Boating Books

This is a funny rambling story told by a Victorian era ranconteur that still holds up well for the most part. The Boat trip up the Thames is the setting that allows Jerome Jerome to reflect on all sorts of things in the style of a Mark Twain and his wit is highly entertaining. Don't expect to be bowled over with laughter though, his material is a bit dated.
Nevertheless, this is a funny.witty and at times enlightening look at a period in England that is no longer.

Jerome K. Jerome might have been a riot 100 years ago but this book will provoke only a rare smirk. The best bits belong to the dog who only seems to appear at the end of every third or fourth chapter to drop a one-liner. Other than that, it is aged, slow moving slapstick with some oddly out-of-place moments of reflection.

How anyone can call this a laugh riot boggles my mind.

So very refreshing!!!!! Lots of laughs.

This is a very nice reading of one of my favorite humorous novels.

I read this book about 10 years ago......and today I'm still laughing.
Jerome possessed very good comic timing, the story flowed naturally, the emotions and reaction of the 3 men were so real that I wish I was on the river and met them at that time! Somehow this book can teach us the importance of taking a break from our daily life.
I recently bought a copy from Amazon which was initialy meant as a gift for someone, but having a second thought, I decided to keep it as a precious reading companion for myself when I'm travelling.

This book is a wonderful find! Very readable and compelling, the author unwittingliy tells the tale of his adventures around the world on a small boat that he built with his own two hands in New England near the turn of the century. The book is without pretense, at times is hard to imagine, yet the language is so simple and straightforward how can we do anything but believe his stories written in a down home style. This is a book that's easy to get lost in and holds your attention until the very last page. I read it while on the beach. I recommend that you do the same. The sound of the lapping waves makes the book that much more enjoyable.

Wish I had been a little more careful before I selected this edition. It's a tiny book with stiff pages and cover which doesn't stay open unless you want to break the spine. Just awful. I'll find a different edition at the library.

this edition has no illustrations, a cheap edition, very frustrating because the book is very good. I was forced to buy another edition with the illustrations, but have had problems with the shipping from the vendor, the book has not arrived, so I will have to buy a third edition !! Very frustrating. The first time this has happened to me at Amazon.

That seems to be Slocum's approach to solo circumnavigation -- the narrative tone is so matter-of-fact, he could be describing a walk in a large and unfamiliar park.

The audio CD is a bit curious. The reader's sing-song is maddening at times, seeming to directly contradict the author's clear, no-nonsense intention. I found I had to listen and re-deliver silently, so it was a bit more work than it probably should have been, but still worth it. Ultimately, Slocum's is the story of a true adventurer.

This story is the greatest sailing story I have ever heard of. Joshua Slocum is so far out and such an indomitable human being that it is difficult to fathom without reading the story. This book is truly an exercise in understatement.

A large society of Slocum afficianados exists now, largely in response to this one book. I just this past friday saw a replica of the Spray, the vessel on which he made this unprecedented voyage, owned by an old sailor. The replica is named Joshua, and sails from Alameda California. I saw it because it was at the annual wooden boat festival in Port Townsend, Washington.

Spectacular.

Stranded out in an ocean with a five foot raft, three pounds of food and a few pints of water. How would you survive? Could you last seventy-six days? This non-fiction story of Steven Callahan is an inspiring book with extremely important facts, suited best for readers 13 and older. ADRIFT is written by Steven Callahan, the survivor himself. This story is about a man whose boat sinks and is forced to live in the Atlantic Ocean with hardly any food and only a five foot raft. He has to face storms, and waves, the heat and hunger. He has challenges of catching food, getting clean water, and battling off sharks! At the begginning Steven did not believe he could make it even ten days, he ended up lasting 76 days! He has his ups and downs where he is close to death but something always gets him through. This incredible book is one I will recomend to everyone I know, it is very interesting and makes me think a lot about how lucky I am to be living how I am. Stevens confidence is inspiring, and I am still shocked that he lived. Would you be able to survive? Find out how Steven did by reading ADRIFT.

I mean no offense to author Steven Callahan, but if anyone had to be lost at sea, I'm glad it was him.

