Olin Stephens

An outstanding autobiography by one of the world's best yacht designers. It will have even the non-sailors engrossed and entertained. It's very well written in a forthright, yet modest style. The book spans nine decades. It's interesting to note that he was in his early 90s when he wrote this book - reflecting on his long, rewarding life, and he still lived another decade. It begins with sailing in the 1920s, move on to perhaps his most famous yacht "Dorade" in the early '30s. It then covers show more the design and racing of arguably one of the world's most glorious and powerful yacht types - the J Class Boats, and his "Ranger", There's much dedicated to the 12 meter class and the "America's Cup", and his success and frustrations with various yachts (and sailors) in that class. He's very candid with his failures and shortfalls, and alludes to his episodes with depression, but they are overcome by his interesting mix of pragmatism and optimism. All in all, an excellent tale told by a remarkable man. show less