Under Sail

The luxury sailing yacht--that sublime marriage of form and function--is plush yet sleek, indulgent yet built for speed. Thirteen of the very finest of these boats are displayed here, from lovingly restored schooners and cutters built in the early twentieth century to the new generation of high-tech yachts. The author, a sailor himself, discusses each boat's history and characteristics, above and belowdecks, including her origins, racing record, and more intricate explanations about her fittings and design elements. Lush photographs show the boats under sail, as well as details like the original fireplace in the nearly century-old, 147-foot Orion ; the bronze blocks on Linnet 's deck, re-created from designer Nathanael Herreshoff's 1904 drawings; and the Mariette' s forward cockpit, resplendent with monogrammed cushions, designed to keep passengers dry during a close-hauled tack. Burnished wooden staircases leading to well-appointed cabins and orderly galleys stocked with specially inscribed silver and crockery epitomize elegance afloat.