In this new revised edition, John Rousmaniere has updated THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP with the most recent information about safety, sails, boathandling, electronics, and health issues -- all passed on from his sailing experience and teaching safety and reviewing accidents. Every chapter has been revised and several have been completely rewritten. For details about new material, see "New in this Edition" on page xi, copied in one of the photos and in a forum on the author page.
"John's ubiquitous ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP has helped train and educate generations of sailors. His many other titles have earned him a reputation as the dean of sailing authors." (Citation, SAIL magazine's "40 Sailors Who Made a Difference," 2010)
In 2013 the U.S. Sailing Association honored John Rousmaniere's work in boating education, including THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP (now in its thoroughly updated and revised 4th edition), by presenting John with its Timothea Larr Award. This coveted award recognizes "a person whose vision and guidance have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of sailor education in the United States."
A devoted sailor since youth, John has some 40,000 miles of blue water behind him, including ocean passages, nine Newport-Bermuda Races, and other major races in small and big boats. He has written or edited 15 books about sailing and the sea, including THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP, DESIRABLE AND UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFSHORE BOATS, and other technical books -- as well as histories of the sport and two widely hailed books about storms. His FASTNET, FORCE 10 was hailed as "A narrative worthy of the best sea literature," and Stuart Woods said about AFTER THE STORM, "No one writes about the violence of the sea better than John Rousmaniere."
He has spoken at more than 100 safety seminars and clinics across North America and served on the Safety-at-Sea Committees of U.S. Sailing and the Cruising Club of America, and the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee. He has conducted reviews of boating accidents -- whose stories and lessons are an important thread in the new edition of THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK. He coordinated the U.S. Sailing Association's Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal program, which recognizes mariners who make rescues. John's videos include THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP DVD SERIES.
When the Cruising Club of America awarded John its Richard S. Nye Award, the citation said, "His books have been a source of information and inspiration to sailors around the world." Mystic Seaport has presented him its W.P. Stephens award for contributions to yachting history in his many books about the histories of boats, races, the America's Cup, maritime photography, yacht clubs, and storms.
John is a member of the Cruising Club of America, the New York Yacht Club, and U.S. Sailing, and has served on the selection committees of the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the America's Cup Hall of Fame.
Descended from a French soldier who fought in the American Revolution, John lives in New York City with his wife, Leah Ruth Robinson. He takes special pleasure racing in classic wooden boats, cruising across the Gulf Stream in more modern ones, and exploring marshes with his grandchildren in a small catboat.
