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Press, 13 December 1986, Page 28

The America’s Cup challengers and defenders, from past and present, are receiving a burst of attention from publishers as the yachting series in Western Australia moves towards a climax. These illustrations come from two handsome books among the recent offerings. ABOVE: A striking masthead picture of the Italian challenger Italia with her spinnaker billowing fan-like over the bows. This is from “The Contenders,” by Peter Campbell (Pacific Publishers, $27.50). The book has a short chapter on each of the challenging yachts, and each of the would-be defenders. The illustrations are profuse and generally dramatic. BELOW: Britannnia (with Bermuda rig) and Westward, two British contenders from 1933, race against one another in a painting by Anthony John. This conies from a collection of John’s paintings of America’s Cup craft from the past — “The Early Challenges of the America’s Cup, 1851-1937.” The extensive full-colour collection of John’s paintings has a text by lan Dear, an English yachting enthusiast (Published by E. J. Pierson, P. O. Box 409, Palmerston North, $49.95).