 2011 during the Volvo Ocean Race when he and his good friend Martin Tasker were doing the commentary on the around-the-world event’s leg starts and finishes and the in-port race inshore action.
Peter’s vast racing experience – which spanned multiple America’s Cup campaigns, junior and senior OK World Championship wins, a secured berth in the Finn for the subsequently boycotted 1980 Olympic Games, and leading New Zealand to the country’s only victory in the Admiral’s Cup – made him the perfect foil to Martin in the anchorman role.
The pair were living legends and I am not ashamed to say that I was completely starstruck by the pair of them. One of my proudest memories is of joining them in the race’s makeshift TV studio in Galway, Ireland for the live broadcast of the finish of the final leg of the race as the fleet arrived from Lorient, France. Neither were precious about a newbie like me joining them – in fact quite the opposite, they both made me feel extremely welcome and immediately helped me relax in front of the cameras.
I have enjoyed having Peter as a friend ever since. I have used him as an expert pundit for quotes, called him for info and to get his off-the-record take on things, and used him as a sounding board for potential story ideas. Most of all I have loved running into him at the various editions of the America’s Cup we have both been part of – the last of which was at the 38th edition in Barcelona, Spain last year.
Peter was – of course – a kingpin in the commentary team. Working in tandem with Shirley Robertson, Glenn Ashby, and Stephen McIvor in the studio, he was where he loved to be most – out on the water amongst the raceboats seeing what the sailors saw and interpreting it all perfectly for the TV audience.
The fact that he was accurately calling windshifts and pressure variances from aboard the foiling TV catamaran, screaming along at the same speed, or faster, than the AC75s, tells you everything you need to know about the innate level of talent Peter always had at his fingertips.
There is no doubting that sailing fans around the world will miss listening to his expert insight at the next America’s Cup. For his friends and family the loss is even greater and my heart goes out to all of them.
I know that I will miss seeing his warm welcoming smile, and chatting with him in the media centre about what he thinks is going on behind the headlines in our sport. I will also miss his unique kindness, his straightforward honesty and the unwavering warmth of his friendship.
Fair winds Peter. May you forever enjoy your view of the world’s regattas from your perfect vantage point in the sky.
