Product Description

Commander Suzanne Giesemann draws on her twenty years in the Navy as a commanding officer and leadership instructor to write this empowering guide for women boaters. Power or sail, if you’re just going along for the ride, you are limiting your enjoyment on the water. Suzanne encourages women to take a bigger role on board by addressing common fears and self-limiting attitudes. She shares the nautical knowledge necessary to become a safer, more competent, and more confident boater.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31780 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"...wonderfully insightful book on how to make the transition from passenger to that of a competent mate or even master." -- Amanda Swan Neal, Mahina Sailing Expeditions

"Suzanne’s message is clear: Other women do this. You can too. Here’s what you need to know..." -- –Karen Larson, Editor, Good Old Boat Magazine

"Women, read this book, then get your partner to read it too." -- Lin Pardey, Author

"Women, read this book, then get your partner to read it too." -- –Lin Pardey

"wonderfully insightful book on how to make the transition from passenger to that of a competent mate or even master." -- –Amanda Swan Neal, Mahina Sailing Expeditions

By reading this book, women can see how easy, and empowering, it is to go cruising with happiness and confidence. -- Pam Wall, Outfitting Manager, Ft. Lauderdale West Marine

“Suzanne’s message is clear: Other women do this. You can too. Here’s what you need to know...” --–Karen Larson, Editor, Good Old Boat Magazine

“Women, read this book, then get your partner to read it too.” --–Lin Pardey

“wonderfully insightful book on how to make the transition from passenger to that of a competent mate or even master.” --–Amanda Swan Neal, Mahina Sailing Expeditions

About the Author
Suzanne Giesemann, a self-described boat fanatic, has over 30 years of experience on the water. She is a USCG licensed captain, and was selected to be a Cruising World Boat of the Year judge. Included in her impressive Navy resume is her position as an aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 9/11. When she is not cruising and writing, she presents motivational seminars and teaches sailing.

Customer Reviews

It's Your Boat Too
With our Morgan 452 sitting on our anchor due to the raw water pump failing, I picked up "It's your Boat Too" (a gift from my husband) while my husband got to work on repairs. Although the repairs were made in less than an hour as my husband knew just what to do, I sat clueless to the work he was doing, reading my new book.

I laughed, sighed, and committed to memory important facts as I continued through my journey of self-realization. I realize that I have a lot to learn about sailing MY boat but that I really know quite a bit too. I felt empowered to take the information I had, and stretch my wings. I refuse to be one of the "ninnies"!

While reading, I felt like Suzanne and I were relaxing across the table from each other having a conversation with light jazz in the background and wine and cheese on the table. Suzanne's personality and confidence in her passion of sailing shines through on every page. "It's Your Boat Too" is full of humor and interesting bits that kept me not only interested but also chuckling. When referencing the mamma clouds I about died and then to add to the analogy, the points on the weather charts...SUZANNE! However, every female out there can relate and that is the point.

Empowering! While out this weekend, I tried new skills (taking the boat in and out of the dock and navigating the narrow channel to the river) asked questions (how did you know that it was the raw water cooling system - what clues did you recognize?) and I watched the storm clouds pass to our north in an eastward direction. I knew we were safe.

My plan is to take "It's Your Boat Too", section by section, and learn everything I should know - thoroughly. It IS my boat too! I do not intend to be a passenger in our cruising dream but an active participant. This book should be required reading for all women boaters (or wives of boaters). No matter what your current skill level is, it will make you better, safer, and significantly more confident in your life on the water.

Unique and Interesting Book
This is really a great book. In some respects, it is just another "basics of sailing" book but to summarize it as such is to miss the whole point and also to miss the real worth of the book. The text is uniquely addressed to women who are novice sailors but who "should be" (and easily could be) advanced sailors. The unique perspective offered is the strength of the book and moves it from a 3-star "also ran" book to a 5-star excellent book.

Of course it could be used as a basic sailing reference, but it should be used as a confidence-building, encouraging, and insightful look into the lives of many sailors who wish they knew more but don't know how or where to get started.

If you read the title of the book and think "Huh? What?", then it's probably not for you. But if you read the title and think "I wonder if it's really about that?" the unqualified answer is YES, it's really about encouraging and educating women to get the mental attitude necessary to become competent sailors regardless of their male partner's teaching abilities (or desires).

The author's experience is extensive and authoritative, and this is clearly evident in the book. Written in a non-judgmental, cool, and reserved manner the book reads somewhat like a textbook but contains so much indispensable advice it's amazing. Highly recommended; it won't disappoint.

An original and encouraging study of letting go of our fears as we address the open water in craft propelled by power or sail
It's Your Boat Too: A Woman's Guide To Greater Enjoyment On The Water by Suxanne Giesemann is the personal narrative of Giesemann's of her twenty years of experience as a commanding officer and leadership instructor for the U.S. Navy. Bringing to the attention of her readers the empowering abilities of water craft from rowboats and dinghies to sailing ships and motorboats, It's Your Boat Too is an original and encouraging study of letting go of our fears as we address the open water in craft propelled by power or sail. Drawing skillfully upon her extensive knowledge of nautical exploration and offering experienced instruction on becoming a more competent, a safer, and a confident boater, It's Your Boat Too is recommended for all aspiring sailors (particularly women), who wish to enjoy boating upon the open sea. Also very highly recommended for the nautically minded is Mark Nicholas The Essentials Of Living Aboard A Boat: The Definitive Guide For Liveaboards (0939837668, $17.95).