Book excerpt: A well-built sailing vessel is a sight to behold--likened by poets since Homer to the most stunning shapes of the natural world: the curve of the moon, a woman's silhouette, a swelling wave. Classic Sailing Yachts celebrates that beauty with page after page of gorgeous photography accompanied by detailed information on design, materials, vintage, and builders. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific vessel, with in-depth discussion of her provenance, construction, and sailing characteristics.