The Paintings of the America's Cup 1851-1957 [Hardcover] Paintings By Tim Thompson; Written By Ranulf Rayner

Before photography ruled the seas, maritime artists captured the drama of yacht racing through oil and watercolor — and no regatta inspired more canvases than the America's Cup. This hardcover collection spans over a century of competition, from the schooner *America's* shock 1851 victory around the Isle of Wight to the J-Class giants of the 1930s. Tim Thompson's paintings resurrect these legendary vessels mid-race: sails straining, spray flying, hulls heeling at impossible angles. Ranulf Rayner's text anchors each image in history — the controversies, the innovations, the millionaires who bankrolled these floating masterpieces. What emerges is both sporting chronicle and art book, proof that yacht racing was as much about spectacle as speed. For sailing enthusiasts, maritime art collectors, or anyone drawn to the romance of canvas and wood cutting through open water.