Chasing the Long Rainbow: The Drama of a Singlehanded Sailing Race Around the World

In the second single-handed, round-the-world race (1986) sponsored by the international BOC corporation, 25 boats sailed across the starting line at Newport, R.I. Nine months later (there were layovers at Capetown, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro) 15 had completed the race with one more still gamely struggling to finish. Roth ( The Longest Race ), who placed fourth in his class in American Flag , here gives a thrilling account of his experience and of the race overall. One sailor was swept overboard; one boat sank, one ran aground, others had equipment failures. A Canadian whose boat was dismasted sailed under jury rig 4400 miles around Cape Horn to the Falklands. Most of the competitors kept in touch by radio, developing an extraordinary sense of camaraderie. Adventure-lovers will find the book hard to put down. Dolphin Book Club main selection. Photos. (Apr.)