After reading Callahan's "Adrift," I have to believe that he is probably the ONLY person who could have survived for 76 days alone on a raft in the Atlantic.

Callahan was cast adrift when his sailboat suddenly sunk near the Canary Islands. He didn't survive by chance. As the book shows, he was smart, inventive, determined and persistent.

At first, I wondered if this book might get monotonous -- perhaps it would be just day after day of idle drifting with no sign of rescue. Rather, Callahan does an excellent job showing how each day brought fresh problems and challenges.

He struggles at first to catch fish, then triumphantly succeeds. When the point of his spear is lost he improvises with a butter knife. He struggles to collect fresh water, trying and modifying several devices. He fights off sharks, and then wrestles with hallucinations, nightmares and depression.

At one crucial point he spends four days trying to fix a nearly disastrous hole in his raft.

Callahan may go into too much detail at times, describing for example, the intracacies of how his solar sill worked. But readers can skim past these parts if they wish.

I admire Callahan for his humbleness and I appreciate his brief moments of philosophy. Midway through the book he writes:

"The freedom of the sea lures men, yet freedom does not come free. Its cost is the loss of the security of life on land. ... Sailors are exposed to nature's beauty and her ugliness more intensely than most men ashore. I have chosen the sailor's life to escape society's restrictions and I have sacrificed its protection. I have chosen freedom and have paid the price."

The book is a thoroughly realistic and sensitive depiction of the days the author spent across the Atlantic Ocean fighting for survival. As the book is not the original log, but a book written way after the author was rescued, one might expect self-aggrandizement of sorts or at least some hubris to settle in. Surviving 76 days on an inflated life raft with only rudimentary equipment is no small feat after all. To the contrary however we find humble man, a man who claims that he had learnt how to live and how to appreciate it through the devastating experience. In his own words: "The real story of Adift is not so much about me as it is about the magic and mystery of the sea and how it delivered me two priceless gifts."

The book stands out among other adventure stories in the author's sensitivity and his attention to details. A school of dorados follows him throughout his journey. His observing the dorados daily allowed him to recognize the individuality in them; even under his predicament he feels sorry for having to hunt the dorados. As for Callahan's attention to detail one needs to read only a few pages on how he fixed any of his equipments during the journey. One discovers infinite patience, his affection towards the equipment, description on the minutest details of how he has done the job, and at times diagrams of the equipment. All the diagrams and sketches in the book were drawn by the author as well.

In my opinion the book thoroughly deserves to be included as one of the best survival tales ever written.

This book is a fascinating account of survival, which led me to question my own fitness for such a trial. The book is well written as a narrative taken from Callahan's logs, with much detail that places the reader in the raft with him. Whether Callahan experienced an 'epiphany' as another reviewer mentioned couldn't be more beside the point; this is a story of survival, not a meditation on spirituality.

I enoyed this book immensely. Callahan gave very poetic descriptions of what was happening. I sympathized with him for having to survive on his only friends, the dorados. I was amazed at his will to live and ability to overcome, with his wit, the failed equipment in the raft. I appreciated his drawings so I could better understand the state of things. To be alone on the ocean in a small raft is frightening in itself, without mentioning all the problems Callahan encountered.

Read this book because you do not want to reinvent the wheel the hard way. This book will provide you with years of experience and knowledge. This is an exceptional reference guide for sailors who want information from someone who has been there and done it. Beth goes into detail about planning, equipping, handling, and operating a sailboat for offshore trips to far away places. Beth has detailed information regarding all the important considerations. She also has a section about the mistakes that she and Evan made from time to time and how to avoid them.

This book is very detailed in scope. My edition was printed backward(turn the pages from the back to the front). I suspect that the third edition has this straitened out. This book does not send you to other publications for detail. It gives it in the book. Otherwise it does get a little bogged down with the details. I would like to have this book on hand during the crossing to review the details.

If you are even just dreaming of someday, possibly taking off to see the world on a boat read this book first. Beth Leonard has experienced this life and kept track of what worked and what didn't. Her writing style is logical, fun to read, clear and concise. We are in the midst of outfitting a 1970's one-off in hopes of venturing across the Atlantic and her advice has been invaluable. Thank you, Beth! Buy this book. It is a real treat, even if you never get to go sailing.

