The first Little America's Cup, held in 1961 in Long Island, came about when the United States challenged Great Britain in a technical and sporting event, with the winner receiving a trophy engraved "The International Catamaran Challenge Trophy." Today, the Little Cup is officially called the C-Class World Championship, and more than just a competition, it has become an applied-technology lab for small racing catamarans. Handsomely illustrated with over one hundred photographs and diagrams, designs, and maps made by Francois Chevalier, the book describes, via the twenty-five championships held since 1961, not only the regattas themselves but also the sailors, the history of cutting-edge technological discoveries, as well as the architecture of the catamarans moving at the very fastest speeds. The book is sponsored by the Hydros Foundation:
The Hydros Foundation is committed to educating and raising general awareness on energy-efficiency issues. With a special focus on young generations, it supports initiatives that leverage the power of technology to make a better use of the energy we have at our disposal. Hydros Foundation spreads its message through four main initiatives: the HYDROcontest, the LITTLECUP (known as the little America's Cup), the Efficient Energy Tour and the Efficient Energy Education Program.