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Knockdown: The Harrowing True Account of a Yacht Race Turned Deadly
Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
11 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Martin Dugard
54 books409 followersMartin Dugard is the New York Times #1 bestselling author of the Taking Series — including Taking Berlin (2022) and Taking Paris (2021).
Book Two in the Taking series is titled Taking Berlin, covering the final nine months of World War II in Europe. Taking Berlin goes on sale November 1, 2022.
He is also the co-author of the mega-million selling Killing books, the bestselling non-fiction series in history: Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, Killing Patton, Killing Reagan, Killing England, Killing the Rising Sun, Killing the SS, Killing Crazy Horse, Killing the Mob, and the upcoming Killing the Killers.
Other works include the New York Times bestseller The Murder of King Tut (with James Patterson; Little, Brown, 2009); The Last Voyage of Columbus (Little, Brown, 2005); Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone (Doubleday, 2003), Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook (Pocket Books, 2001), Knockdown (Pocket Books, 1999), and Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth (McGraw-Hill, 1998). In addition, Martin lived on the island of Pulau Tiga during the filming of Survivor's inaugural season to write the bestselling Survivor with mega-producer Mark Burnett.
Book Two in the Taking series is titled Taking Berlin, covering the final nine months of World War II in Europe. Taking Berlin goes on sale November 1, 2022.
He is also the co-author of the mega-million selling Killing books, the bestselling non-fiction series in history: Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, Killing Patton, Killing Reagan, Killing England, Killing the Rising Sun, Killing the SS, Killing Crazy Horse, Killing the Mob, and the upcoming Killing the Killers.
Other works include the New York Times bestseller The Murder of King Tut (with James Patterson; Little, Brown, 2009); The Last Voyage of Columbus (Little, Brown, 2005); Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone (Doubleday, 2003), Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook (Pocket Books, 2001), Knockdown (Pocket Books, 1999), and Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth (McGraw-Hill, 1998). In addition, Martin lived on the island of Pulau Tiga during the filming of Survivor's inaugural season to write the bestselling Survivor with mega-producer Mark Burnett.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 8, 2010
I really wanted to like this book, as I love a good disaster story. This should be an interesting book - about the disastrous 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, where the racers unwittingly sailed into a hurricane and 6 men were lost - and it is, in a way. I mean, how can the basic story itself not be interesting? However, Dugard's writing style really killed it for me. He bizarrely switches back and forth from past tense to present tense to future tense - sometimes all within a paragraph or two of each other.
He also often writes about what different people were thinking or feeling during different points of the disaster. At first, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he interviewed these people, I thought, and they told him what they were thinking and feeling. But then he did it about one of the men who died - writing about how he was feeling WHILE he was dying. I was, frankly, offended. Who does Dugard think he is? I think it was shameful to speculate what this poor young man was thinking and feeling as he died and print it as fact.
I wish this book had been put out by a better author. I would have given it more stars if it had been.
He also often writes about what different people were thinking or feeling during different points of the disaster. At first, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he interviewed these people, I thought, and they told him what they were thinking and feeling. But then he did it about one of the men who died - writing about how he was feeling WHILE he was dying. I was, frankly, offended. Who does Dugard think he is? I think it was shameful to speculate what this poor young man was thinking and feeling as he died and print it as fact.
I wish this book had been put out by a better author. I would have given it more stars if it had been.
February 5, 2009
There would appear to be numerous yacht races around the world, all vying for the title of the “most dangerous,” “worst seas,” “most deadly weather,” etc., etc. The criteria seem to be the most number of sailors killed. Many of these races are beginning to attract the unskilled, much like climbing Mt. Everest is now a way “to find oneself” – personally, I can always be found in my reading chair, so locating myself has never been a problem – and naturally, many of these people rarely have the fortitude and exceptional skill to reach their goal – especially when Mother Nature (notice the feminine designation) decides to get ugly.
Hence the sailing disasters of Fastnet and now Sydney-Hobart, billed again as the “most treacherous yacht racing course in the world” – a claim I would view with some skepticism given the one casualty over the years until 1966 after decades of racing from Sydney across the Bass Strait to Tasmania – and he died of a heart attack.
This is not to say that the Bass Strait doesn’t have its share of nasty weather. It’s known as a “black hole,” where numerous weather systems, currents, and land formations create wicked wave formations and generally uncomfortable conditions. The Cape of Good Hope is one such area, the Bass Strait another. The Roaring Forties wind belt blows down here, a wind with the force of myth, and Argentine jet pilots have claimed to have been blown backwards by these winds – they may have been flying balsa wood aircraft for all we know, however.
1998 was the year of the BIG storm, and it hit as boats were entering the Bass Strait. This was no ordinary storm either. Much as that described in Sebastian Junger’s wonderful book, The Perfect Storm, this hurricane resulted from the confluence of three very strong weather systems. The result was huge waves of unpredictable direction generated by winds up to 100 mph. The small boats, some as short as thirty-odd feet, really got their money’s worth. The Sydney-Hobart race is unusual in that it has boats of different sizes, and the winner is determined by a sophisticated handicap system that is related to size of the boat. There are also few limitations on who can enter, so professionals are mixed with sailors of lesser skill. The potential is therefore much greater for disaster.
