Great Read: LEARNING TO FLY

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
For an event that struggles with momentum, there was nothing but optimism following the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain. The return to Europe, the massive fleet, the close racing. So much to be appreciate, and then it all came to a stop.

It became an agonizing period in America’s Cup history.

The competition shifted to the courtroom, and what grew out of it was a Deed of Gift multihull rout in the winter of 2010. But the America’s Cup is as much about off the water drama as it is dial-up and slam tacks, and the development of these boats has fueled the future of the sport.

Perhaps due to embarrassment, this period of America’s Cup history had been overlooked until now as Roger Vaughan masterfully weaves all the elements into ‘America’s Cup XXXIII 2010, LEARNING TO FLY’ which bridges the gap between 156 years of monohulls sailing for the Cup, and the hi-tech craft now foiling for the Cup.

Roger gains surprisingly comprehensive access to the key players and pieces together this acrimonious period into a living and breathing document that I found hard to put down. While you can argue the event’s current trajectory, walking in the shoes of those that lived the experience of that era was well worth the read.

Thanks to Roger’s work, and the remarkable imagery of Gilles Martin-Raget, the 33rd edition now has its proper record. For details on the book, click here.