Setting sail on a sailing boat means abandoning oneself to the appeal of cruise the sea, a visceral sentiment which merges with the intriguing desire for challenge. But the pleasure of navigation is only the end result of a long process, in which ideas and workmanship contribute to the realization of a project. This volume therefore does not limit itself to just a description of the vessels which have made the history of sailing and of regattas but also includes detailed information on how these have been built, who designed them and which were the ideas that have inspired the designs. The reader will therefore be able to enter, thanks also to photos and precious historical documents, in the evolution of the great sailing ships up till today. AUTHOR: Franco Giorgetti is an architect and passionate recreational and competitive sailor. He has designed racing yachts for many major events including the America's Cup. He restores classic boats and as a member of the technical committee of the Italian Classic Boats Association ILLUSTRATIONS: 582 colour photographs