The Golden Age of Yachting by L Francis Herreshoff, Seafarer Books, £22.95.
L Francis Herreshoff came from a family that designed and built some of the finest yachts the world has ever seen - and was a great designer in his own right. His father, Capt Nat Herreshoff, was a legend.
This book consists mostly of yachting history as the author felt that a review of the past was the best introduction to the sport. It was first published in 1963, under the title An Introduction to Yachting, but even then he was writing of an era long gone: from great steam yachts to the towering J class racers of the pre-war years.
The publisher says: “The title of the new edition, The Golden Age of Yachting, more accurately reflects the treasures found in this magnificent volume,” and it is hard to disagree.
Beautifully illustrated with photographs of truly stunning vessels, and written with great knowledge and not a little humour, it is a period piece that will delight today's sailors, whether reading just for pleasure, or with a more academic interest in the development of the sport and its equipment.
