A fascinating account not just of a racing sailboat storied for its exploits and victories, but of the man who built it: Danish-American naval engineer Thorvald Julius Schougaard Poekel. Vencedor would distinguish itself in a series of highly competitive races between the United States and Canada on what has been called "the great unsalted sea"-the Great Lakes-that led to the creation of "Canada's Cup," one of the most prestigious yachting events in the world.