The sport or activity of sailing or cruising in a yacht for pleasure or competition.
From Dutch jacht meaning 'hunt' or 'hunting ship', originally jaght-schip. These were fast ships used to chase pirates or carry dignitaries. The recreational meaning developed in the 17th century when the wealthy began using similar vessels for pleasure.
Yachting began as a Dutch innovation for chasing pirates but transformed into the ultimate symbol of leisure luxury. The sport's aristocratic associations are so strong that 'yacht' became synonymous with wealth, even spawning the phrase 'yacht rock' for smooth 1970s music.
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