Eileen Ramsay was at the centre of a unique period in yachting history, and this wonderful book, featuring her classic photography, celebrates an extraordinary woman and her extraordinary subjects. Eileen's heyday was between 1957 and 1970 - a time when eccentrics ruled, records were there for the setting, and women weren't often to be found behind the lens. But Eileen established herself as one of the greatest yachting photographers of her time, taking famous portraits of such sailing icons as Sir Francis Chichester, Eric Tabarly, Olympians like Rodney Pattisson and Keith Musto, and historic pictures from the first OSTAR (Observer Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race). She was the only photographer Sir Francis Chichester allowed on his Gypsy Moth yachts, and managed to photograph the notorious charmers Uffa Fox and Max Aitken. Her unique archive records the explosive growth in dinghy and offshore sailing during the post-war years, and includes pictures of the first Enterprises, Mirrors, Ospreys, Optimists and the first America's Cup 12 metres Sceptre and Evaine. This beautiful book features: - the post-war explosion in dinghy sailing - the growth of offshore racing - the pioneering days of the OSTAR race and solo circumnavigations - the 12 metre class and the America's Cup - post-war powerboat racing - iconic cruising yachtsmen as well as sailing eccentrics There are also wonderful personal tributes to Eileen throughout by sailing personalities such as Vernon Stratton, Keith Musto and Uffa Fox.

Prizes

Short-listed for The Maritime Foundation Mountbatten Literary Awards 2013 (UK)

Barry Pickthall's recent unearthing of Eileen Ramsay's photo archives has been a great find. Spanning the 50s-70s of British yachting and dinghy sailing, they present a great snapshot of a time of transition from wooden to plastic boats and from black and white to colour photography. -- Steffan Meyric Hughes, news editor * Classic Boat *
Ramsey was clearly a master of her field and this comes across in page after page of beautiful photography. * Sailing Today *
She was the only photographer Sir Francis Chichester allowed on his Gypsy Moth yachts! That's got to say something... * Out There *
Eileen Ramsay was at the centre of a unique period in yachting history, and this wonderful book, featuring her classic photography, celebrates an extraordinary woman and her extraordinary subjects. * Hampshire Life *
Magnificent record of yachting... Pickthall has done a splendid job of photo selection, many in black and white, which makes you wonder why we are so obsessed with colour today. * Yachting World *
A spectacular celebration of a pioneering photographer and a fascinating time in yachting history and perfect for any sailor's coffee table. * World Cruising *
a beautifully produced book. Not only is a fine tribute to a great photographer...but an important addition to our history. * Royal Naval Sailing Association *
an outstanding publication * Sailing *

Barry Pickthall won the 2008 Whyte & Mackay/YJA Journalist of the Year Award. A respected writer and photographer, he has been covering all aspects of the sport for four decades, for twenty years of which (1978-1998) he was Yachting Correspondent to The Times. He continues to write extensively for magazines across Europe, USA, South Africa and Australasia. Barry is also Managing Director of PPL Ltd - one of the world's leading watersports photo agencies, with more than 3 million pictures on file. He is also the author of 18 books.