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The Annapolis Book of Seamanship
Since the publication of the widely hailed first edition in 1983, The Annapolis Book of Seamanship has set the standard by which other books on sailing are measured. Used throughout America as a textbook in sailing schools and Power Squadrons, The Annapolis Book of Seamanship thoroughly and clearly covers the fundamental and advanced skills of modern sailing. This edition of Annapolis is a major overhaul. Over half the book has been revised; old topics and features have been updated, and many new ones have been introduced. The design has been modernized, and many color illustrations have been added.
As big and detailed as Annapolis is, the wealth of technical information (including dozens of step-by-step instructions) is presented here in a way that is uniquely readable; it's both useful and easy to use. This is because John Rousmaniere and artist Mark Smith bring to Annapolis decades of experience both as sailors and as professional communicators.
Annapolis emphasizes the standard skills and proven methods that eliminate error and confusion, ensure security in emergencies, and allow every sailor more time for enjoyment on the water. Much has changed on the water since 1983 when this book was originally published. Black buoys are now green, the Global Positioning Satellite navigation system (GPS) is almost universally used, new types of anchors and sails have appeared, safety skills and gear are vastly improved, many more women are commanding boats, and catamarans and trimarans are common where only monohulls used to sail.
But for all these modern developments, the basic skills and spirit of sailing have not changed at all. Sail trimming, keeping up steerageway, maintaining the dead reckoning plot, heaving-to -- these fundamentals are as important now as ever and receive much attention here. Among the innovations in this edition are:
* Basic skills in early chapters: Fundamental sailing and boat-handling skills and gear, which are introduced in chapters 1, 2, and 3.
* "Hands On" segments: Three dozen special sections, each devoted to a particular seamanship problem and an expert solution.
* More how-to tips: Additional rules of thumb that guide a crew quickly and successfully through seamanship problems.
* New coverage of multihulls: Advice on evaluating, anchoring, and handling catamarans and trimarans under sail (including in storms).
* More on emergencies: New material on emergencies, safety, and heavy-weather sailing, including a section on preparing a docked boat for a hurricane.
* Equipment updates: Expanded coverage of the use and care of modern gear and hardware, including radar, GPS, rescue devices, and asymmetrical spinnakers.
* Terminology: Full definition and illustration of major terms when they're first introduced, with alternative language provided in parentheses.
* Gender: The use of feminine personal pronouns, which reflect the fact that more women are captaining and sailing boats than ever before.
From navigation and seamanship to boat and gear maintenance, from pleasure cruising to heavy-weather sailing, here is the definitive, state-of-the-art guide that provides systematic step-by-step techniques to see you through every situation on deck and in the cockpit.
347 pages, Hardcover
Published November 30, 1983
175 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
John Rousmaniere
39 books12 followersJohn Rousmaniere has sailed in over 35,000 miles of offshore voyaging and racing. He crewed on the 48-foot Toscana in the fateful Fastnet Race of 1979.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 12, 2012
Excellent How to Manual for everything you ever needed to know about sailing. Hand picked by my pops years ago (who was a top-notch sailor in his youth) I only just got around to reading it. I wish I'd read it sooner.
http://blogofdunkle.blogspot.ca/2012/...
This is probably the best how-to manual all about sailing that there is out there.
My dad was a great sailor - he used to race for his university when he was at Cambridge in the UK - and we used to do quite a bit of sailing when we were kids. My mom tells me he bought this book for us back in 1985 or so, but sadly I don't remember seeing it.
Anyway - it's an excellent book. Great diagrams and great text. The kind of book you read once, go sailing, and then come back to read it again and again and pick up new details each time.
It covers topics from the absolute basics - naming all the parts of the boat - to hull types, to the aerodynamics of sails. It caters to small dingy-type sailing as well as bigger sailing yachts. Of course there are the knots you need to know, but also man-overboard drills, and how to set an anchor. Invaluable, and just the book I wanted to read. Thanks Pops!
I have the 1985 version, but there is an updated (1998) version on Amazon.
http://blogofdunkle.blogspot.ca/2012/...
This is probably the best how-to manual all about sailing that there is out there.
My dad was a great sailor - he used to race for his university when he was at Cambridge in the UK - and we used to do quite a bit of sailing when we were kids. My mom tells me he bought this book for us back in 1985 or so, but sadly I don't remember seeing it.
Anyway - it's an excellent book. Great diagrams and great text. The kind of book you read once, go sailing, and then come back to read it again and again and pick up new details each time.
