Knockdown : The Harrowing True Story of a Yacht Race Turned Deadly Review

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Knockdown : The Harrowing True Story of a Yacht Race Turned Deadly ReviewI've read this book, I've read all the others on this race, and I've sailed a number of Sydney-Hobarts.
We call the races "Hobarts", not "SydHobs" as Dugard suggests.
The '98 race was not easy - we had over 70 knots of wind across our deck and seas of over 20 meters, so no-one would ever suggest it was easy - but nor should it become a vehicle for an opportunist to score a few quick bucks by capitalising on the drama which others experienced, unless it is done professionally. This book just doesn't meet the grade.
It is unfortunate that Dugard obviously wrote his book with very little knowledge of sailing (let alone Ocean Racing in storm conditions), or of the race. I'm not sure he has even visited Australia, and suspect the research may have been limited to copies of Press reports and a few phone calls to friends in Sydney. You don't get that knowledge through reading books, nor as a passenger. You only get it by being there, and having the responsibility of delivering your boat and crew against the challenges thrown up by the weather.
Certainly given that ocean racing is about judgement calls in a context of nature at its harshest level, only those who are on the water in command of a craft carrying 15 or so other people, who are having to face the elements first hand and in real time, can evert know what it is like. Because sailing in these conditions is not something you can learn out of a text book, it is not something that is mechanical or formula driven - it is about real calls and real delivery in a real situation.
Dugard hasn't done it. If he hasn't done it he is not qualified in my view, but is quite probably what we call in Australia an armchair expert.
From a point of view of credibility, there are simply too many factual errors in the book, starting from virtually the first page.
Some of the errors are appalling, and not simply in the text - even one shot showing the stern of Helsal II is captioned suggesting we are looking at the bow. If the author can't tell the difference between bow and stern, how can he be relied upon to make comment or judgement about how the boats and crews performed or should perform under arduous conditions.
Its like the old Vietnam Veterans joke - you weren't there, so you wouldn't know....
An alternative book on the same race is that by Rob Mundle (A Fatal Storm). A better book, more detailed, more objective, and more accurate, compiled from interviews with a wide range of skippers and crews (and he published the interviews themselves), brilliant photos by Richard Bennett, and written by a man who has sailed a few Hobarts himself, so who knows what the journey down the racetrack is really like.Knockdown : The Harrowing True Story of a Yacht Race Turned Deadly Overview

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Eyelids of morning; the mingled destinies of crocodiles and men: Being a description of the origins, history, and prospects of Lake Rudolf, its peoples, deserts, rivers, mountains, and weather Review

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Eyelids of morning; the mingled destinies of crocodiles and men: Being a description of the origins, history, and prospects of Lake Rudolf, its peoples, deserts, rivers, mountains, and weather ReviewThe hardcover version is replete with the most bizarre photos of crocodiles, giant fish, and local tribal culture. A biological effort at determining a croc population veers into a "Heart of Darkness-esque" tome where "civilized man" is on display as mach as the lake denizens being studied. Check out the chapter describing a night on Snake Island and you will find new appreciation for your own safe backyard. This book and its dramatic photos always remind me of the power of nature and the many paths of survivalEyelids of morning; the mingled destinies of crocodiles and men: Being a description of the origins, history, and prospects of Lake Rudolf, its peoples, deserts, rivers, mountains, and weather OverviewThis book documents the crocodile's profound influence on the native people of Africa as reflected in their myths, symbols, and everyday lives--and the devastating impact that these people, as well as hunters, explorers, and developers, have had on the crocodile's existence.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Dynamic Analysis of Weather and Climate: Atmospheric circulation, Perturbations, Climatic evolution (Springer Praxis Books / Environmental Sciences) Review

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Dynamic Analysis of Weather and Climate: Atmospheric circulation, Perturbations, Climatic evolution (Springer Praxis Books / Environmental Sciences) ReviewMarcel Leroux (1938-2008) was a French climatologist Emeritus Professor of Climatology at Lyon III. The 3rd French edition of « La Dynamique du Temps et du Climat : circulation atmosphérique, perturbations, évolution climatique » was completed in May 2008, and it is its faithful equivalent, the 2nd edition in English which was published in January 2010.
Leroux demonstrated through analysis of satellite imagery, meteorological and paleo-environmental data over tropical Africa that the seasonal and paleoclimatic migration of the Meteorological Equator represent a reliable indicator of Earth's climate evolution. He defines and explains how these phenomena result from continuous meridional exchanges in the denser, lower layers of the atmosphere. These exchanges are governed by the continual ballet of Mobile Polar Highs (MPH), cold lenticular air masses 1.5 km thick, up to 3000 kilometers in diameter, originating from the poles, which power and frequency depends directly on the polar thermal deficit. Cooling spurns an accelerated circulation while warming will slow the general circulation and exchanges.
Based on direct observations, the scientific rigor of Leroux exposes the inconsistencies of previous general circulation models, indices of oscillations and various meteorological schools -frontologic, dynamic, reductionist and diagnostic (models)-. In doing so, Leroux rejects the artificial separation between meteorology and climatology and demonstrates that very little is owed to hazard or chaos: there is no "unruly climate" but intensity shifts of the sum of weather processes that constitute the climate.
His research shows that the climatic shift observed since the 1970s corresponds to the setting of an accelerated mode of circulation, always associated with cooling during the late Quaternary palaeoclimatic evolution, and its meteorological consequences: contrasted weather, stronger mid-latitude storms, increase water vapour in the troposphere and impermanent anticyclonic stability over continents leading to vigorous cold snaps in winter and heatwaves in summer. His analysis of the European heatwave of 2003 and 2007 floods takes aim in biting style at the improbable explanations by weather services and IPCC alike!
Marcel Leroux was a true Cartesian and his books are highly didactic. He offers more than a Master / Engineering school level textbook on Meteorology and Climatology: it is a masterly demonstration reminding us of the primacy of observed facts over models and thus should appeal to rational minds who want to form an educated opinion on Climate Change and the level of the present debate.
Other available works by Marcel Leroux(in English):
His updated doctoral dissertation contains the database of his African work on which he based his ideas on the general circulation [ "The weather and climate of tropical Africa, Springer Verlag, Springer-Praxis Books in Environmental Sciences, London, New York, 548 p. + CD: 300 p., 250 maps, 2001, ISBN: 978-3-540-42636-3].
An unforgiving history of the global warming science [Global Warming: Myth or Reality? The Herring Ways of Climatology ", Springer-Praxis Books in Environmental Sciences, Berlin, Heidelberg, London, New York, 509p., 2005, ISBN: 978-3 -540-23909-3].
Dynamic Analysis of Weather and Climate: Atmospheric circulation, Perturbations, Climatic evolution (Springer Praxis Books / Environmental Sciences) OverviewThe English language second edition of Dynamic Analysis of Weather and Climate is based on the updated French second edition text and illustrations of La Dynamique du Temps et du Climat (2000). The text is expanded through the incorporation of some material from Marcel Leroux's Global Warming: Myth Or Reality (2005) together with new material covering recent events, including the UK inundations 2007, the German inundations 2008, illustrations and bibliographical important updates - such as IPCC AR4 2007 and references up to 2008.This second edition will therefore be the most up to date, complete synthesis of the late author's research and understanding of weather and climate, as explained to a graduate student or engineer school level audience. The organization of the book makes it clear and logical to follow. New illustrations and satellite images provide the reader with a better understanding of the concepts. The new material demonstrates the relevance of the author's research in relation with new reports and meteorological events which now appear to be the best validation of the late author's thesis.

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