The Leading Edge

This is a book about ocean racing - a personal view of the events and an account of one of the most successful individual records ever made by a designer and skipper. In 1965 Dick Carter was a good skipper, but an unknown designer. His first design was Rabbit, which Sandy Weld helped launch, tune and race. They won the Fastnet Race in its first season and Dick Carter grew an international reputation. The Leading Edge depicts the intense competition of crews dedicated to winning and the camaraderie and enthusiasm of those who participate in this demanding sport. It is an appreciation of Dick Carter's designs and his skill as a skipper. It is also the story of the extraordinary success of his first design, Rabbit, and the next three designs he skippered: Tina, Rabbit II and Red Rooster - the latter which also won the Fastnet Race and the Admiral's Cup. Weld's racing experience provides a fascinating account that will be of considerable use to the sailor and of absorbing interest to those who follow the sport.

Sandy Weld grew up sailing a Herreshoff 12- footer off Cape Cod on Buzzards Bay. He was discharged from the US Army in Germany in May 1965 and joined Dick Carter a week later to help launch and tune Dick's new yacht Rabbit. He raced on board all the boats Dick Carter designed and skippered in the 1960s. During this period, Sandy participated in three Fastnet races, two Admiral's Cup competitions, the Sydney-Hobart and the Bermuda races.