The book “America’s Cup” is dedicated to one of the most prestigious competitions in modern sports. With a large-format presentation, it combines historical documents, technical renderings, and contemporary photography to create a rich visual narrative. The editor is Italian journalist Pino Allievi, with design by Marc Newson. The structure follows a chronological path, complemented by thematic chapters focusing on boat development, race progressions, and individual actors—without aiming to deliver a comprehensive historical account.
© Taschen Verlag
The written contributions alternate between documentary reporting and personal retrospection. Dian Hanson and Eric Godtland expand the perspective beyond the athletic framework and explore the America’s Cup as a cultural event. While Hanson focuses primarily on visual codes and media representation, Godtland analyzes the social rituals and power structures surrounding the competition. The diversity of voices is no accident but reflects the contradictions of a sport that oscillates between elite project and public spectacle.
© Taschen Verlag
At a time when sports are increasingly shaped by economics, media logic, and spectacle, this book serves as a quiet counterpoint: monumental in size, yet restrained in pace. It demands attention—not for headlines, but for developments. The focus is not only on triumphs but also on transitions in technology, presentation, and power dynamics. The book does not offer a systematic analysis, but that is precisely its strength. It leaves space and entrusts interpretation to the readers themselves.
© Taschen Verlag
Unlike many photo books on major sporting events, this one largely avoids pathos and national narratives. The design emphasizes craftsmanship and structural clarity, even though its exterior clearly signals exclusivity. Its price and limited availability indicate that the book is not aimed at a mass audience, but at an international milieu of collectors and insiders. For this target group, it meets expectations—not through glorification, but through a coherent formal language.
Reading Tip
For more information about the America’s Cup, visit the TASCHEN website.
| Title | America’s Cup |
| Editor | Pino Allievi |
| Publisher | TASCHEN |
| Cover | Hardcover, bound in cotton sailcloth, with metal closure, made by Louis Vuitton, silver-edged book block |
| Pages | 564 pages |
| Language | English |
| Publication Year | 2025 |
| Dimensions | 33 x 43 cm |
| ISBN | 978-3-8365-8528-6 |
| Price | €2500 |
Compliance
The book was kindly made available to us by the publisher. The presentation and rating of HYPERMADE remains independent of this and is based solely on the content of the book.