Fun book, thinking about the logistics of off-shore cruising, landing at South Pacific islands, keeping the refrigerator running, snorkeling off the Belize cayes, recharging batteries...

This updated and expanded second edition of The Voyager's Handbook is a must-read for couples contemplating the cruising life, and a must-have-aboard for any cruising vessel being prepared for long-term voyaging. Beth Leonard has lived what she writes. She has taken care to provide invaluable wisdom and insight based not only on her own lived experiences as a master voyager but also those of countless others from all walks of life and on an assortment of vessels that have sailed to just about every corner of the earth. Simply stated, well-researched, and written by a seasoned and highly competent voyager, The Voyager's Handbook will make your life more comfortable at sea and may save your life or that of another cruiser's - I would not plan to leave shore without it.

Excellent book for those who have traveled on the windjammer cruises. The description of the rooms - very true and the daily working of the ship very well deswcribed. Good book

Having been aboard the Fantome in the 70s. I heard stories about her sinking. It is a sad to know the details. With the woes of the Windjammer fleet it is a shame that many future generations may never see or have the opportunity to be on board a true sailing ship. This book is a great tribute to the people who gave this experience to many of us in a safe and fun manner.

Jim Carrier tells the story of The Ship and the Storm by using crew accounts, passenger interviews, surviving crew relatives and official weather related records.
Anchored in the quiet waters of the Bay at Omoa, Honduras passengers excitedly board the Windjammer Cruise Ship Fantome. Feted with the finest cuisine and free flowing rum swizzle the fun and excitement is just beginning as the tall ship prepares to sail from one tropical paradise to another.
Two mornings later as the Fantomes' guests finished their Bloody Mary and sticky bun breakfast a weather station on the West Coast of Africa was recording a drop in the barometric pressure. The Miami Hurricane Center labeled the system #46 and indicated in the margin that it was impressive.
One week later on the evening of October 17, 1998 while Fantome passengers partied tropical wave 46 was moving west past Barbados in the Windward Islands. A day later the National Hurricane Center using satellite pictures and computer models predicts that tropical wave 46 will become a hurricane.
October 21st the day Fantome arrived at the island of Guanaja off the north shoulder of Honduras a C-130 Hurricane Hunter located a weather system created by wave 46 and notified Miami that they had located a tropical depression.
However, weather in the Western Caribbean is good and Fantome passengers were still enjoying their cruise vacation. But change came the next morning and Captain Guyan March advises crew and passengers on the report of the storm.
BULLETIN: 5AM EDT SAT OCT 24, 1998. MITCH STRENGTHENS RAPIDLY INTO A HURRICANE
Storm tracks in the direction of Cuba and the Cayman Islands and forecasters are calling Mitch a potentially dangerous hurricane.
Fantome was at Omoa, Honduras where locals advised Captain March to drop both anchors and stay in port. March consults his boss in Miami by phone.
October 25th National Hurricane Center forecasters are dumbfounded by the rapid escalation from a low intensity storm to a Category 4 hurricane within a 24-hour period.
Following prolonged discussions with Windjammer Headquarters in Miami it was decided to cancel the Fantomes' cruise. Passenger safety was uppermost in their minds and they discharged the passengers at Belize City. They didn't consider Belize a safe harbor to ride out the storm so Fantome with 31 crewmembers aboard left Belize to try and outmaneuver the storm.
Hurricane Mitch was coming up on Swan Island and conventional wisdom as well as the National Hurricane Centers computer models predicts that the storm will turn to the northwest. Fantome headed southeast from Belize toward the Bay Islands north of Honduras and had the storm tracked to the northwest as was expected there would have been plenty of separation between the ship and the storm. But the monster storm called Mitch with a mind of its own defied convention and turned south where it continued to spin its Category 4 and sometimes 5 winds over the waters and islands destroying everything in it's path. High winds and waves produced by the storm extended out some 200 miles from its center. Fantomes' engines and Captain March's skilled seamanship was no match for the tall waves and winds produced by Hurricane Mitch. Eventually the powerful waves broadside Fantome and breach the ships watertight bulkheads.
The story of The Ship and the Storm is tragically compelling.

