Review: The Proving Ground

Tony Harris reviews this insightful book on the Sydney-Hobart disaster

I have struggled through many badly written sailing books since I took up the sport. The problem I often find is that most are written by professional sailors and not by professional journalists. This book is different: the jacket is not full of a long list of the author's legendary sailing exploits but a single paragraph that describes G Bruce Knecht as the Hong Kong correspondent of the Wall Street Journal; in short a heavyweight in the world of words.
We've all read a lot about the 1998 Sydney-Hobart race. There was the CYCA report, the coroner's report, numerous features and articles in newspapers and specialist magazines. What more is there to be said about this well documented and tragic race? Mr. Knecht adds a human perspective to all that has been written before. This book is not about the safety lessons we can learn, heavy weather sailing techniques or survival strategies, it's the story of a bunch of guys like you and me who sailed into something truly devastating and how some, not all, got through it.

The author concentrates on three boats and their crews; Sayonara, Sword of Orion and The Winston Churchill. Only one of these boats, Sayonara, finished the race. The other two abandoned the race after there had been deaths among their crew. Knecht has obviously had full access to the crews, race organizers and friends and relatives of those who lost their lives, as the book is the product of detailed research.

Once you start reading I guarantee you won't put it down until you've finished. Once finished you will be emotionally exhausted, you will feel for the family and friends of those who lost their lives and wonder how those who survived the ordeal ever plucked up the courage to get back on another boat.

The frightening intensity of the storm is described in detail, through the eyes of those whose lives it changed. It is at once both horrifying and fascinating.

Is this book just a written version of those ghastly voyeuristic 999 reality TV programmes? No, for the yachtsman it provides a valuable insight into the physical and mental stress and discomfort that extreme weather can cause for the best prepared crews. These were not guys out for a Saturday afternoon club race, they were seasoned offshore campaigners, yet they had never experienced conditions as dangerous before.

The stresses of decision-making in such a hostile environment, trying to motivate a team that has witnessed the death of fellow crew members, these thankfully are not problems that racing sailors face every weekend. The detailed descriptions are so vivid that you inevitably ask yourself, 'how would I cope in similar circumstances?' The answer, pray God is that you will never have to find out.

Larry Ellison billionaire owner of Sayonara is quoted on arrival at Hobart: "This is not what racing is supposed to be. Difficult, yes. Dangerous, no. Life-threatening, definitely not. I'd never have signed up for this race if I knew how difficult it would be. No race I've ever done has been anything like this... We're not allowed to have heroes any more, but I find my heroes on the boat".

This is not a book that will inspire you to go out offshore racing but it is full of heroes, the crews who competed, both pro and amateur alike and the endeavours of the Australian rescue services. It is the story of their struggles during this fateful race that will provide the inspiration.

Buy it.