Ready All!: George Yeoman Pocock and Crew Racing

As a youth in Britain, Pocock learned the rudiments of boat building from his father, who crafted boats for young Etonians. Forced to emigrate by straitened economic conditions, he journeyed to the Pacific Northwest intending to find work as a lumberjack. Fortunately for the University of Washington in Seattle, he was persuaded to establish shop there and began making shells of outstanding quality. They were so good, in fact, that Washington won its first intercollegiate title in 1923, defeating the Eastern teams that had ruled the sport for decades. One of his greatest triumphs occurred in 1936 when the Washington team won an Olympic gold medal in Germany, but he had numerous other successes as both boatman and coach until his retirement in 1963. There are many fine photos, including some of special interest from the 19th century, and a foreword by the current coach of Washington's varsity crew. (August 17)