Trivia
In many shots the film skippers (Will, Morgan and Jack) can be seen driving the boats from the leeward side while beating to windward. In reality, most of the time skippers drive their boats from the windward side, mostly to help keep the weight on the windward side and also to give themselves a better view of the incoming waves so they can steer a proper course around them. The reason for putting the film skippers on the leeward side was so that the real sailors could control the boat from the windward wheel while remaining mostly out of shot (you can see their legs occasionally in some scenes.)
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Quotes
Will:
We're going to need as much waterline as we can get.
Joe:
I've factored in the average weather in that part of Australia over the last 20 years. We've got to play the percentages.
Will:
You mean compromise?
Joe:
Yeah, of course. You always get to a point where you have to stop torturing yourself and play the percentages. You're afraid of committing yourself, you have the desire for perfection.
Will:
What's wrong with perfection?
Joe:
Nothing, if you're God, and you're prepared to wait 500 million years for it to evole. ...
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This is an amazingly well crafted film, which captures the excitement, danger, and intelligence involved in racing big sailboats, while being a warmly human, sad romance. I have found it to be the most uplifting film I think that I have ever seen, without being cheesy, forced, or artificial. I was lucky enough to see live footage taken from on the boats during the America's Cup races held off of Melbourne following Australia winning the Cup, and this movie recreates the immediacy of those broadcasts. Wonderful editing, rich sound, and skillful boat handling combine to dispel the sense of disbelief entirely.
The characters are developed well, and have depth and substance, which adds to the power of the film to engage. One does not need to know anything about sailing to get swept up in this film, but those who do will appreciate the accuracy with which the film was made.