Roger C. Taylor’s “L. Francis Herreshoff”

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Roger C. Taylor’s “L. Francis Herreshoff”

Roger C. Taylor’s “L. Francis Herreshoff” December 3

Author Roger C. Taylor will return to Camden to present “L. Francis Herreshoff: Yacht Designer” at the Camden Public Library on Thursday evening, December 3, at 7:00 pm. Taylor was the founder of International Marine Publishing of Rockport, Maine, which for decades published quality marine-related books. “L. Francis Herreshoff” is the first of two volumes chronicling the life and work of the most remarkable yacht designer of his time. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the reading.

Francis Herreshoff lived from 1890 to 1972, and, though not prolific, he designed yachts that will always be considered classics. Beginning his career in the shadow of his famous father, Nathanael G. Herreshoff, he emerged to become a designer who would come close to the perfection of form in yacht design. Despite his exquisite designs and wise writings on the subject, L. Francis never achieved the popularity of a John Alden or an Olin Stephens, yet his influence on yachting, now and in the future, deserves its place alongside those leaders. This publication is heavily illustrated with 166 plans and 124 illustrations including 9 foldout pages, as well as telling a comprehensive story of Herreshoff’s life. Volume One ends with his design of the unorthodox J-boat Whirlwind, a contender for the defense of the America’s Cup in 1930, a definite turning point in Herreshoff’s life and work. The forthcoming Volume Two will feature the famous cruising designs of his later career.

Roger C. Taylor met L. Francis Herreshoff while a student at Milton Academy. Taylor went on to study maritime history at Harvard University, then served in the U.S. Navy as a deck officer in a destroyer and a diesel submarine. In the 1970s and 80s he was founder and leader of International Marine Publishing Company where his publishing list included two books by Herreshoff, Herreshoff’s Sensible Cruising Designs and An L. Francis Herreshoff Reader.

Taylor is a professional mariner with unusually wide experience, including a working familiarity with boats built to many of Herreshoff’s designs. He is the author of seven books on yacht design and seamanship. In his retirement, he lives afloat with his wife Kathleen and has worked his captain’s license. Other books by Roger Taylor include Good Boats, More Good Boats, The Elements of Seamanship, among others.