The book America’s Cup is dedicated to one of the most prestigious competitions in modern sport. In large format, it combines historical documents, technical representations, and contemporary photographs into a rich visual narrative
by Massimo Longoni
Louis Vuitton and Taschen bring the excitement and charm of over a century of America’s Cup regattas to life directly from your library. The French fashion house, owned by the LVMH group, and the German publisher have joined forces to produce a detailed and beautifully designed monograph on the world’s oldest international sporting competition. The book on the America’s Cup traces the evolution of the Cup, from the first race off the coast of England in 1851 to the latest challenge between defender and challenger held in October 2024.
With a collection of rare and unpublished photographs, technical drawings and detailed data, this hardback volume offers a behind-the-scenes look at this prestigious competition.
The editor is Italian journalist Pino Allievi, while Marc Newson was responsible for the design. The authors include Antonio Vettese, a leading expert on the America’s Cup and editorial advisor for the book, and Carlo Borlenghi as photo editor. The structure follows a chronological order, enriched by thematic chapters on the evolution of the boats, the regattas, and the individual protagonists, without, however, claiming to offer a complete history. The texts alternate between documentary narration and personal reflections.
The book highlights the main protagonists, from crews to owners to skippers.
Dian Hanson and Eric Godtland broaden their perspective beyond the sporting arena and consider the America’s Cup as a cultural event. Hanson focuses on visual codes and media representation, while Godtland analyses the social rituals and power structures surrounding the competition. The variety of voices is not accidental, but reflects the contradictions of a sport that oscillates between the elite and public spectacle.
Unlike many illustrated volumes dedicated to major sporting events, this book largely dispenses with pathos and the usual national narrative patterns. The design focuses on craftsmanship and structural clarity, although the exterior clearly declares its exclusivity.
The Art Edition designed by Marc Newson also includes a carbon fibre stand for displaying the book, whose shape recalls the keel of a sailing boat.
The book itself is an actual work of art, with multidisciplinary designer Marc Newson going beyond traditional materials such as paper and cardboard for the limited editions. The Australian designer paid homage to the 23-metre foiling yachts competing in the Cup, incorporating several sailing-inspired details. The cover of the Limited Edition is made of cotton sailcloth and features a metal closure system designed by Louis Vuitton.
Only 825 copies of the America’s Cup Limited Edition will be produced, priced at €2,500, while 175 copies of the America’s Cup Marc Newson Art Edition will be available at €13,000. The publisher will also release a commercial edition at a more affordable price of €125.
Da sinistra: Carlo Borlenghi, Photo director, Marc Newson Designer, Marlene Taschen, Ceo di Taschen, Pino Allievi, Editor and Project Director e Antonio Vettese, Editorial Advisor.
The price and limited print run indicate that the volume is not intended for a mass audience, but rather for an international audience of collectors and connoisseurs in the field. For this target audience, the book meets expectations – not through emphasis, but through a consistent and accomplished formal language.
(Sailing – America’s Cup, pure emotion – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, December 2025)
