This book explores the sociology of sailing and yachting. Drawing on original research, and employing a theoretical framework based on the work of Pierre Bourdieu, the book argues that sailing is, still, an upper-middle-class activity that has much to tell us about the wider sociology of leisure and sport.

Alan O'Connor is Professor of Media Studies at Trent University, Canada. His research on news media, community radio and youth subcultures is influenced by the sociology of Pierre Bourdieu.

Prologue: The Riddle

Introduction

1 Sailing with Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu

2 Sailing Tours: On the Irish Coast

3 Sailing and Social Class

4 Social Class and Classification Struggles

5 Symbolic Violence in Sailing

6 Empire and the Sailing Imaginary

7 The Politics of Sailing

Conclusion: Is Tahiti on your Bucket List?