Man has been fascinated with sailing since time immemorial - long before the word "yacht" was coined. While many boats in ancient times had a purpose, some sailing vessels were used solely for pleasure. History shows ancient sailing vessels were used as pleasure crafts by the Phoenician princes and later the Ptolemies.
What has never changed is the marriage of disciplines that a great vessel demands - safety, ease of handling, high performance, and the finest craftsmanship, all held in a single hull. It is the same pursuit that drives the finest automobiles and aircraft: engineering refined until it becomes something close to art.
For those who appreciate machines built to the highest standard, the modern pleasure craft remains the purest example - a reminder that the oldest luxuries are often the most enduring.
Originally published in View AZ Highlife Magazine, Spring 2008.