Phil Weld's Book "Moxie"

To Order DVD/Video List New Film Co. Contents Home Page What's New

Moxie
by Philip S. Weld
245 pages

(Sorry, no longer available)

Ocean racing is a sport "where the accretion of wisdom can offset diminishing physical power". So says Phil Weld, a 65-year-old grandfather who shattered every previous record with his victory in the 1980 Observer Singlehanded Trans-Atlantic Race, crossing in under 18 days. The victory may have surprised the French, who had earlier predicted that "the caution of age" would be no match for the prowess of the young French competitors. British yachtsmen, however, who had competed against his Trumpeter and Gulf Streamer in several Round Britain races and in the Crystal Trophy races, knew better than to underestimate him.

For this, his third attempt at the OSTAR, Weld had Dick Newick design him the trimaran Moxie. In design, construction and in every piece of equipment Moxie was built to win. Phil Weld knew what it took to race across the Atlantic - the boat and the man were made for each other.

Grandfathers are normally past the age for thrills and spills out in the ocean, but not Phil Weld: he spent five days underneath his inverted Gulf Streamer off Bermuda before being rescued. He called his next yacht, appropriately, Rogue Wave.

Moxie is the story of a man, some boats, ocean racing and a whole lot of other things besides. It is funny, true, packed with hard information on racing trimarans, and entertaining from start to finish. Phil Weld is a fantastic sailor and a magnificent writer.

The story is lavishly illustrated and carries, a foreword by Blondie Hasler, the originator of the race.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Philip Weld was educated at Milton Academy and Harvard University. He entered journalism, first as a reporter with the Chicago Daily News, then with the Boston Post. He became president and publisher of the Gloucester (Mass.) Daily Times, and spent a year and a half in Paris as president and publisher of the New York Herald Tribune, European edition. During World War II he served in North Burma with Merrill's Marauders and the Kachin Rangers, and was decorated with the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and twice with the Presidential Unit Citation. He first took up yachting in his fifties and was well known as a competitor in international offshore races. A long-time resident of Gloucester, Massachusetts with his wife Anne and 5 children, Mr. Weld died suddenly of a heart attack on November 6, 1984.

"Phil’s customary exuberance and love of life is an example to us all and if anyone doubts that life can begin at sixty, they should read this book. For the sailor, the book provides an enormous amount of good advice and plain home-spun philosophy. It is an essential addition to the sailing man’s library." Clare Francis, M.B.E.

"I think Phil Weld has done more to encourage multihull sailing than any other person. It just shows that no matter what age you are, you can achieve the best -- for he was up against some formidable opposition. He is probably the most popular multihull sailor both sides of the Atlantic. Anyone contemplating multihull racing should read this book."
Chay Blyth

"The importance of Phil Weld’s book is that it’s not just a fine story about a singlehanded race; through his backward glances at a long and eventful career, a clear picture of the man himself emerges: happy, good, glad to have experienced and be experiencing all the good things of life and eager for everyone else to share his enthusiasm." Dame Naomi James, D.B.E

For information on AMERICAN CHALLENGE featuring Phil Weld in the OSTAR

Top of Page AMERICAN CHALLENGE Page

To Order DVD/Video List New Film Co. Contents Home Page What's New

We welcome your inquiries and comments

The New Film Company, Inc.,
7 Scott Street
Cambridge, MA 02138, U. S. A.
Phone: 617/520-5005 Fax: 617/491-9201
E-mail: newfilmco@aol.com