The Proving Ground : The Inside Story of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race

by G. Bruce Knecht

A gripping account of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race describes how the annual sailing competition became one of the worst modern sailing disasters that left six sailors dead and a number of yachts destroyed and profiles the special individuals who risk their lives at sea, including Oracle founder Larry Ellison. 75,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, History, Sports, Survival, Australia, Travel

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2001

About the author

G. Bruce Knecht is a former senior writer and foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. Author of GRAND AMBITION: An Extraordinary Yacht, the People Who Built It, and the Millionaire Who Can't Really Afford It; THE PROVING GROUND: The Inside Story of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race; and HOOKED: Pirates, Poaching and the Perfect Fish, he has also written for The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian and Conde Nast Traveler. An avid sailor, Knecht raced across the Atlantic in 2005 on the yacht that broke the 100-year-old transatlantic race record. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Sandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly have mixed emotions about The Proving Ground, G. Bruce Knechts true life account of the disastrous 1998, 630 mile Sydney, Australia to Hobart yacht race. Some have compared this book to The Perfect Storm, but aside from the basic scenario of man versus the treacherous whims of Mother Nature there is really no comparison. While the men of Perfect Storm were driven to the sea in order to provide food and shelter for themselves and their families, Proving Ground takes a look at a group of men who are highly successful in their chosen professions (and in many cases filthy rich) as they lay it all on the line for what appears to be nothing more than an adrenaline rush, and in the case of some of the participants, a severe case of galloping machismo.

This is not a criticism of Knecht's research, writing or his presentation of the facts. That the book was able to generate the emotions in me that it did is a tribute to the writer's ability to tell a story. Focusing primarily on 3 boats and their crews, he relates how both men and their vessels performed during a catastrophic storm and delves into the anxiety ridden, sometimes heroic, sometimes faulty judgment and character of the participants.

Perhaps this is a book that is more relatable to a male audience (particularly those who feel compelled to take to the seas). For a wife and mother, reading this account produced only feelings of anger. In my narrow view, this book appears to be a commentary on the arrogance and idiocy of certain race participants and their compelling need to prove to the world (and themselves) that they are "better than the average bear" and can succeed at anything they attempt no matter what the cost to themselves or others. I have never been able to understand what motivates the adrenaline junkies of the world nor can I wrap my head around the sort of egregious egotism and drives certain folks.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must've read this soon after its publication. Something I'm currently reading reminded me that I'd read this -- it's quite the true story! I recall being enthralled.

[Michal Angelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I'm a trans-oceanic sailor myself - I've seen bad weather. BUT, reading this book left my heart in my throat - way beyond any 'thriller' I've ever read; and this is real life!
* "On December 26, 1998, 115 sailboats set out on the annual race from Sydney to Hobart; only 43 would make it to the Tasmanian city, the race having turned into the worst modern sailing disaster since the 1979 Fastnet Race" Fastnet, Force 10: The Deadliest Storm in the History of Modern Sailing
* If you have a passion for sailing, you NEED to read this book

[Sue-Ellen Mcinnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story! What these people went through is insane. Good job to the author for his way of taking the reader through it and collecting the thoughts the sailors had during the experience.

[J.J. Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuando leí The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean, uno de los datos que más se me quedó fue aquel que rezaba que hoy en día se siguen hundiendo tantos barcos como en el siglo XVII y esta información rara vez llega a los titulares. Claro, a menos que se trate de casos de súper alto perfil, como la negligencia del Costa Concordia, o el drama humano de los barcos de inmigrantes que se hunden cerca de Lampedusa, o el famoso caso del Andrea Gail que motivó el libro de The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea.

Uno de estos casos de altísimo perfil es el que trata este libro. Un precioso país nacido del mar, rodeado de mar, con una de las tradiciones marítimas más fuertes no debería sorprender al lector con la fanaticada existente alrededor de una regata anual que va de Sydney a Hobart. En 1998 la regata se encontró con una tormenta un poquito más imperfecta, pero que aún así causó una terrible prueba para las tripulaciones de varios barcos.

Es muy normal comparar este libro con ‘La Tormenta Perfecta’, pues su tema es el mismo: tragedia en el mar. Muy probablemente, como otros han reseñado, sea más fácil identificarse con los muy fregados estadounidenses de cuello azul que perecieron en el Andrea Gail. Hasta puede tararear uno ‘The Downeaster Alexa’ cuando piensa en el infierno que vivieron y que se llevó sus vidas . Los protagonistas de ‘The Proving Ground’ son ricohombres que compiten por deporte. Dos de los protagonistas son incluso billonarios conspicuos: Larry Ellison, un ‘oráculo’ perfeccionista y amante de la adrenalina no muy distinto a Jobs; y Lachlan Murdoch, hijo del magnate de los medios que tanta gente en el mundo anglosajón ama odiar.

