The idea for this book came about while 'talking story' with sailing buddies from the past, usually at the bar after a race. I was talking to some of the consummate pranksters of their day and got to thinking what fun sailing used to be compared to what the money-driven programs of today have become. The class of the 60's, 70's, and early 80's spawned some true characters. Keith Lorence was born in Los Angeles, and was practically raised on a sailboat. His dad took him sailing at six weeks old, his first race at eight, and he has been a sail maker since 1969. He has sailed and raced in almost every ocean and sea in the world, winning the first Whitbread Round the world race, as well as participating in the infamous 1979 Fastnet race. In his long career, he has come across some of the true characters and luminaries in the sailing world. These are their stories, with some of his own thrown in for fun. Keith now splits his time between Santa Barbara and San Diego, Ca.