Tom Barnes author of "Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone."
"The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle."
"The Goring Collection."

The Hurricane Hunters And Lost in the Bermuda Triangle
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone: The Life and Times of John Henry Holliday
The Goring Collection

The Fantome was the first windjammer ship that I sailed on in 1983. Being the first ship I always compared other ships to her. The book is about a small group of brave men trying to save a gallant lady!

Jim Carrier tells the story of The Ship and the Storm by using crew accounts, passenger interviews, surviving crew relatives and official weather related records.
Anchored in the quiet waters of the Bay at Omoa, Honduras passengers excitedly board the Windjammer Cruise Ship Fantome. Feted with the finest cuisine and free flowing rum swizzle the fun and excitement is just beginning as the tall ship prepares to sail from one tropical paradise to another.
Two mornings later as the Fantomes' guests finished their Bloody Mary and sticky bun breakfast a weather station on the West Coast of Africa was recording a drop in the barometric pressure. The Miami Hurricane Center labeled the system #46 and indicated in the margin that it was impressive.
One week later on the evening of October 17, 1998 while Fantome passengers partied tropical wave 46 was moving west past Barbados in the Windward Islands. A day later the National Hurricane Center using satellite pictures and computer models predicts that tropical wave 46 will become a hurricane.
October 21st the day Fantome arrived at the island of Guanaja off the north shoulder of Honduras a C-130 Hurricane Hunter located a weather system created by wave 46 and notified Miami that they had located a tropical depression.
However, weather in the Western Caribbean is good and Fantome passengers were still enjoying their cruise vacation. But change came the next morning and Captain Guyan March advises crew and passengers on the report of the storm.
BULLETIN: 5AM EDT SAT OCT 24, 1998. MITCH STRENGTHENS RAPIDLY INTO A HURRICANE
Storm tracks in the direction of Cuba and the Cayman Islands and forecasters are calling Mitch a potentially dangerous hurricane.
Fantome was at Omoa, Honduras where locals advised Captain March to drop both anchors and stay in port. March consults his boss in Miami by phone.
October 25th National Hurricane Center forecasters are dumbfounded by the rapid escalation from a low intensity storm to a Category 4 hurricane within a 24-hour period.
Following prolonged discussions with Windjammer Headquarters in Miami it was decided to cancel the Fantomes' cruise. Passenger safety was uppermost in their minds and they discharged the passengers at Belize City. They didn't consider Belize a safe harbor to ride out the storm so Fantome with 31 crewmembers aboard left Belize to try and outmaneuver the storm.
Hurricane Mitch was coming up on Swan Island and conventional wisdom as well as the National Hurricane Centers computer models predicts that the storm will turn to the northwest. Fantome headed southeast from Belize toward the Bay Islands north of Honduras and had the storm tracked to the northwest as was expected there would have been plenty of separation between the ship and the storm. But the monster storm called Mitch with a mind of its own defied convention and turned south where it continued to spin its Category 4 and sometimes 5 winds over the waters and islands destroying everything in it's path. High winds and waves produced by the storm extended out some 200 miles from its center. Fantomes' engines and Captain March's skilled seamanship was no match for the tall waves and winds produced by Hurricane Mitch. Eventually the powerful waves broadside Fantome and breach the ships watertight bulkheads.
The story of The Ship and the Storm is tragically compelling.

Tom Barnes, Hurricane Hunter and author of "Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone."

As an artist, I have to say, I have fallen in love with this book. Ms. Vreeland has conceived a beautiful palette of color and harmony with her characterizations and her stories behind this painting.

I feel like I am right there with this group, posing for this painting. My hat is off to you Ms. Vreeland. You have achieved a masterpiece with this book. Your knowledge of the artistic process is exceptional. You capture the time period so well. How did you manage to get inside the head of Renoir so fully? Thank you. I am finding this book completely inspirational to my own creative process. It makes me feel not so alone when I also reach a moment when things are not quite right and I have to rework sections of paintings. You are brilliant and so is this book. I love it!

I have to admit I'm not a big fan of this author. But our book club chose this title, and I always finish what we read. This time, however, I couldn't. I just never got into it. The concept was good but the writing wasn't engaging.