Esto no quita una narración casi, casi trepidante. Su tono es muy parecido a los artículos de Reader’s Digest subtitulados siempre como ‘drama de la vida real’… una larga exposición con un largo coro de protagonistas que es difícil de seguir porque se les presenta en un flash y muy difícilmente uno puede recordar algún detalle que los distinga. Claro, a excepción de los capitanes y de uno que otro.

No hay mucho tema subyacente. No hay ni meditación sobre la soberbia del hombre, ni tampoco la glorificación del sacrificio. Por eso parece más un largo artículo de Reader’s Digest. Ni siquiera un dejo de nostalgia por lo agresivo y técnico que se estaba volviendo uno de los últimos deportes ‘de caballeros’ (como nota: cuando el mexicano Ramón Carlín ganó la primera regata global Whitbread, se cuenta que durante todo el evento la tripulación se la pasaba bebiendo). Al final, el reporte no es conclusivo, ni tampoco es la culpabilidad de nadie, ni la negligencia ni tampoco cierto comportamiento de macho hipercompetitivo que para el autor pasa por villanía. Fue una desafortunada combinación de circunstancias que nos lleva a la reflexión obvia sobre la impotencia del hombre frente a los elementos.

[Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK. I love the sea. From the shore. From an airplane. But NOT on it. it's worse than aviation; it will kill you SLOWLY, and the things in it with teeth will eat you. At least in aviation if you screw up you tend to die pretty quickly. This book goes into all that with great detail; the way we men have to "prove" ourselves, how we feel we can go head on with nature, etc.... you get the idea. This book puts you in the cockpit of several boats, and into the minds of the men on those same little floaty-things with sails, during the the 1998 Syndey to Hobart Race. A lot of Men did not survive that race because they made some poor choices on when to be at sea (during the storm that did them in in this case). That said, it is an excellent read. It also goes into the rescues in detail; Helicopters are great things, but they are not intended to fly in inclement weather. We are fortunate that our tax dollars are used to pay (at low rates, I might add) individuals who go out of their way (and endanger themselves) to rescue those who have little sense and end up in a bind. Happens every day; we all make mistakes... but this was a group who were driven by a desire to win a race; They weren't in mortal danger from an encroaching enemy, they weren't out to help anyone; it was pure racing at it's highest (and most expensive) form, for ego. And the storm could have taken many more than it did. All in all, a "goodread"...

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A riveting case study of the mixture of personalities and multiple decision chains that led to the disastrous conclusion of the 1998 Sydney-Hobart race. From a search and rescue (SAR) professional's perspective, the insight into the minds of long-distance sailors (and those who would like to think they are, but are merely wealthy) is useful intelligence for future races to predict the likely actions of a missing boat and crew. In that same vein, the experiences of the men in their disintegrating life rafts vividly illustrated the effects of hypothermia and exhaustion. The problems with life safety equipment are a lesson that seems to never to be learned; since they are inevitable, the lesson here is to learn to anticipate them.

My only disappointment with the book is the short shrift given to the actions of the Australian Coast Guard in the largest SAR case in its history. SAR planning and operations require some calculation and resource management; the very best SAR coordinators are those that seem to have a telepathic link to the mind of a ship's -- or dinghy's -- captain. Even just one chapter that more fully explained the thought processes of those involved in directing the response would have help to round out the story.

On a final note: Lifejackets save lives, but only if you're wearing them.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the type of book which makes me glad to be in a book club. Otherwise I never would have read this, and I found the story really interesting. Unfortunately, I did find the details kind of bogged me down. For one thing, there were way too many names to keep track of. For another, it was pretty difficult to follow the physics of everything that occurred if you're not a real sailor. I think this book could have really benefited from some good graphics--some schematics of who was on each ship, for instance, and some illustrations of what the boats looked like during the storm, to show where the waves were coming from.

But my biggest problem with the book was that the narrative tension concluded, at least for me, in an unsatisfying fashion. Except for one character, there seemed little emotional residue after the storm, which to me was kind of weird, since it was being built up as a life-changing event.

