The Heroic Story of a Team of Ordinary Americans--and How They Won the Greatest Yacht Race Ever
by David W. Shaw
The Free Press, 2002
Comments: This is the story of the very first sailing race for the America's Cup -- though it wasn't known by that name at the outset. In 1851, when the U.S. was in early ascendency to the world stage, a group of American industrialists commissioned the design and construction of a new sailboat with the specific intent to beat the British in a sailing challenge. These men believed that America's reputation would be enhanced by demonstrating supremacy in the maritime realm that had been dominated by the British for so long. The boat built for the task was named America, and this is the story of her design, her transatlantic crossing to Britain for the challenge, and the series of races where she distinguished herself by wining against all competitors.
While ostensibly an historical account, the writer uses creative license to present the story in somewhat of an imagined form, describing numerous surmised details and providing the characters with plausible dialog, all within the context of known events and facts. The technical details regarding how the boat was operated during the principal race are particularly evocative. Although there was clearly an extensive amount of research performed and the story is largely based on accurate knowledge, the author's imaginings do add to the enjoyment of the tale. This is a very enjoyable book for anyone with a passion for sailing.
Copy Notes: Hardcover, first edition, photographs and illustrations