The forecasts were there and many boats, skippered by the smarter captains, turned back to Sydney. Others continued on for a variety of reasons. Many were to regret that decision. They were sailing into a full-fledged hurricane. Waves are capricious. Even though the wind may have died down, waves can generate their own momentum once on a roll, so to speak. Any increase in wind will definitely build them up. “As wind increases, waves increase, too, but at an exponential rate. For every mile per hour wind increases, a wave’s size increases by the power of four. So if the wind suddenly jumps from forty knots to one hundred, waves leap to astronomical heights.” That’s what happened in the Bass Strait. Waves were measured at one hundred thirty-five feet. As the survivor of one battered and destroyed boat said, it was like “sitting on the top of your car in a downpour while racing down the highway at one hundred miles per hour” — except, of course, that the car would remain flat.
There were so many emergency “Mayday” calls that the Australian Search and Rescue units, the best in the world, ran out of helicopters. What’s astonishing is that loss of life was as low as it was — six people died. Many were rescued at the last minute. Many swore they would never race again, although, ironically, the field is expected to grow, precisely because the danger will make the race more attractive. Plus ca change ….
Hence the sailing disasters of Fastnet and now Sydney-Hobart, billed again as the “most treacherous yacht racing course in the world” – a claim I would view with some skepticism given the one casualty over the years until 1966 after decades of racing from Sydney across the Bass Strait to Tasmania – and he died of a heart attack.
This is not to say that the Bass Strait doesn’t have its share of nasty weather. It’s known as a “black hole,” where numerous weather systems, currents, and land formations create wicked wave formations and generally uncomfortable conditions. The Cape of Good Hope is one such area, the Bass Strait another. The Roaring Forties wind belt blows down here, a wind with the force of myth, and Argentine jet pilots have claimed to have been blown backwards by these winds – they may have been flying balsa wood aircraft for all we know, however.
1998 was the year of the BIG storm, and it hit as boats were entering the Bass Strait. This was no ordinary storm either. Much as that described in Sebastian Junger’s wonderful book, The Perfect Storm, this hurricane resulted from the confluence of three very strong weather systems. The result was huge waves of unpredictable direction generated by winds up to 100 mph. The small boats, some as short as thirty-odd feet, really got their money’s worth. The Sydney-Hobart race is unusual in that it has boats of different sizes, and the winner is determined by a sophisticated handicap system that is related to size of the boat. There are also few limitations on who can enter, so professionals are mixed with sailors of lesser skill. The potential is therefore much greater for disaster.
The forecasts were there and many boats, skippered by the smarter captains, turned back to Sydney. Others continued on for a variety of reasons. Many were to regret that decision. They were sailing into a full-fledged hurricane. Waves are capricious. Even though the wind may have died down, waves can generate their own momentum once on a roll, so to speak. Any increase in wind will definitely build them up. “As wind increases, waves increase, too, but at an exponential rate. For every mile per hour wind increases, a wave’s size increases by the power of four. So if the wind suddenly jumps from forty knots to one hundred, waves leap to astronomical heights.” That’s what happened in the Bass Strait. Waves were measured at one hundred thirty-five feet. As the survivor of one battered and destroyed boat said, it was like “sitting on the top of your car in a downpour while racing down the highway at one hundred miles per hour” — except, of course, that the car would remain flat.
There were so many emergency “Mayday” calls that the Australian Search and Rescue units, the best in the world, ran out of helicopters. What’s astonishing is that loss of life was as low as it was — six people died. Many were rescued at the last minute. Many swore they would never race again, although, ironically, the field is expected to grow, precisely because the danger will make the race more attractive. Plus ca change ….
August 4, 2019
“The worldwide sailing community refer to ‘The Hobart’ as their Everest and agree no race is more difficult on men and boats.”
Writer Martin Dugard gives a gripping account of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race that turned tragic as the racing fleet encountered unexpected and horrifically dangerous weather in the Pacific Ocean and Bass Strait (that channel that separates Australia from Tasmania). Of the 115 yachts that entered the 1998 race, only 44 completed it. Five boats sank, six men were killed, seven craft were abandoned, and 55 sailors had to be rescued at sea with the rest of fleet making emergency landings along the Australian coast.
Dugard gives a white-knuckle account of the men and boats as they battle an increasingly ferocious storm, painting a grim picture as the small craft face raging waves, cold and howling winds. His accounts of the sailors’ struggles aboard the floundering yachts are particularly riveting (and poignantly tragic in many cases) coupled with the stories of the aerial rescue teams that dared the storm to pluck men from the raging seas. For the layman (and non-Australian), Dugard also provide an excellent overview of the race, its cultural potency, and inherent dangers while picking over the many things that went wrong and helped create the tragedy from poor weather forecasting, to government bureaucracy, to the race and route secrecy that is part and parcel of any seagoing competition.
