Temple to the Wind: Nathanael Herreshoff and the Yacht that Transformed the America's Cup

by Christopher L. Pastore

Overview

By the turn of the twentieth century, racing for the America's Cup was no longer simply a gentleman's game. Fraught with danger and political tension, the contest for the Cup had become a showcase of technological innovation and national grit. In 1903, the fabulously wealthy tea tycoon, Sir Thomas Lipton, gave Britain's most celebrated naval architects carte blanche to produce Shamrock III. In response, the American designer Nathanael G. Herreshoff built Reliance, a defender that was so big and bold—carrying more canvas than any single-masted vessel ever before—that it ushered in a new era of naval architecture and fundamentally shaped the future of the America's Cup. From conception to construction, through hair-raising sea trials to the grand finale of a race like no other, this beautiful and dangerous vessel comes to life in Temple to the Wind, one of the most exciting sailing stories ever told.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762784356
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/17/2013
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	579,972
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Christopher Pastore, a native Rhode Islander, grew up sailing and racing on Narragansett Bay. He holds an MFA in creative writing from New School University and a Ph.D. in American History from the University of New Hampshire.

Editorial Reviews

"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

From the Publisher