THE PROVING GROUND

The annual Sydney, Australia, to Hobart, Tasmania, yacht race began under clear blue skies on December 26, 1998. One day later, a monster storm would destroy boats and kill six sailors. The harrowing story of this race is brilliantly narrated by Michael Kramer, who combines a stoic voice and superb pacing to produce a breathtaking tale. Kramer is always in control of the text. He knows when to pause for effect or motor forward as the racers battle eighty-foot waves and hurricane-force winds. He has excellent diction and alternates cleanly between his American accent and the sailors' native Australian. Even his direction to turn the tape over has a certain urgency to it. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 02]