title: Knockdown: The Harrowing True Account of a Yacht  Race Turned Deadly
author:  Martin Dugard 
description: On December 26, 1998, 115 boats sailed out of Sydney Harbor at the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart race. The Syd-Hob is a grueling 735-mile race down the east coast of Australia, across the Bass Strait, and down the length of Tasmania. Known as the toughest blue-water (open-ocean) race on earth, it is also something of a rite of passage for sailors around the world--especially Australians. Aussie landlubbers also follow the race closely, greeting the winning boat with fireworks and a city-wide celebration.
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  The Yacht Club
  
  
    
  
  
    
  [PREFACE.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER I. DON JOHN OF BELFAST, AND FRIENDS.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER II. ABOUT THE TIN BOX.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER III. THE YACHT CLUB AT TURTLE HEAD.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER IV. A SAD EVENT IN THE RAMSAY FAMILY.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER V. CAPTAIN SHIVERNOCK.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER VI. DONALD GETS THE JOB.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER VII. LAYING DOWN THE KEEL.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER VIII. THE FIRST REGATTA.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER IX. THE SKYLARK AND THE SEA FOAM.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER X. THE LAUNCH OF THE MAUD.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XI. THE WHITE CROSS OF DENMARK.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XII. DONALD ANSWERS QUESTIONS.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XIII. MOONLIGHT ON THE JUNO.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XIV. CAPTAIN SHIVERNOCK'S JOKE.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XV. LAUD CAVENDISH TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XVI. SATURDAY COVE.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XVII. THE GREAT RACE.  
  
  
    
  [CHAPTER XVIII. THE HASBROOK OUTRAGE AND OTHER MATTERS.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # The Yacht Club
  
  
  ### Oliver Optic
  
  
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