To the Third Power: The Inside Story of Bill Koch's Winning Strategies for the America's Cup

It was the late sports columnist Red Smith who opined that watching the America's Cup yacht race was as exciting as watching grass grow. While many spectators would agree, it is anything but dull for the participants, as this contribution to the history of sailboat racing proves. The only first-time entrant since the mid-19th century to win the cup, industrialist Bill Koch, with three degrees from MIT, put his faith in technology for the construction of his boats and in his conviction that a feeling for teamwork should govern crew selection. His faith was not misplaced, as his best ship, America3, defeated defending champion Dennis Conner in the 1992 preliminaries and the Italian team in the finals. The cost? $68 million, of which $15 million came from contributions. Koch's next project? An all-female crew. Of interest mainly to those who sail. Photos not seen by PW. 25,000 first printing; $100,000 ad/promo. (Apr.)