Books by Nic Compton

Nic Compton spent his childhood on and around boats. An English graduate from Exeter University, he tried his hand at boatbuilding for a few years before becoming a full-time journalist. After a brief spell on the Western Morning News he became deputy editor then editor of Classic Boat from 1994-2000. He now works as a freelance writer/photographer contributing to Sailing, Nautique, Practical Boat Owner and Yachts & Yachting. He was editor of The Official Book of the America's Cup Jubilce (Notre Voie, 2002) and wrote his first book Sailing Solo for Mitchell Beazley in 2003. Olin Stephens, who writes the foreword to this book, designed his first yacht in 1931 at the age of 21. Dorade won the famous Fastnet race that year and was followed by Stormy Weather, which won the Fastnet in 1935. The two boats became the foundation stone of the newly created Sparkman & Stephens, which would ultimately become the most successful American design firm ever. Olin co-designed his first America's Cup yacht in 1937 (the J-Class Ranger) and went on to design five more Cup defenders (all unbeaten) - a record only matched by that other US design legend Nat Herreshoff. Now in his 90s, he has again become more active on the classic yacht circuit since Dorade and Stormy Weather were restored in Italy in the late 1990s. The author, Nic Compton sailed with him on Stormy Weather after she was relaunched in 2001. Olin Stephens is truly a living legend, the guru of the classic-yacht scene today.