With more than 4,000 megayachts afloat, no wonder man has been inspired to take pen to paper to describe them. Several good works have been created, describing the construction process, what it’s like to work and live aboard these yachts, and even what inspired their looks inside and out. The following books—some old, some new—are among the most popular and best reviewed. All, except where noted, can be purchased through online retailers such as Amazon.com.
1. The Maltese Falcon: Art of Innovation. With about 300 photos, some never published in any magazine, spanning more than 240 pages, The Maltese Falcon: Art of Innovation goes into every detail about arguably the most complex and captivating sailing yacht built in modern times. Included is great information on the history of the DynaRig, which inspired Maltese Falcon’s impressive masts (nicknamed the FalconRig), plus personal recollections from everyone involved in the commissioning, design, and build. Order directly from the publisher.
2. Outrageous Yachts. Written by longtime yachting writers Jill Bobrow and Kenny Wooten, along with photographer Dana Jinkins, Outrageous Yachts (above) spotlights super-fast, super-luxurious, and simply super-huge superyachts. See and read about classics like Delphine and Christina O, whose decks could tell countless tales. At the other end of the luxury spectrum, there’s the crazy (some say kooky) Guilty, designed by famed artist Jeff Koons for an equally famous art collector. Each yacht profiled puts her own spin on the definition of outrageous.
3. Royal Huisman 125 Years: The Spirit of Individuality. It’s quite an achievement to stay in business for decade after decade, so when a company has been around for more than 100 years, it’s even more impressive. This book chronicles the early days of the famed Dutch builder, its entry into larger and larger sailing yachts, its collaboration with the leading designers in the industry, and personal remembrances from the Huisman family. Order directly from Royal Huisman.
4. Luxury Toys: Mega Yachts. There’s a series of hardcover books named Luxury Toys, with a few of them covering yachts, but this is the one to buy if you’re an admirer of exterior stylist Espen Øino. Nick Jeffery, a naval architect turned yachting writer and publicist, spotlights 20 of Øino’s designs, including Octopus, Princess Mariana, Skat, and Silver.
5. Megayacht: True Stories of Adventure, Drama, and Tragedy at Sea. More than 10 years after it was first published, this book still sends chills up my spine. Doug Hoogs and Buddy Haack, two respected captains and consultants, pulled together first-person accounts of a variety of almost unthinkable situations, including a sinking, a shark attack, and even an FBI sting.
6. Dream Cruises: The Insider’s Guide to Private Yacht Charter Vacations. Whether your budget is a few thousand or $1 million, you’ll learn everything from how to find a reputable charter broker to where you can expect to find different types of yachts in this book (right), the only one that gives a thorough overview of vacationing on the water. The author, Kim Kavin, has been covering yacht charter since the 1990s and founded the first online magazine devoted to the topic, CharterWave. She taps both personal experience as well as the expertise of 60 charter brokers for the tips contained within Dream Cruises’ pages.
Darcey McNiff Thompson
Hi Diane,
It was a pleasant surprise to be reading about Maltese Falcon and then scroll down to see your mention of Megayacht: True Stories of Adventure, Drama and Tragedy at Sea. It was a fun book to create and I know Buddy and Doug would be thrilled to know that you loved it.
Thank you!
Darcey McNiff Thompson