The Race: An Inside Account of What It's Like to Compete in Th

by J.T.W. Hubbard

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393033139
• ISBN13: 9780393033137
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A wonderful sailing true story

The Race by Hubbard is an excellent book. I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys reading tales of sailing and the sea. This is the true story of Hubbard's participation in the Observer single-handed race across the Atlantic from England to Massachusetts. Hubbard does not have a chance to win or even to do very well in terms of the standings, but his struggle is really with himself, his boat, and the sea. And he wins the big "Prize." He is sailing a Westsail 32 that he mostly built himself, and finishes with himself and the boat still intact. Hubbard is a good writer and conveys a gripping sense of what crossing an ocean in a small boat is all about. I enjoyed his authorial voice, his humor, and insights. Besides being an adventure story Hubbard manages to include a great about the Race, the other competitors, and sailing and boat handling in general. This book is a gem. I found it entirely by accident in a refuse pile. I'm glad I did. I intend to keep my copy on my shelf of sailing books. I don't understand why this book is not better known. Perhaps it's because Hubbard was not a "winner" in the race, nor did his boat sink, he wasn't dismasted, etc. Indeed nothing dramatic happens at all. It's just a good yarn that makes all the little human stuff and stuggles interesting. Perhaps part of the reason for this book's obscurity is its title which is rather pedestrian and not descriptive of the drama and content of the story. Maybe a better title would have been something like this "How I Lost the Single-handed Race across the Atlantic but Won the Prize." One little tidbit: Hubbard was denied entry into the race at first but fought a hard struggle with the Committee and ultimately prevailed. This in itself is a worthwhile accomplishment and makes for an interesting tale. I also like the fact that Hubbard was from Syracuse, NY and built and sailed his boat out of Clayton. I'm from Ithaca, NY and sail out of Sackets Harbor, not far from Clayton.