Olin Stephens is the most successful racing-yacht designer of the 20th century, a legend in his own time almost from the day in 1931 when he and his brother Rod and father Roderick, Sr. finished a transatlantic race to England in the revolutionary 52' yawl Dorade a full two days ahead of the competition. His autobiography begins with youthful family sailing, moves on to Six-Metre designs and victories, to J-Boat experience in the 1930s, to war work in the 1940s, to American Cup design and sailing from 1958 to 1983, and to a fleet of great cruising and racing yachts in between. This personal history of Olin and his brother, Rod, of the renowned design firm of Sparkman and Stephens, and of international yachting in this century, is informed, introspective, eloquent.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The 20th Century's greatest yacht designer surveys his life,
By Neil Millward (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: All This and Sailing, Too (Maritime) (Hardcover)
This is a charming and insightful autobiography by the living legend of 20th century yacht design. It is beautifully produced with many glorious photographs and illustrations. But its outstanding quality is the warmth and modesty of the writer which shines through his personal account of his contribution to yacht design and the highlights of Sparkman & Stephens' record over the past 70 years. Chapters on his early years, the breaks he had as a fledgling designer, the Americas Cup successes, the wartime development of the DUKW, his philosophy of design and approach to rating rules for yacht racing will enthrall a wide readership.Owners of S&S designed yachts - and many others besides - will doubtless be captivated by this book. No wonder the first printing is already a sell-out.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great man's great story,
By John Rousmaniere (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: All This and Sailing, Too (Maritime) (Hardcover)
The world's most successful yacht designer and a superstar in the sport of sailing, Olin Stephens writes the story of his long life around boats. There's much here to interest sailors -- including stories of the America's Cup and other key races -- as well as a lot that's controversial about racing, racing rules, Dennis Conner, and the Cup. Olin sailed in two Cup winners, designed six of them, and designed and raced winners of other major races.This is also the story of a fascinating, sensitive, and humble man, as you can see in the opening sentences: "I was lucky; i had a goal. As far back as I can remember I wanted to design fast boats." Engagingly written and beautifully published, this is a book for any sailor.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moving, A Great Book by a Great Man,
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This review is from: All This and Sailing, Too (Maritime) (Hardcover)
I read this book for the first time ten years ago, then stunned to find that Mr. Stephens was still alive. I keep the book in my office among a small collection of inspiring works from great men. The book is deeply moving. Mr. Stephens crafts his sentences with the same brilliance and economy as his yachts.
"I was lucky. I had a goal. As far back as I can remember I wanted to design fast boats."
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
I came to work with little to support my hopes beyond intense interest satisfied by sailing and reading. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
seagoing ability, hull drag, prismatic coefficient, sail forces, rating rules, windward performance, yacht design, metre classes, offshore racing, yawl rig, sail area, short keel, windward work, older boats, heel angle, trial horse, waterline length, wetted area, schooner rig, righting moment, trial races, towing tank, full bow, offshore boats, hull form Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, America's Cup, Rosenfeld Collection, City Island, Long Island Sound, Ken Davidson, New Zealand, Six Metres, San Diego, Clinton Crane, Dennis Conner, Stormy Weather, Gil Wyland, Universal Rule, John Alden, Sherman Hoyt, Stevens Institute, Bill Langan, Mike Vanderbilt, Oyster Bay, Six-Metre Class, Starling Burgess, Twelve Metre, Courtesy of Sparkman, Ted Hood New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
I came to work with little to support my hopes beyond intense interest satisfied by sailing and reading. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
seagoing ability, hull drag, prismatic coefficient, sail forces, rating rules, windward performance, yacht design, metre classes, offshore racing, yawl rig, sail area, short keel, windward work, older boats, heel angle, trial horse, waterline length, wetted area, schooner rig, righting moment, trial races, towing tank, full bow, offshore boats, hull form Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, America's Cup, Rosenfeld Collection, City Island, Long Island Sound, Ken Davidson, New Zealand, Six Metres, San Diego, Clinton Crane, Dennis Conner, Stormy Weather, Gil Wyland, Universal Rule, John Alden, Sherman Hoyt, Stevens Institute, Bill Langan, Mike Vanderbilt, Oyster Bay, Six-Metre Class, Starling Burgess, Twelve Metre, Courtesy of Sparkman, Ted Hood New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
1
book
cites this book:
- Elements of Yacht Design (Seafarer Books) by Norman L. Skene on page 19, and page 200
- Rhode Island (United States) by Julie Murray on page 28
- The Southern Cross by Jann Turner on page 170
- New School Story Street Competent Step 8 (Literary land) (Book 8) by Jeremy Strong on page 129
- 50 Facts About Speed & Power (50 Facts) by Ron Taylor on page 77
- Going Coastal New York City by Barbara La Rocco in Back Matter
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