| Title | : | The Proving Ground |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781612189321 |
| Format Type | : | eBook Kindle |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | Published December 6, 2011 |
On December 26, 1998, 115 sailboats crossed the starting line of the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The 630-nautical-mile contest is among the most difficult races in the world, a test of strength and endurance like few others. But no one could have foreseen the tragedy that would befall the competitors, who sailed into a massive storm that tore apart the fleet with hurricane-force winds and eighty-foot waves. What began as a race for glory rapidly became a fight for survival. In this gripping insider’s account, award-winning writer G. Bruce Knecht focuses on three yachts and their crews, weaving together an extraordinary story with vivid detail, outsized personalities, and high drama. Most importantly, he offers a glimpse into how people with very different backgrounds responded to something bigger than they were—and how it changed them forever. Hailed as “harrowing” by the New York Times, “pulse-pounding” by People magazine, and “the Perfect Storm of blue-water sailboat racing” by Walter Cronkite, The Proving Ground is a true-to-life adventure tale as thrilling as any work of fiction.
The Proving Ground Reviews
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A riveting account of the deadly 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, focusing on three yachts and their crews: The Sayonara, owned and captained by Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corporation; the Sword of Orion, with owner Rob "Kooky" Kothe; and Richard Winning's Winston Churchill, a rebuilt boat that sailed in the very first Sydney to Hobart race in 1945.
Knecht is a good storyteller and the people and events come alive in all their harrowing and devastating splendor. This was the most disastrous year in the history of the race, with six fatalities and five yachts sunk, and the biggest rescue effort ever put together in Australia. Excellent book and highly recommended. -
A stirring read and a great effort to describe the conditions on a yacht in a violent storm. His background to the real life characters gives an added dimension to the drama. All that is missing is what must have been a constant screaming of the wind and waves but let your imagine go wild and you still would be even close. A great read particularly if you have any interest in the sea and boats.
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An astonishing true story about the yearly Hobart (sailboats) race. I could not turn the pages fast enough. This was a tragedy that should never have happened. Breakdowns in communication and want-to-be heroes who refused to listen meant several good men lost their lives. While near-traumatic to read, (yet) there are lessons to be learned for those who are willing to listen and open to advice.