I love the painting. I was psyched to read the book, and then go down to the Phillips Collection in DC where it hangs--I haven't been there in years. I'll still get there sometime, but now there isn't any urgency.

Luncheon of the Boating Party is recommended for reader's interested in or familiar with the impressionist movement. The inclusion of Renoir's famous painting on the book jacket will have the reader flipping between the story and the cover. The book is a wonderful slice of Parisian life that most tourist never have an opportunity to experience. Unfortunately the plot can be slow moving and the reader may find herself skimming to get to the next bit of action. Overall, informative and enjoyable but not a page turning read.

My book club read this book and I was incredibly disappointed by it as were most of the members of the club. The writing is dull and uninspired and there is not enough background about the characters in the book (particularly the other artists). The book sorely needs a prologue or preface with general background about the Impressionists and some facts about the major artists and their relationship with one another.

Even though I knew this information already, being very familiar with Impressionist art and artists, I still found the book hard to follow and really dull. It didn't even start to pick up until halfway through the book when there is finally a human interest story between Aline and Alphonsine. I was very disappointed in this book and it is a total mystery to me why it is a best seller. I have an advanced degree in literature and I know good writing when I see it. This is not it. This book is not worth your time.

This has to be one of the best books about the Impressionists I have read in quite awhile, and I have read several. It captures the inner struggles of an artist perfectly. The characters are drawn beautifully in words. I highly recommend it.

I have learned all the needed information required to build a Strip kayak.

Yet! the kayak plans in the book are not good enough for building a kayak. Purchase plans separately!

Nick Shade is an artist, not a woodworker. He doesn't fret over minute details, or force you to make things perfect. But his designs are positively gorgeous. Since his book is a recent print, he covers many aspects of construction the older books do not cover, and many of the ideas are his own and are used professionally on the curent market. He does not cover everything, and if you want to find out the most recent developments as far as boatbuilding, you have to subscribe to the blogs online. (such as on Ted Moores' site). He is not as clear as Ted Moores in KayakCraft, but sometimes has more ideas. I suggest to buy both and visit all the websites.

This is a very good book. Schade's style is very easygoing and informative. A pleasure to read and learn from.

With all the rave reviews already stated, I add my own.

Mr. Schade will break your heart in the very introduction of the book; at this moment you will come to understand the true dedication of this author to his craft (and love for his wife). Then there is a descent into the inner secrets of this craft that he loves. As an accomplished gymnast, he will certainly make this kayak-building appear easy, almost too easy, and yet the details are in place to convince you that, yes, you can do it yourself.

You have to pinch yourself to bring yourself back to the reality that you will spend many hours building this kayak, that it will cost you quite a bit, and that the process is not as easy as it looks. Then stop pinching yourself and start planning; the reality is that you can do it!

There are a few gaps in the details that I had to think my way through, but none of these gaps are intentional. In fact, these opportunities are more exciting than aggravating.

This is not the only good resource available for learning the strip-building technique. I am already modifying Mr. Schade's designs to include elements provided elsewhere, as he would even encourage himself. On the other hand, this book is all you need to make a great kayak, and the information in this book is superior to anything that I have seen elsewhere.

I would recommend this book even to those who never plan on building a kayak if for no other reason than to appreciate this fine art of shipbuilding.

I got the book on paddle constructon but the strip-built sea kayak book never arrived. I had forgotten ordering it and wish to have it now. thanks

This is an excellent book. It includes patterns as well and easy instructions.

When I decided to build my own strip canoe I bought several books, including Gilpatrick's. Nearly everything I read was helpful, but "Building A Strip Canoe" was by far the best. He has included a number of different models (I built the 18' White Guide). And, his instructions are easily followed. Another plus was that Gil was available via email to help me get through some of problems, especially the fiberglassing. The result is a canoe that has made a number of trips down the Upper Missouri, and to the amazement of some of my skeptical "friends", has remained afloat. I recommend Gil's book without hesitation. "Canoe Craft" is good, too, for add-ons such as scuppers, and stem pieces.

