On the Water: A Century of Iconic Maritime Photography from the Rosenfeld Collection

The golden age of sailing and boating comes alive in this selection of photographs curated from the unparalleled archive of this great American sport.

The Rosenfelds’ photographs of competition sailboats, billowing spinnakers, and graceful motor yachts not only document the most glamorous era of sailing and boating but also celebrate and capture the power, drama, and beauty of the maritime experience. These beautifully reproduced prints will transport the reader to the decks of daysailers, sleek America’s Cup racing boats, vintage Chris-Craft runabouts, and elegant motor yachts from a bygone era.

Morris Rosenfeld and his sons defined maritime photography in the first half of the twentieth century—the dynamic balance of sky and water, the perspective that emphasizes the boat, and the moment that captures its nature.

Each timeless image comes to life both through its story and in beautiful reproduction on the oversized pages. This is a celebration of the traditions of the nautical lifestyle and a siren song to the American pursuit of going to sea.

Nick Voulgaris III is an avid sailor and the author of Hinckley Yachts: An American Icon and Chris-Craft: An American Classic. The Mystic Seaport Museum acquired the Rosenfeld Collection in 1984. It is one of the largest archives of maritime photographs in the United States, with nearly one million pieces from 1881 to the present. Robert Iger is CEO of the Walt Disney Company and a passionate yachtsman. Dennis Conner became known as “Mr. America’s Cup” after winning four America’s Cups. Ted Turner captained the 1977 America’s Cup winner.