[Richard Philbrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been a professional seaman most of my life I was riveted to my Kindle by Knecht's vivid account of this racing tragedy where five sailors died and five boats sank. I've participated in offshore sailboat races (I was a helmsman on a 65-footer in the Inaugural Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race in '75) and have spent more time than I care to remember in gale-force conditions while running crew boats in the offshore oil fields of Louisiana and a could feel and hear those winds again in Knecht's paragraphs. His accounts of the men's survival in life rafts is scary. I'd rather read about these things, though, than to ever have to go through them.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting true account about an event that I previously knew nothing about, and about a sport that I previously knew little about! Knecht outlines the sailing men who faced stormy seas in various sized yachts to in this classic Australian race, and about what motivates these men to be competitive, to win, to work together, and to survive. It put me in the mind of a Jon Krakauer book, which I love.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read and hard to put down. Gives you enough info. on the things you need to know without bogging you down. The account of the Sydney to Hobart boat race that resulted in disaster for many boats one particular year. Follows three of the boats during the race. I'd always heard about this race, but never knew really what was involved until I read this book.

[Brian Windheim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up as a 99-cent Kindle book. It's a quick read. It is reminiscent of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, in that it explores the world of obsessed people doing dangerous things. But it is told from a journalist's perspective, and is not a first-person account.

I liked the book. Learned a few things about open-ocean sailing along the way.

[Mathew Sympsun · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than just a great account of one of the most famous disasters in offshore yacht racing. It also does a great job at portraying the massive egos to be found in the racing scene, from billionaire tech tycoons to amateur know-it-alls and the disastrous consequences when these over-inflated personalities collide during life-threatening conditions on the sea. It also offers a look into the multimillion dollar budgets of the highest end racing yachts and the technology that goes into them.
Along with the Fastnet race of 1979, the 1998 Sydney-Hobart is a touchstone of sailing lore, guaranteed to be mentioned in at least one sailor bar somewhere in the world on any given day.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a gripping description of the disastrous December 1998 Hobart sailing race which ended with six sailors dead, five boats sunk, seven abandoned in a deadly cyclone. Fifty five sailors needed rescue by helicopters or other ships. There are heroes and incompetents, ego-driven and team players, exceptionally skilled and inexperienced. It is all vividly described - the boats, state of the art incredibly expensive and advanced racing machines and one historic artifact, the antique wooden Winston Churchill - the men, a gathering of some of the best ocean racing sailors in the world - and the weather, what looked at first like a storm that turned into a tropical cyclone of deadly ferocity.

[Darlene Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every sailor

This well- written account of the 1998 Hobart race is a compelling read. The writer brings the reader aboard the yachts that were key to the 1998 Hobart disaster. The personalities of the racing crews were colorful and real. It is difficult for anyone without a love of sailing to appreciate the dedication required to conquer the open ocean. The book is also a memorial to those who lost their lives in that world-famous race.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I opened the book I thought maybe I wouldn't like it. I knew nothing about sailing so it was educational.

I was surprised that the book read like a thriller and the culture of the people racing was interesting. Sounds like a good group of people who loved the challenge of the Hobart.

This was quite different from what I normally read but I'm glad I did.

[Tom Lehmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a great read all around, fascinating, anxiety-inducing, and compulsively readable.

But what was G. Bruce Knecht thinking with that horrendous afterword? It barely has anything to do with the book itself and just comes off as a vanity piece for Larry Ellison. Quite enraging.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like an Erik Larson book - a deep dive into several characters and a minute-by-minute account of a sailing tragedy. Captivating read for sailors and land-legged folks alike. I read it in a day!

[Arlene Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhilarating

This book was a page-turner. It hooked me from the beginning and kept me there for the duration. There was non-stop action fueling an adrenaline packed experience. I think it is a true story that everyone can enjoy.

[Colmd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting. The author puts you onboard several of the boats, racing at the height of the storm, battling 40kt gales and 60ft waves. His research is impeccable and accurate. It's a terrifying read and very difficult to put down.

[Erick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too much about personalities and not enough about the actual sailing.
Obviously most of the participants were on a ego trip.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'd like this a whole lot more if there was less fawning over the personal wealth of the yacht owners throughout the book. A good read nonetheless.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I knew more about sailing so I could apprciate how scary and dire things looked for these sailors. It's still a compelling story though, written to keep you on the edge of your seat!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this book!

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Thoroughly researched. Sailing tech clearly explained for outsiders but without irritating gaffes for sailors. The skill and dedication of the rescuers had me tearing up.

[Susan Hyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the deadly Sidney to Hobart sailing race of 1998. The hubris of these sailors adds to their peril as they are caught in a storm of the century.

[Vineet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy read for it's compelling details which always keeps you on the edge.

[Kim S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of content errors here or there, but if you look past that, this is a riveting, thrilling story!

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many characters to keep track of. Dated.