This was good … maybe my only slight being Dugard’s style. Short sentence structure coupled with use of the present tense made the narrative pace a bit choppy. As I got past the first chapter, the rhythm evened out, but present tense for nonfiction isn’t my favorite.
Final Verdict: A good one for all disaster and maritime aficionados. The tale is little known (at least from my point of view) in the United States, and Dugard does a great job of giving the reader the full scope of the disaster, skipping from boat to embattled boat, across hundreds of miles of churning waves.
June 16, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-4400...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-44...
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-27-f...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-27...
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-4400...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-44...
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-27-f...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-27...
June 16, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-4400...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-44...
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-27-f...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-27...
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-4400...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-44...
https://theboatyacht.com/concept-27-f...
https://numberoneboats.com/concept-27...
October 5, 2018
Super tense story describing one of the biggest tragedy in the race sailing history. For any person passionate about sailing this is a must read. For everybody else, provided that they can understand what drives men into the danger of sailing through the raw seas, it is an amazing account describing a fight for glory which turned to be a fight for life. I love the style of this book. It takes the reader straight into the action of the horror which happened 20 years ago. It is real, brutal, reflective and full of pure human emotions at the time of deadly crisis and at the time of saving lives of others.
December 2, 2020
I'm going to call this one more of a literary docudrama than pure nonfiction. The author speculates a lot on what various people were thinking and feeling - including several of the people who died - and it isn't exactly presented as speculation.
Still, despite that and a somewhat odd writing style, it was a pretty gripping read. If you're interested in yacht racing (or disasters) and you don't mind reading an account that has a bit of a "based on the true story" edge to it, you'll probably enjoy this.
Still, despite that and a somewhat odd writing style, it was a pretty gripping read. If you're interested in yacht racing (or disasters) and you don't mind reading an account that has a bit of a "based on the true story" edge to it, you'll probably enjoy this.
August 18, 2022
Interesting book about sailing through horrible seas. The race probably should have been canceled and it cost some their life. I’ve never sailed but feel like I was on deck battling for my life. Glad I was just sitting here reading about it
July 30, 2020
Dobra żeglarska książka.
August 2, 2011
Crikey... Initially strays a bit too much into a macho, "boys' own adventure" style of writing, sometimes about things the author may not necessarily know about (i.e. instead of Jim eating Weetbix, Jim would stride purposefully to the cupboard, not at all hungry, but knowing he'd need all of the strength he could wring from a hearty wheat biscuit for the days of toil ahead...). I found that style pleasant, if a little cheesy. Having finished reading though, you'd frankly struggle to believe people could survive the conditions described without them having been set up prior as somewhat larger than life, or more than a simple human. There's great coverage of the yacht-racing disaster from all angles - almost too many, though the scale of the storm's effects and the respect that must be paid to those who faced it, and died in it, demand it. A top read that will truly give you an appreciation of the folk who contest the Sydney to Hobart (and how idiotic they may be ;)
January 21, 2017
Super interesting topic and story line, which is the only reason this is getting 3 stars. I enjoyed reading it, but the writing, grammar, and assumptions made were not great. The metaphors and similes were painful, as was his projections on (spoiler alert!) how one of the men felt just before he died were rough to read. A bit melodramatic, a bit unrefined, but I still enjoyed the read and got a good feel for the history of it. While not an instant classic (and at times painful), it was still informative and entertaining.
August 20, 2008
What a wild and painful ride! In one breath I was thinking, men died here for no reason. The weather forecasters knew .. but a tired code of no alarm sent me into a vicious sea. Those who survived had stories to tell that set the heart to fast beat and drew a small bead of sweat upon the upper brow.
September 29, 2016
I had mixed emotions about this book. I think some of it was fiction or at best speculation. Most of it was certainly exciting to read, nevertheless. I also think there were some technical errors, but I can overlook those. Perhaps he was trying to over-simplify something too complex, but I don't think he really understood the atmospheric forces that caused the high winds and waves.
March 9, 2007
A great book that tells the stories of half a dozen boats that endured the deadly 1998 Sydhob, an off shore yacht race from Sydney Austrailia to Hobart Tazmania. It's the only book on this race that gives "Midnight Rambler" the credit for winning on corrected time. Great book!
December 15, 2015
If you like the feeling of goosebumps running up and down your body and damp cheeks from tears, this is the book for you. Near impossible to put down.
May 5, 2015
Awesome book, one of my favorite authors. I am glad I was able to read it.
July 31, 2016
It started out slow but having grown up with a sailing Dad I understood. It was a crazy ride.
October 23, 2016
Mind blown.
November 18, 2016
I read this book about 6-7 years ago. It is a great read, and if you have any interest whatsoever in sailing, I would say it should almost be required reading. Martin Dugard is an excellent writer.
July 24, 2024
Niesamowita historia regat u wybrzeży Australii.
Polecam.
Polecam.
November 25, 2014
Hands down, the most exciting book I've ever read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews