The Annapolis Book of Seamanship: 2nd Edition, Revised [Hardcover]

John Rousmaniere (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1989

Expanded, updated bible of sailing. New sections on celestial navigation, cruising with children, safety, traditions, more. Standard reference for sailing schools, pleasure sailors. 250 line drawings.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

First launched in 1983, Annapolis remains the sailor's bible, a comprehensive chapter and verse guide to all aspects of seamanship from the simplest ABC's to the most advanced skills and latest electronics. And while much of the original edition has been left in dry dock to make way for the many changes on the water since 1983--like multihull vessels, satellite tracking, and the reality that while all ships remain "she," there is no longer the assumption that it's a "he" at the helm--Rousmaniere still emphasizes what he's stressed from the first tack: the importance of mastering sailing's fundamentals. This means knowing every inch of your boat and how to handle her, understanding the importance of safety on the seas and preparing for all emergencies, reading the weather, learning to navigate, knowing essential boat maintenance, and being aware of the traditions every sailor steps into whenever he or she sticks feet in a pair of topsiders. Clearly organized and presented, cleanly and smoothly written (given how much technical information he presents, Rousmaniere's prose is blessedly jargon-free), and thoroughly illustrated with photos and drawings, Annapolis is as essential as a good wind, perhaps the one volume no sailor should leave port without. --Jeff Silverman --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

Yachting magazine A volume that any sailor or would-be sailor simply must own.

American Sailing Association The beauty of the book is that it is both a superb reference manual, which any sailor -- regardless of experience -- will want to own, and a readable, practical introduction to sailing for the beginner, A joy to behold. The most complete and best reference book on the sport that has ever been available.

Chuck Hawley West Marine Products The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is thorough, well written, and nicely illustrated. Not just a repeat of tired old sailing methods of thirty years ago, it integrates the classic techniques (storm tactics. navigation) with the modern (Crew Overboard Recovery, modern anchors, and electronics). I highly recommend this book and encourage anyone to buy it if they want to improve their sailing skills.

Sail magazine The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is about practically everything that has to do with sailing and sailboats.

Yachting magazine [Rousmaniere's] chapters on sail trim and weather, in particular, are the best that I can recall reading.

Sea magazine The piloting part is unusually thorough and understandable and could serve as a text all by itself. The individual chapters on sailing in heavy weather and handling emergencies are recommended reading for all who sail.

Great Lakes Sailing Scanner magazine If you buy one book on sailing this year, this is the one of get.

Sailing Canada magazine Mark Smith's line drawings are models of the kind -- clean, clear, and vital. It is not just one of the very best available.

Tony Gibbs Dolphin Book Club News Once in a great while a book comes along which is so original that is stands outside normal comparison. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is such a work....A remarkable achievement, a first-rate book in every way. It will almost certainly become -- in short order -- the standard to which succeeding volumes are compared. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 402 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 2nd edition (May 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671674471
• ISBN-13: 978-0671674472
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,170,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After 30 years of professional writing about boats, sailing, New York history, cemeteries, religion, and other topics, it's still a thrill to learn that I've given people pleasure and security. Just this morning I read these words: "If you want your Ph.D. in sailing there's always John Rousmaniere's The Annapolis Book of Seamanship." That advice to a new sailor appeared in the Catalina Association Forum on June 27, 2009.

Though I've sailed some 35,000 miles on most of the oceans, I was born in Kentucky and spent my early years in Ohio. My family moved to the shore of Long Island Sound, where as a boy I fell in love with sailing and boats. Raised by parents who were wonderful story-tellers, I became determined to be a writer, and that's what I've been doing most of my life. I was educated at Columbia University (bachelor's and master's degrees in history) and Union Theological Seminary (M.Div. -- readers say they see religion and spirituality in my books), where my wife, Leah, works. After Army service, I spent several years as an editor at YACHTING magazine, them became a freelance writer while raising my two young sons solo.

I do a lot of lecturing and instruction -- 20-30 talks a year across the country -- in part because it puts me in touch with readers. When not sailing and writing, I enjoy mountain hiking, New York City, movies, reading fiction, poetry, and American history, and spending time with my wonderful sons, their wives, and their children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Are A Sailor, You NEED This Book!, June 3, 2002

By 

James Carter (Castro Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, 3rd Edition Revised (Hardcover)

As a sailor on every type of floating scrap of wood, fiberglass, steel and aluminum you can think of, I have sailed thousands and thousands of miles. I continually turn to this book as a source of reference and it is never out of close contact.

Even now, as I have no boat but race quite often, I pick up the book because I have questions or ideas about something. It is a wonderful source and the most complete reference I have ever seen.

This book would be especially useful to beginning sailors, but NOTHING can teach you like getting on the water. Use this book to be prepared, but get out there!

I have recommended this book even to some power boaters whom I thought I might convert. They have all enjoyed it and felt it was worth the money.

If you are on the fence, just trust me and buy the book. You will not be disappointed. Worst case scenario is that you put it on your coffee table for your guests to enjoy!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every sailors essential guide, October 20, 2001

By 

Nicholas Provenzo (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, 3rd Edition Revised (Hardcover)

There are few books as excellent in explaining both basic sailing skills and advanced procedures as the Annapolis Book of Seamanship. From boat handling, equipment, and terminology to weather and emergencies, this book covers all the fundamentals of sailing in clear, easy to grasp terms. Novices will find value in that the book assumes no prior knowledge of sailing, while old salts will appreciate the book's encyclopedia-like thoroughness.

If you only have one book in your sailing library, I recommend this be the one.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be the number 1 book on a sailors bookshelf, February 2, 2000

By 

Conrad B. Senior (Easton, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Annapolis Book of Seamanship: 2nd Edition, Revised (Hardcover)

This is simply the best book on sailing you can buy. The illustrations are fabulous and the writing is clear and to the point. Buy it if you don't have it. Better yet, buy two copies and give one someone starting out in sailing. If this is the only sailing book on your bookshelf, you have choosen wisely. Perfect for the beginner and essential for all sailors.