The local sailing community is mourning the death of Bermuda Race Roll of Honour inductee and author John Rousmaniere.

The avid sailor, historian, advocate for safety at sea and author/editor of nearly forty books on sailing and yachting history passed away on August 8 at age 82.

Rousmaniere sailed in nine Newport Bermuda Races and in 2024 he was inducted in the prestigious Bermuda Race Roll of Honour.

He also served as chairman of the Bermuda Race Roll of Honour Selection Committee and became a historian on the biennial race.

Among the books he wrote is A Berth to Bermuda which lavishly offers insight into the Bermuda Race's history, its impact on sailing and the allure of Bermuda.

Rousmaniere logged more than 40,000 miles offshore and during the 1979 Fastnet Race survived a severe storm that killed 15 sailors, sank five yachts and forced 24 crews to abandon ship sailing aboard the 48ft sloop Toscana.

The American turned the harrowing experience into the bestseller Fastnet, Force 10 (1980), a riveting first-person narrative that brought readers into the thick of the storm and has been a must-read for sailors ever since. For Rousmaniere, the book was not simply an account of what had happened, it was a call to prevent it from ever happening again.

Rousmaniere later became one of the creators of the US Sailing Association’s Safety at Sea Seminar and organised or participated in more than 100 courses. He also served on US Sailing Independent Review Panels that investigated fatal sailing accidents.

His approach to safety was characteristic of the man: practical, rigorous and deeply curious about human nature. He wanted sailors to understand not only how to prepare for heavy weather, but why people were drawn to confront it in the first place.

“He is someone who defines the phrase ‘lived a full life’ who I only knew for a short time,” past Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore Somers Kempe told The Royal Gazette.

“He logged more than 40,000 miles offshore including surviving in the devastating 1979 Fastnet Race storm. From that experience he authored the bestseller Fastnet, Force 10 and then dedicated himself to improving maritime safety.

“He helped create the US Sailing Association's Safety at Sea Seminars and accumulated numerous maritime honours, including induction into the US National Sailing Hall of Fame and the Bermuda Race Roll of Honour.

“He was a true gentleman and well-respected seafarer.”

Rousmaniere died on August 8 and will be laid to rest following a memorial service St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Massachusetts on Sunday.