The Publisher
*****
Aug 11, 2010, 1:46 PM
Post #1 of 5
(4004 views)
Shortcut
|
|
BOOK REVIEW: The “Pope” of Sailing
|
Log-In to Post/Reply
|
|
My first encounter with Paul Henderson was at the 1986 U.S. Snipe Nationals on Lake Chautauqua in NY, where he roared up and down the course in a small aluminum boat to educate the fleet on the kinetics, a section of the rule book for which he holds strong opinions. Having an on-the-water judge was a new feature back then, but as Paul recalls, “I have been told it was the fairest Snipe regatta ever run as I disqualified no one. I was in the boat by myself roaring up and down the course visible to all and they were all so paranoid they played the game by the rules which they all knew.”
Little did I know at the time that this forceful bald man was THE Paul Henderson, who had blazed a trail from his early days on Toronto Island in Canada through three decades of Olympic sailing competition, and would ultimately become the president of the sport’s highest administrative body - International Sailing Federation - from 1994 to 2004. His hand in the development of Toronto sailing, and his influence amid the International Olympic Committee, are stuff of legend.
Now at the tender age of 75 years, Paul provides the stories of his life in a book titled ‘The “Pope” of Sailing’. Paul has lived his life far from the constraints of the politically correct world, and his strong opinions provide enlightened reading. This book is truly a behind-the-scenes tour, and Paul is as likely to salute people’s intelligence and generosity as he is to flame others for their self-serving tactics that short changed the sport. The depth of his stories is remarkable, and Paul pulls no punches in telling them. From start to finish, this is a tale full of life and love.
At nearly 400 pages, I was curious about Paul’s motivation to air out the past. “I speak at many clubs in the Toronto area,” noted Paul. “Several times people asked me to write the stories down so I did.” He admits to having an ‘elephant's memory’, but with so many situations detailed in the book, some dating back quite a few years, I wondered if anyone had questioned his recollection of a situation. “When anyone questions the facts according to the ‘Pope’, I cavalierly respond: ‘When you write your book you can correct them.’”
- Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt
|
SCUTTLEBUTT
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG IN
purchase.jpg