At the time of publication in 1990, this was the definitive book on maxi boats (the biggest sailboats that race under the maximum IOR rule). There are inshore maxis that race around buoys and offshore maxis that are designed for long-distance racing. This book offers a complete portfolio of both types—maxis belonging to the International Class “A” Yacht Association (ICAYA) which carry “amateur” sailors and shun sponsorship, and those that raced in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race (WRTWR) which encourages sponsorship and professionalism. The heart of the book depicts profiles of 30 maxi boats—15 ICAYA boats and 15 WRTWR—including owner/skipper profiles, yacht specifications, sail and deck plans and descriptive text. There are action photos of these majestic giants and playful shots of the crew. Also featured are historical notes on Windward Passage II and Great Britain II, background information on ICAYA and WRTWR, and profiles on designers such as Bruce Farr and German Frers, and more.