National Sailing Hall of Fame to benefit from new Jobson book
by Jan Harley 4 Dec 2019 01:06 PST
With the holiday gift-giving season upon us, the newest book by renowned America's Cup Veteran Gary Jobson couldn't be timelier. Legends of American Sailing - 50 Men and Women Who Shaped the Sport provides insight into the lives of the sailors who - over the last few decades - have impacted the sport.
Jobson, with an enviable career as a sailor, author and Emmy-award winning sailing commentator, has distilled more than 550 interviews into essays which are moving, jaw-dropping, and occasionally suspenseful. The narratives convey the deep love of the sport and widely held belief that sailing should be, above all else, fun, that is shared by all the subjects.
"Anyone interested in the great sport of sailboat racing today should read Legends of American Sailing," said John Rousmaniere, the noted author of over 30 books including The Annapolis Book of Seamanship and Fastnet Force 10. "The women and men Gary Jobson interviews and profiles represent the full range of modern competitive sailing. Olympians and distance racers, dinghy sailors and dinghy coaches, America's Cup winners, yacht designers, sailmakers, writers, and more - each personifies an aspect of our distinctive and historic pastime."
A 2011 Inductee into the National Sailing Hall of Fame, active Board member, and past President of the NSHOF, Jobson has dedicated 100% of the proceeds of the book to supporting the mission and programming of the organization in its new home in Newport, R.I.
Michael Levitt, author of 14 books and the former Communications Director of New York Yacht Club, has been Jobson's admirer since the two came of age together in sailing. Levitt raced with Jobson in the 1974 Southern Ocean Racing Conference and edited his copy while a young editor at Yacht Racing magazine (now Sailing World).
"I watched with awe as he put the America's Cup - and even ESPN - on the media map, making himself a television star in the process," said Levitt. "However, when Jobson served as tactician to Ted Turner on Courageous in the 1977 America's Cup, that was the ah-ha moment for me. He kept the multitalented Turner focused enough to win the America's Cup. His people skills, sailing skills, political skills and love of the sport helped to make him who he is today. All of this is on display in his new book Legends of American Sailing - 50 Men and Women Who Have Shaped the Sport. A great read by one of the best at what he does."
To order a copy, visit www.NSHOF.org/LegendsOfAmericanSailing or phone the NSHOF office at 401-324-5761. To receive your book in time for the holidays, please order by December 17th.