Temple to the Wind: The Story of America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Masterpiece, Reliance [Hardcover]

Christopher Pastore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2005

One of history's most famous yachts, and the giants who made it.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Pastore indicates in the book's preface that in 1903, Reliance, the largest America's Cup racer ever built, represented the most sophisticated piece of naval and aeronautical engineering in the world. This ship, 143 feet long and carrying 16,160 square feet of sail, was the most powerful lift-driven craft ever produced. The naval architect of the title was Nathanael Herreshoff, who, Pastore writes, "shattered the paradigms of naval architecture, developing the graceful, arching bow and stern overhangs now emblematic of classic yachts." By designing such fast vessels, he attracted the world's most powerful clientele, including the Morgans, Vanderbilts, and Rockefellers, as well as the rapidly expanding U.S. Navy. Pastore recounts the yacht's sea trials, its final preparations, the race itself, and the victory over a vessel owned by Britain's Thomas Lipton, founder of the Lipton tea and grocery empire who had spent a fortune to build his Shamrock III. Readers will know from the start that Reliance will win the race, but they will want to be onboard all the way. George Cohen
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Review

"Temple to the Wind is as expertly crafted as Nathanael Herreshoff's epic America's Cup yacht Reliance. A riveting account of an enigmatic genius and the yacht race that was once as big as today's Super Bowl, Christopher Pastore's new book will fascinate sailors and landlubbers alike." --Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory


"Temple to the Wind is an intriguing study of the legendary Captain Nat, his colleagues, his competitors and the designs he crafted leading up to the largest of them all, Reliance. In the process, author Chris Pastore has compiled a revealing image of yacht racing for the America's Cup as it existed a century and more ago." --John Burnham, editor, Sailing World


"Reliance was exotic, fast, a marvel of engineering and frightening. Only a master designer/builder could make such a yacht work, in fact, excel. Christopher Pastore has meticulously researched this astounding American triumph. I learned something new on every page!" --Gary Jobson, tactician, ESPN's sailing commentator, and author of Winning America's Cup

"After conducting exhaustive research in America and Britain, Christopher Pastore has made the Reliance story even more remarkable and strange than I ever thought. One of the very few sailboats that deserve the label 'icon,' Reliance was the largest boat to sail for the America's Cup, and (until recently) the largest racing sloop ever built. Paid for by secretive millionaires, created by the mysterious Nat Herreshoff, and commanded by the diminutive and ruthless Charlie Barr, this was the highest-tech, the most fragile, and the best boat of her day - America's only hope to hold off Sir Thomas Lipton in his fanatical desire to win the Cup. How Reliance fulfilled that hope despite many obstacles is the stuff of Pastore's wonderful new book. " --John Rousmaniere, author of In a Class by Herself: The Yawl Bolero and the Passion for Craftsmanship; Sleek; Fastnet, Force 10; The Annapolis Book of Seamanship; The Golden Pastime

"An excellent, close-up view of the world of big yachts as sailing moved into the twentieth century." --Olin Stephens, eight-time America's Cup-winning naval architect and author of All This, and Sailing Too

"Readers will know from the start that Reliance will win the race, but they will want to be onboard all the way."--Booklist

 

“A fascinating read.”--Latitudes & Attitudes

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1ST edition (August 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592285570
• ISBN-13: 978-1592285570
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is GREAT!, October 11, 2005

By 

Wicked Kind "JS" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Temple to the Wind: The Story of America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Masterpiece, Reliance (Hardcover)

I picked this book up a few days ago, and I finished it at warp speed.

This is a book about the America's Cup races at the turn of the century between English and American teams of boat designers, sailors, and wealthy financial backers. The author tells the story of each part of these teams, and it kept me glued. Pastore does a really good job I think in telling this story. He uses his own obvious sailing and sailboat expertise to recreate every detail of the enormous (at least for their day) vessels and their crews. You get a sense for the danger involved and the what was at stake, and you can trust the author. He is academic about the details, but his love for boats and sailing permeates. The races took place over a hundred years ago, but he makes them exciting and you really don't know what's going to happen. It's fun.

I have written reviews of fiction before, but never for non-fiction. This book really grabbed my attention for some reason. I don't think I will be alone. The story works on so many levels....political, nautical, technological, economic. I am giving this book for a christmas gift. I feel confident that several members of my family will enjoy this story.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book., October 13, 2005

By 

Jared T. Kelly "Jared Kelly" (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Temple to the Wind: The Story of America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Masterpiece, Reliance (Hardcover)

Temple to the Wind is the next creative non-fiction hit. As you can tell by the editorial reviews provided above, Temple to the Wind is comparable to Seabiscuit, Fastnet Force Ten, and In the Heart of the Sea. It really is that good.

The story of Captain Nat and Charlie Barr has been told numerous times in books with an academic and dry approach. I know because I've read most of them. Pastore breaks from that trend and puts humor, suspense and in-depth research into a book that is obviously well researched and written. Pastore's lifetime in the maritime world, combined with his academic approach and fluent writing style give the reader a story that has been told multiple times, but never quite like this. Temple to the Wind, like Reliance, is a winner.

What I especially like about Temple to the Wind is its lack of "fluff" writing. Instead of using fabricated dialogue to embellish and give voice to the characters, Pastore mined the available material (including personal letters and diaries of Captain Nat and Sir Lipton) at the New York Yacht Club, Mystic Seaport, and Royal Ulster Yacht Club to create the tension and interaction between the characters.

From my experience sailing and racing on the restored J boats Shamrock and Endeavour, and my time spent in the yacht construction industry, I can say that Pastore has hit the nail on the head when it comes to recreating the construction and racing of the great Reliance. His description of the construction techniques used and the racing strategy are right on. However, it needs to be stressed that Temple to the Wind does not read like a boat building manual or racing rules guide. It is first and foremost a story about the characters that surrounded the boat.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with maritime terminology, don't worry, the extensive glossary provides accurate and understandable definitions and explanations. The glossary also contains a helpful and accurate illustration.

Experienced sailors, armchair sailors, and history buffs alike, this book is either a perfect way to pass the winter months that are approaching or to enjoy while sitting at anchor next summer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous Story!!!, October 12, 2005

By 

Lee Ann Miller "Lee" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Temple to the Wind: The Story of America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Masterpiece, Reliance (Hardcover)

I'm not much of a sailor, but this book intrigued me because of its title and the beautiful cover picture. I have fond memories of living in Newport, Rhode Island during the excitement of America's Cup season. Well, I couldn't put this book down! Pastore has a real gift for writing.
The story of Nathanael Herreshoff and the early days of the America's Cup is so well researched and written that even a landlubber like me could stay riveted. I was fascinated with the characters.
If you are looking for a well written story, I recommend Temple to the Wind. I hope to read more from Christopher Pastore soon!