I have many of the common books on canoe building. This book is by far the easiest to use. There seems to be two major schools of thought when it comes to strip canoe building: 1) floating furniture (The Canoecraft way) and 2) utilitarian (Hazen and Gilpatrick). I've built a solo canoe following Gil's methods and it has served wonderfully for 5 years. I've bounced it down rocky rivers and used it for many trips to the BWCA and Quetico and it has served admirably.

If you wish to build a work of art, then perhaps you should follow Moores's methods. Personally, I don't like external stems on a canoe. They widen the entry line and just look weird to me. Building them is also a fiddly undertaking and I'm not sure that they really add much.

If you want a functional and tough canoe . . . that is beautiful to boot . . . this book will help you reach your goal. If you have questions write the author, he has replied to my emails; usually the next day.

This is a great book to learn how to build a half-way canoe. This is poorly done and offers building instruction that will leave you with an inferior boat. The best option is to buy Canoecraft...Canoecraft has everything you need to build a canoe and even includes plans and lofting directions. However many of the techniques described in this book are easier than those in canoecraft. But when you are out on the water you don't want to be worrying about if your boat is gonna hold together or not because you cut corners.

I bought this book paired with the more advanced Canoecraft book and really couldn't be happier with both of them. Having read the Canoecraft book first I was left with some questions reguarding technical aspects of boatbuilding that this book answered wonderfully. The approach the author takes reflects one of an experienced teacher explaining the task with an eye toward common mistakes and how to avoid them. While the finished product as outlined is a bit heavy and lacking in elegance, as compared to the Canoecraft boat, I plan to utilize both books in the construction of my canoe. (Please note that the heaviness comes from extra fiberglass reinforcement that is a real necessity in the rocky streams of Maine, the author's state, and not so much here in the Midwest.) The real bonus, aside from the caning instructions which are wonderful, is the fact that you are also getting scale plans for eight boats which can be scanned, scaled and printed full size at your local copyshop. The project is easily completed by anyone who is remotely aquainted with woodworking techniques and in many instances the author explains multiple methods of doing the same step with a list of the pros and cons of each method. Excellent book to buy for your first canoebuilding experience.

As a non-sailor just getting into the world of sailing, I've found this book extremely helpful and easy to digest. The explanations are accompanied by beautiful drawings, which helps explain topics such as wind direction. My boyfriend, who is a competitive sailor, says that the book is very accurate and explains important topics well. We both give this book five stars.

If you are looking for the book which has all info in one and gives you simple and interesting advises and knowledge - this is great buy!!! You will Love this book.

New at sailing? Don't go further without buying this book. Delightful, informative, artistic, succinct. I bought 5 books on sailing after falling inlove with it and this is the best one.
Buy two and give one to a friend.

lots of black and white drawings make the info clear..very basic..great starter, add to your library

For the skilled sailer the book will be a dissapointment.
That said, the book will be an important source of all kinds of maritim knowledge for the beginner.

I've read this book 3 times, and everytime it's great. It's the best book i've ever read, so far.

The sea was so vast, and the ship was so small.
Man and everything made by man is finite.
-Richard Winning, owner of the Winston Churchill, reciting a seafarers' prayer at a Memorial Service

At the outset, let me just say that the Brothers Judd full disclosure policy requires me to acknowledge that Mr. Knecht is a fraternity brother of mine and if the book stunk, I'd not say so. In fact, the first few pages had me a little worried because there's some rather pedestrian prose and one of the yachts in the race was owned and skippered by Larry Ellison, of Oracle, who seems early on like he's going to be the center of attention in the book. This would be unfortunate because he's a difficult man to root for, at least as presented here, often in his own words. Actually, most of the yachtsmen seem fairly unlikable. It sometimes seems like every one of them thinks he's the only competent guy on board. But any initial concerns disappear once the storm hits and as the action at sea picks up so too does Mr. Knecht's writing.

The Sydney to Hobart race is apparently quite a big deal in Australia; from the sound of it, nearly the whole nation stops to watch the start on Boxing Day (December 26th). In 1998, 115 unsuspecting boats set out but only 43 made it to Hobart (Tasmania). Seven boats were abandoned and another five actually sank. 55 men were rescued. Six men died. The race had run into hurricane conditions, a cyclone sporting 80 mile per hour winds, and the sleek, ultra-engineered boats seem to have been particularly unsuited to such weather. In short order men were in the water and it is mostly them that Mr. Knecht follows and it is there that the book becomes genuinely thrilling, and terrifying.