It covers topics from the absolute basics - naming all the parts of the boat - to hull types, to the aerodynamics of sails. It caters to small dingy-type sailing as well as bigger sailing yachts. Of course there are the knots you need to know, but also man-overboard drills, and how to set an anchor. Invaluable, and just the book I wanted to read. Thanks Pops!
I have the 1985 version, but there is an updated (1998) version on Amazon.
March 13, 2016
The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is a quite comprehensive book that touches almost all topics every skipper should be familiar with (parts of the boats, manouvers, sail trim, metheorology, safety, navigation, emergencies, etc.).
The approach taken is to address every topic from a beginner standpoint and go deep gradually. I think this is at the same time good and bad. Good beginners because they can achieve a non trivial level just by following this book, less good for experienced sailors due to the lack of focus on specific topic. Experienced sailors trying to improve their skills would be more interested in more focused books like "Modern Marine Weather", "Heavy Weather Sailing" and so on.
Some chapters go deeper than others, specifically I really enjoyed the way the author exposes anchoring techniques, coastal navigation (celestial navigation instead would deserve much more attention), safety and COB techniques, emergency management and in general good seamanship hints that are spread through the book.
I think instead, weather, sail trim and boat balance deserve more attention to appeal to the experienced sailor.
The approach taken is to address every topic from a beginner standpoint and go deep gradually. I think this is at the same time good and bad. Good beginners because they can achieve a non trivial level just by following this book, less good for experienced sailors due to the lack of focus on specific topic. Experienced sailors trying to improve their skills would be more interested in more focused books like "Modern Marine Weather", "Heavy Weather Sailing" and so on.
Some chapters go deeper than others, specifically I really enjoyed the way the author exposes anchoring techniques, coastal navigation (celestial navigation instead would deserve much more attention), safety and COB techniques, emergency management and in general good seamanship hints that are spread through the book.
I think instead, weather, sail trim and boat balance deserve more attention to appeal to the experienced sailor.
March 10, 2019
The strength of this book is not in its writing but rather in its content and scope. It does a great job hitting the high level; setting a baseline for the insanely broad idea of seamanship. Kind of tying it all together.
I read an older version; the parts that are out of date are probably the least important. (Loran, for example. who does that any more...) But the fundamentals of it remain as important as they are timeless. And it will remain on the shelf in the boat as a reminder as well as a primer.
I read an older version; the parts that are out of date are probably the least important. (Loran, for example. who does that any more...) But the fundamentals of it remain as important as they are timeless. And it will remain on the shelf in the boat as a reminder as well as a primer.
May 17, 2023
This is the Book about seamanship, navigation and Laws and Customs on the High Seas. This is a must for the Coast Guard Captain's Licence and Master License Master of Vessels on Not More Than 100 Gross Registered Tons. Also checkout Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 65th Edition (CHAPMAN PILOTING, SEAMANSHIP AND SMALL BOAT HANDLING). These two are the textbooks for most classes.
July 9, 2008
Just an outstanding and comprehensive manual for anyone who ever wants to do some serious sailing. Well-written, easy to understand and carefully organized, this book is like my bible. Every time I plan a sailing trip I always spend time refreshing myself and my knowledge with this book.
Currently reading
June 17, 2009its deep! I am learning as fast as I can
April 17, 2010
Great seamanship reference
February 13, 2011
One of the best.
July 14, 2011
An excellent reference for sailors. A must-have.
November 11, 2011
Very readable. Seems that there is something here for the novice, while more experienced sailors could find it useful as a general resource.
March 10, 2012
A must have for the sailor. It is the bible.
Read
December 30, 2015Rereading. I have the third edition.
February 17, 2015
A wonderful sailing reference!
A twenty word review requirement? Bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, this is not a good idea.
A twenty word review requirement? Bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, this is not a good idea.
January 14, 2016
A great resource.
January 14, 2016
classic
July 22, 2017
A great reference book even for a lifelong sailor! And it covers everything if you're about to be afloat for the first time.
January 19, 2018
If you're a sailor, or aspiring to learn, this is an excellent resource.
Currently reading
November 7, 2022Amusing and mildly educational.
August 8, 2025
This is a great reference book for any sailor. This book is geared more for the seafarer sailing on smaller boats rather than on a large cruise ship. My attempt to read 403 pages at first appeared daunting, but the tips and words of wisdom are categorized into 18 chapters, and one can just jump to any chapter that is of interest to the reader. The following chapters of interest to me were: Chapter 1 parts of a boat, Chapter 6, Sailor's health, Chapter 7, Personal Safety; Chapter 8, Rules of the road, and Chapter 18 Traditions and Courtesies. Page 402 includes a quiz and answers. The glossary and index at the end are a great reference.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews