Casting Off Tradition: Setting sail with visionary boatbuilder David Binks

by Trevor Gill, James Hardy

From their first attempts to sail or row beyond the horizon thousands of years ago, men have been building boats from timber. David Binks's childhood dream was to float and sail, making his first craft from a single wooden plank. When he began his boat?building apprenticeship at 17, David learnt the age-old technique of working with plank and rib. But within a year, the possibilities of fibreglass gripped his imagination and changed the boating world. David was at the forefront of the international revolution of boatbuilding, and the coming of age for boatbuilding and racing in Australia.Introduced by one of Australia's most famous sailors, America's Cup and Admiral's Cup legend Sir James Hardy, Casting Off Tradition is a story of vision, ingenuity, drama, champion sailors, colourful characters and adventure.

760 pages, Paperback

Published February 2, 2018

Reviews

[Woody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expect this biography appeals to a specific and possibly limited readership of fans. I’m definitely one, who grew up in the Adelaide and Port Adelaide sailing world of David Binks. I sailed with my family at the Port Adelaide Sailing Club adjacent to the great Port Adelaide boat building companies. With Dad, I annually enjoyed the Adelaide Boat Show and knew all the exhibitors, including Binks. I was fortunate to helm and crew in some of the vessels mentioned, including a swift and exciting return sail from North Haven to Glenelg in a B30. I remember the great SA sailing yachts and sailors mentioned. And of course I was a dedicated fan of the great era of America’s Cup and Sir Jim around 1983.
A most enjoyable read, detailing the successes and challenges of a sailor and pioneering boat builder who was leading innovation locally and internationally.