By Paul Larsen

Russell Coutts has been in the-forefront of New Zealand and international yachting for more than twenty years. His emergence as the world's number one ranked match racing skipper has paralleled New Zealand's emergence as a sailing superpower. After learning to sail in the strong winds off Wellington, he began winning dozens of championships, culminating in Olympic gold in 1984. His victories at the helm of Black Magic are now folklore and the magic continues with his latest success winning the Brut Cup series.

In Course to Victory Coutts chronicles New Zealand's decade-long struggle to win sport's oldest trophy. His is the inside story, never before told, of the Michael Fay challenges of 1987, '88 and '92, during which New Zealand yachting grew from "an excuse to work up a thirst" to global recognition as a community of elite athletes.

Coutts takes the reader inside Team New Zealand and describes how the philosophy of total dedication to the team produced the results the first three efforts failed to achieve. His account of how the team was selected, how the money was raised, how the technology was refined and employed, and how he and "his boys" withstood the rigors of 14-hour practice days makes a unique-story, told by the only man in the world who can tell it. Savour again the victory of the America's Cup, at a time when New Zealand is planning to face challengers in the year 2000.

Hardcover, 255 pages in excellent condition ** Please check out our other listings as we're having a clean out & are happy to combine postage **