The crew of the Winston Churchill, which was capsized by a 60 foot wall of water that broke over it, ended up in two life rafts. The other crew whose ordeal Mr. Knecht chronicles had been aboard the Sword of Orion. The hours, even days, these men spent in the water make for painful reading. One of the indelible images from the book is that of survivors recalling the sight of the bobbing heads of crewmates just a hundred yards away and knowing there's no way to get to them. The stories of these men and, as in The Perfect Storm, of the rescuers, make for a substantial portion of the book and it's outstanding.

A shorter concluding portion, featuring various courtroom hearings, unfortunately serves to remind us that, with some exceptions, these sailors just aren't a terribly sympathetic lot. Mr. Knecht presumably chose to write about Larry Ellison because he's a well known figure and a major businessman (Mr. Knecht writes for the Wall Street Journal), but he becomes kind of emblematic of the hubris that plagues them all :

I could have bought the New York Yankees, but I couldn't be the team's shortstop. With the boat, I actually get to play on the team.

Note he's characterizing himself not just as any old player but as the shortstop. Likewise, Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert, who sailed on Ellison's boat, Sayanora, has this to say :

There are people who in their makeup need to take risks. [...] Every once in a while I just have to do things that require me to make
judgments about how far I can go.

It takes a nearly superhuman effort on the part of the reader not to wish that it had been their boat that foundered. In this regard the book has a significant structural weakness in common with The Perfect Storm in that we spend too much time with people we don't care about and not enough time with some of the most compelling people in the book, the rescue workers who risk their own lives to save such men.

On balance then, Mr. Knecht has written a book that's well worth reading and is truly gripping throughout the bulk of the action. That less might have been better does not diminish the quality of what's best here and at its best the book is very good.

GRADE : B+

Anyone who has ever been on a competitive sailing yacht and been in nasty weather will read this book in an afternoon, unable to put it down. The book is written with tremendous insight and puts you in the danger and makes it feel real. Great book and a quick fun read for any sailor.

I read An Extreme Event (about the 98 Sydney-Hobart race) prior to reading Knecht's book, so that was my benchmark. And a high one at that.

Proving Ground contained a lot more descriptive information in terms of the characters, but ... I found his concentration on particular personalities in the book very disconcerting.

It was baffling that he could practically write what Glyn Charles was thinking ... when Glyn was unable to speak for himself. These assumptions and supposition are quite offensive.

I also found Knecht's intricate descriptions of the powerplays involved with some of the pivotal characters alarming. Bob Koethe, Steve Kulmar, Richard Purcell and Glyn Charles, specifically.

While I do not doubt his authenticity in describing the interplay, I found the inclusion in such detail perplexing. My aim was to read the facts, not to become embroiled in the dramatic tension on board certain yachts in such dire conditions.

At times, I almost felt a compulsion to "take sides" with some people, opposing others, which I roundly resisted. It is, after all, Knecht's presentation and everyone interprets events, thoughts and words slightly differently.

All in all, not bad, but not great.

I read this book immediately after finishing another account of the 1998 Sydney-Hobart race by Rob Mundle (an Australian), titled: Fatal Storm. I thought both versions were worth reading because they focused their attention differently (Knecht spent much more ink on Larry Ellison; Mundle focused on the yachts and people most relevant to this particular race). Knecht was much more blunt in revealing difficult personalities, interpersonal tension and controversy -- particularly with regard to the Sword of Orion. Mundle was more polite -- or perhaps more prudent. It's risky to portray someone negatively who endured such an ordeal (especially when the writer wasn't there), regardless of whether they died or survived. While I found Knecht's take on the people interesting, I suspect it was part of his overly dramatic writing style. He writes like a mass-market action-fiction writer, trying to create drama and intrigue where either: 1) there is none; or 2) the facts speak for themselves. Funny -- this is not unlike American news media today (which is why I watch the BBC). He writes about a "character's" thoughts and actions is such an excruciating level of detail that it's not believable. Too much poetic license ruins credibility. This is a great subject, but read Fatal Storm first.