Eileen Ramsay - the Queen of Yachting Photography

Eileen Ramsay was at the centre of a unique period in yachting history, and this wonderful book, featuring her classic photography, celebrates an extraordinary woman and her extraordinary subjects.

Eileen's heyday was between 1950 and 1970 - a time when eccentrics ruled, records were there for the setting, and women weren't often to be found behind the lens. But Eileen established herself as one of the greatest yachting photographers of her time, taking famous portraits of sailing icons like Francis Chichester and Eric Tabarly, Olympians, including Rodney Pattisson and Keith Musto, and historic pictures from the first Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic (OSTAR) Races. She was the only photographer Chichester allowed on his Gipsy Moth yachts, and commissioned to photograph notorious charmers like Uffa Fox and Max Aitken, learned to stave off their amorous advances.

Her unique archive records the explosive growth in dinghy and offshore sailing during post-war years, and includes pictures of the first Enterprises, Mirrors, Ospreys, Optimists and the first America's Cup 12 metres Sceptre and Evaine.

She was also closely involved in photographing powerboats, in particular, those built on the Hamble, and those powerboat pioneers that competed in the first Daily Express Cowes/Torquay and Round Britain races, which are also featured in this book. Eileen, now into her 90s can remember just about every photograph she has taken and relate an anecdote or story about each one. Many of these memories are also recorded in the book.

The book Includes tributes from her famous subjects and fellow photographers like Kenneth Beken who writes: "Between the 50s and 70s, Eileen Ramsay carved a name for herself with creative skills shouting out from her studies. Eileen certainly had the eye for a good photo and the sailing world was all the poorer for her retirement. Fortunately, her archive has now been saved for posterity and I for one, look forward to the release of more of her work."

The Eileen Ramsay archive has now been catalogued by PPL Photo Agency www.pplmedia.com, allowing those with an interest, to search on line for boats by name, event, number or type. Many of her iconic pictures have also been scanned and can be viewed online on the same web site.

Eileen Ramsay - the Queen of Yachting Photography, is a spectacular celebration of a pioneering photographer and a fascinating time in yachting history.

Eileen Ramsay - the Queen of Yachting Photography
By Barry Pickthall
ISBN No: 978-1-4081-7841-6
A special signed, limited edition.

160 pages, 123 classic pictures. £25 + postage & packing

Open publication - Free publishing

Read more: Latest News