America's Victory; The Heroic Story of a Team of Ordinary Americans-- and How They Won the Greatest Yacht Race Ever

by David W. Shaw

• ISBN13: 9780743235167
• ISBN10: 0743235169
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-12-31
• Publisher: Free Press

Summary

The Heroic Story of a Team of Ordinary Americans -- and How They Won the Greatest Yacht Race Ever Set against the backdrop of the first world's fair in London, America's Victory takes readers into a world rich in adventure and history -- an unforgettable story of skill, daring, and honor at the heart of our national identity. The America's Cup is the oldest international trophy in competitive sports, yet few know the inspirational story of the dedicated seamen behind the original historic race. The story begins in 1850 with a terrible deal struck between the New York Yacht Club and a brilliant young boat designer: A boat would have to be built that would be the fastest in the world, and the designer would not be paid his fee unless the yacht beat all comers at The Great Exhibition in England. With a revolutionary design and striking beauty, yacht America set sail the following year from New York on what most experts nevertheless thought was an impossible mission. It had already cost over half a million dollars in today's currency. Now, America would have to beat fourteen of the best yachts the world's greatest maritime nation could bring to the line. It was a race Britain thought it couldn't lose. Yet America's small, unlikely team -- including Captain Brown, a Sandy Hook Pilot; first mate Nelson Comstock, whose family were early settlers of New London in Connecticut; and the brilliant designer George Steers -- achieved the almost un-thinkable. These humble, hard-working men faced the might and arrogance not only of their British competitors, but also their own backers, such as millionaire John Cox Stevens of the New York Yacht Club, who wagered they would win, but harassed and belittled them throughout the campaign. In the course of his research, David Shaw found letters and notes recounting the experience of the crew that provide a vivid historical realism for his compelling narrative. No one has previously told the story of the race from the perspective of the men who designed and sailed the plucky boat America. Shaw places readers on board as the lone American yacht in the field crosses the finish line first, while Queen Victoria and Prince Albert look on amid cheering crowds. This is an account of an amazing feat accomplished long ago at the turning point in the growth of a young nation's confidence, but it is also the tale of a victory of the American spirit that bravely lives on today.

Author Biography

David W. Shaw is the author of The Sea Shall Embrace Them, Inland Passage, Daring the Sea, and Flying Cloud. He is a frequent contributor to many sailing magazines. He lives in Westfield, New Jersey, and sails his cutter in Maine.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. xi
Introduction	p. xv
Rising Storm	p. 1
Tragic Loss	p. 10
The Pilot's Trade	p. 16
The Commodore's Pride	p. 27
Great Exhibition	p. 35
Decision	p. 45
Demanding Terms	p. 54
Tilted Odds	p. 66
Quiet Departure	p. 82
To Open Sea	p. 97
Turn of Speed	p. 110
Perilous Mishap	p. 121
Staying the Course	p. 130
Welcome Landfall	p. 141
Racing Trim	p. 150
Reluctant Rivals	p. 162
Informal Skirmish	p. 174
Feverish Anticipation	p. 187
Challenge Begun	p. 197
Winds of Victory	p. 207
Afterword	p. 217
Requiem	p. 233
Lessons	p. 237
Author's Note	p. 240
Glossary of Nautical Terms	p. 244
Bibliography	p. 251
Acknowledgments	p. 255
Index	p. 257
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