Winging It: ORACLE TEAM USA's Incredible Comeback to Defend the America's Cup

There is a lot to like about this history of the 34th America's Cup defense held in San Francisco in 2013. The introductory chapters about the history of the Cup, the early races and the controversies are exceeding well done. The coverage of the events in 2013, starting with the Louis Vuitton series for the challengers and going through the incredible story of the actual Cup races is well told and illustrated with excellent photography. If there is a weakness, it is the use of sidebar articles that often were initially written one, two or even more years before the event and are of less value in understanding and enjoying the story; it somewhat appears that these were included almost as filler material. However, overall the book is enjoyable for a yachting enthusiast and the more casual reader should be able to find much enjoyment in it, especially the early chapters.

I watched the TV coverage of the event and waited for a book. I thought this was it. It wasn't. I'm still waiting.The cover photo is awesome but the rest of the book is black and white. The layout is poor and has multi-page sidebars that break up the text and make it hard to follow.Worst was the writing, which I found almost painful to read. I really had to struggle to finish the book. I love to read but this was just awful. The text is plodding and redundant. Someone needed to tell the story rather than just related all the facts.I previously said in my review that the authors missed the point on what turned the regatta around. I also said that the Wall St. Journal did a better job on pointing this out.Subsequent to posting this review, I got a phone call from one of the authors, Steven Tsuchiya, who pointed out that the WSJ oversimplified what happened. This book got it right but the storytelling in the WSJ was better. In any case, I stand corrected and I am impressed with the attention to detail from the authors. I just wish the storytelling was better and the layout improved.

The content is good. The layout has you wondering what you are reading. Someone must have thought this was original or clever, it is just very confusing. Not enough photos for this type of book. I have owned as sailed two Cats for years. I love them. This book needed a lot more in the way of diagrams showing the parts of the boats to the reader. Of course it would be on page 78 between page 81 and 56. The content is still good and worth a read.

I was looking for some insight into the remarkable comeback staged by Oracle Team USA in America's Cup 34. I have memorized the U Tube videos of races 17, 18 and 19 and I have watched them all. While this is a good summary of New Zealand, Italian, and Swedish efforts, it contains no particular insights into the Oracle Team USA campaign other than could have been gained through press releases or post race news conferences. While a fairly comprehensive set of facts, it does not provide much insight to the Oracle-Team USA effort to win the Auld Mug from an 8-1 deficit. The substance of the book does not live up to the promise of the cover.

This book was a thorough description of the events of the AC34. It, definitely, did a great job of describing the series. I would have loved to have seen more color pictures as it was such a spectacular event. Also, I have seen more detailed technical information that would have been great to incorporate (Seahorse, Sailing Anarchy etc.). I did enjoy the book but in a different way to the other preceding book, "The Billionaire and the Car Mechanic" by Julian Guthrie. A good read.......

No doubt, the 34th America's Cup in 2013 was an amazing event. I got myself the pretty / colorful "Official Guide" already, and hoped that this book would be similar beautiful (color pictures) with some text on fine printed paper covering the race and aftermath in detail. "WINGING IT" is not about pretty pictures on fine paper (not at all) but about facts and figures on yearly-catalog-style paper. If facts and figures float your boat, than this is the booklet for you. If you want fine printed pictures of the race, ... oh well, I am still looking myself.

This was a gift for my Brother a sailing enthusiast for many years on the Great Lakes. He does not have a lot of spare time to just sit and read but in the case of this book he has made time. He really likes the book and the incredible story about Oracle Team USA. Thanks Amazon for your great prices and quick shipping. Rick

What do we want the America Cup to mean and represent? Should we have to pay our best sailors to represent our nations? ( 70 present of the cost to defend or challenge ) Bring this wonderful contest to be more meaningful to both the competing nations and practical sailors

I didn't really know what to expect with this, but it's absolutely fascinating. Goes into the history of the cup - but not so much to dissuade the casual reader, goes into some of the key moments through the years - but not too nerdy. Gives a really good explanation of the whole AC protocol - Deed of gift/Challenger etc etc - but without losing the reader in mumbo jumbo.Leads up beautifully to the last cup - which this is predominantly about - thereby giving the reader a real grounding and understanding as to why these boats were chosen, why the format etc etc. A great book for the enthusiast as well as being a brilliant guide to the AC as an event itself.My only negative is that at £18 the book felt particularly cheap.... feeble cover and quite fragile in the hand - BUT a very very good read to redeem this.

Well worth the rating for its accuracy and intimate knowledge of the subject matter. I believe there's other books dishing more "dirt" and political stuff from behind the scenes, but for the sailing and technical story behind it all, brilliantly done. Why there isn't a DVD of the series that year, I'll never know...this is as close as you'll get to the story behind the story as a sailor and fills the gap in my thirst for the how's and what of this series of races

I bought this for my husband, a very keen sailor, and he was fascinated by it.If you love sailing, then read this. He also read Ben Ainslie's autobiography, and The Mechanic and the Billionaire, all about Larry Ellison and the America's Cup.You won't be disappointed by any of them!

I learnt just how Ben Ainslie, great skills and knowledge of the venue resulted in a winning defense of the America Cup against all the odds.

Lots of interesting detail.