John Pierce Rousmaniere, a sailor and author widely known as the “dean of yachting historians,” died Aug. 8 at age 82, US Sailing announced in a remembrance by R. Steven Tsuchiya and Sheila McCurdy.
A 2020 inductee into the National Sailing Hall of Fame, Rousmaniere wrote or edited nearly 40 books on sailing, yachting history and New York City over the course of his career. According to the remembrance, he logged more than 40,000 offshore miles, including nine Newport Bermuda Races, two Fastnet Races and three Atlantic crossings.
Rousmaniere helped create US Sailing’s Safety at Sea Seminar, through which he ran or took part in more than 100 courses, and to serve on review panels investigating fatal sailing accidents.
Born in Louisville, Ky., and raised largely on New York’s Long Island, Rousmaniere graduated from St. Paul’s School and Columbia University. He was drafted during the Vietnam War, trained as an infantry officer and served as an assistant history professor at West Point. He later worked as an editor at Yachting and Natural History magazines before beginning a freelance writing career in 1978.
His book The Annapolis Book of Seamanship went through four editions and became a standard reference work at the U.S. Naval Academy and sailing schools nationwide.
Rousmaniere is survived by his wife, Leah; sons Will and Dana; five grandchildren; four brothers; a sister; and other extended family. A memorial service is scheduled for Aug. 22 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Dedham, Mass.
