The recreational sport of yachting has a varied history dating back all the way to the 17th century. Usually associated with those of high income, yachting was once used for competitive sailing with custom built yachts around the world. So, any books or documents associated with competitions are worthy for any collection.
One such title related to competitive racing is Millions for Defense: A Pictorial History of the Races for the America's Cup by Herbert Stone. Published in 1934, the first edition of this book only printed 950 copies, making the edition worth over $1000! The book is covered with great illustrations and published by the president of the Yachting Publishing Company and organizer of the competitive yacht races.
Collectors looking to expand their collection should look into sailing explorers and maps. Sailing was seen as a better exploration tool as it was more mobile for trade, fishing, and exploration. One of the first books written on the sport is A Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing by Dixon Kemp. Reprinted many times over, this book in its first edition is worthy for any collection. This book is one of the first instructional manuals for amateur sailors.
Another must have for collectors is the massive 3 volume set The Sailing Ships of New England 1607-1907 by John Robinson. With a limited first printing, a first edition can be a rare find worth thousands of dollars!
Graves, S. R. A Yachting Cruise In The Baltic. Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts: London (1863).
Wood, C. F. A Yachting Cruise in the South Seas. Henry S. King: London (1875).
Kemp, Dixon. A Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing. The Field Office: London (1880). 2nd Edition
Kemp, Dixon. A Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing. Horace Cox: London (1886). 5th Edition
Kemp, Dixon. A Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing. Horace Cox: London (1888). 6th Edition
Kemp, Dixon. A Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing. Horace Cox: London (1891). 7th Edition
Sullivan, Edward. Yachting. Longmans, Green and Co: London (1894). 250 copies; 2 volumes; Other authors-Lord Brassey, C.E. Seth-Smith, G.L. Watson, R.T. Leach; Illustrated by R.T. Pritchett
Slocum, Joshua. Sailing Alone Around the World. The Century Co.: New York (1900).
Irving, John. British Yachts and Yachtsmen. The Yachtsman Publishing Co: London (1907). Full title-British Yachts and Yachtsmen: A Complete History of British Yachting from the middle of the 16th century to the present day
Heckstall-Smith, Brooke. Dixon Kemp's Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing and Yacht Architecture. Horace Cox: London (1913). 2 volumes; Other author: Linton Hope
British Sports and Sportsmen. Yachting and Rowing. British Sports and Sportsmen: London (1916). 1000 copies
Robinson, John. The Sailing Ships of New England 1607-1907. Marine Research Society: Salem, MA (1922). 60 copies; 3 volumes; Other author: George Francis Dow
Ransome, Arthur. Racundra's First Cruise. George Allen and Unwin: London (1923).
Nance, R. Morton. Sailing-Ship Models. Halton and Truscott Ltd.: London (1924). 1750 copies; 100 copies bound in full black calf leather on deluxe paper
Laughton, L.G. Carr. Old Ship Figure-Heads and Sterns. Halton and Truscott Ltd.: London (1925). 1500 copies; Full title-Old Ship Figure-Heads and Sterns: With Which are Associated Galleries, Hancing-Pieces, Catheads and Divers Other Matters That Concern TheGrace and Countenance of Old Sailing-Ships
Wadsworth, Edward. Sailing Ships and Barges of the Western Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. Frederick Etchells and Hugh MacDonald: London (1926). 450 copies; Introduction by Bernard Windler
Moore, Sir Alan. Sailing Ships of War 1800-1860. Halton and Truscott Ltd.: London (1926). 1500 copies; Illustrated by A.G.H. MacPherson
Lubbock, Basil. The Last of the Windjammers. Charles E. Lauriat: Boston (1927). 4 volumes
Daniels, W. J. Model Sailing Craft. Chapman and Hall: London (1932). Other author H. B. Tucker
Gavin, C. M. Royal Yachts. Rich and Cowan: London (1932). Limited Edition; 1000 copies
Wasson, George S. Sailing Days on the Penobscot. Marine Research Society: Salem, Mass (1932). Limited Edition; 97 copies; Other author Lincoln Colcord; Full title-Sailing Days on the Penobscot: The River and Bay As They Were In the Old Days, with a Record of Vessels Built There
Collingwood, W. G. The Lake Counties. Frederick Warne and Co Ltd: London (1932). Limited Autographed Edition; 350 copies; Illustrated by A. Reginald Smith; Full title-The Lake Counties: With Special Articles on Birds, Butterflies and Moths, Flora, Geology, Fox-Hunting, Mountaineering, Yachting, Motor-Boating, Fishing, Shooting, and Cycling
Stone, Herbert L. Millions for Defense: A Pictorial History of the Races for the America's Cup. The Derrydale Press: New York (1934). 950 copies; Other author-Alfred E. Loomis
Chatterton, E. Keble. Sailing Models: Ancient and Modern. Hurst and Blackett: London (1934). 1000 copies
Chapelle, Howard I. The History of American Sailing Ships. W. W. Norton and Company: New York (1935). Signed Limited edition; 121 copies Illustrated by George C. Wales and Henry Rusk
Flynn, Errol. Beam Ends. Longmans, Green and Co.: New York (1937).
Nance, R. Morton. Sailing-Ship Models: A Selection from European and American Collections. Halton and Company, LTD: London (1949). 200 copies; 50 copies signed by author