Born in 1844, William Kirk was one of the first photographers of the 19th century to capture the world of yachting on film. Working from his studio on Cowes, Isle of Wight, he was able to photograph royalty and the rich onboard their yachts - from King George V to Mortimer Singer, the sewing machine millionaire, and Bill Stephenson, the Woolworth's chairman. This book is a compilation of historic photographs, charting the history and development of the yacht, powerboat and hydroplane. Many of the glass-plate negatives in the collection were only recently discovered and have never been reproduced. Ian Dear has written books on the America's Cup, a history of ocean racing and Fastnet: The Story of a Great Ocean Race.