Storms Ahead
Rick Dodson: America's Cup champion to Paralympian, by Rebecca Hayter
 

Rick Dodson's career was going well: he had just been part of the winning team in the 1995 America's Cup and was on track to represent New Zealand again in 2000. Then came the diagnosis of MS: multiple schlerosis.

Published by Oceanspirit Publishing, designed by Cheryl Smith of Macarn Design, Storms Ahead features more than 40 colour photographs. Also available as an e-book. For much of the writing period, New Zealand was in lockdown.

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Rick wanted a book written about his life and his friends raised money to make it happen, including the Salty Dog Band of Ray Davies, Tony Rae.

New Zealand had several attempts at the Admirals Cup before finally discovering the key to winning: that the three boats in the team work together, not against each other. 

Cheeky, competitive and even arrogant were terms used to describe the young Rick Dodson. His battle with Russell Coutts for the spot at the 1984 Olympics in the Finn class became part of sailing lore in NZ sport.

In 2012 Rick Dodson and David Barnes, both suffering from multiple sclerosis, teamed up to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games. Storms Ahead follows their story from looking for other crew, raising money, competing at overseas regattas against other competitors and the progression of MS in their bodies.

In 2012, Rick Dodson and David Barnes, who also had MS, teamed up to compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in the Sonar.

Foes turned friends. The battle between Russell Coutts and Rick Dodson for the chance to represent New Zealand in the Finn class at the 1984 Olympic Games was legendary. Coutts won the trials and then the gold medal at the Olympics. Less than 10 years later, Coutts invited Dodson to be part of Team New Zealand. Sir Russell Coutts contributed an extensive interview for Storms Ahead.

Rick was part of the winning America's Cup in 1995 and 2000. Tom Schnackenberg, Joey Allen, Kevin Shoebridge, Jeremy Scantlebury, Russell Coutts, Murray Jones, Matthew Mason and broadcaster Peter Montgomery all gave interviews for
Storms Ahead.

Rick's team mates in Kiwi Gold, Chris Sharp, left, and Andrew May gave candid interviews about their experience sailing with Rick Dodson at the Rio Paralympics.