Rowdy

by Christopher Madsen, Barbara Willette (Editor)

A newly unearthed gem in American history, Rowdy by Christopher Madsen is, perhaps, one of the most highly awarded books of 2015. Rowdy is a 1920s adventure and love story that follows the colorful history of the famous 1916 racing yacht for which the book is titled. The tale, rediscovered and pieced back together by Madsen during his six year renovation of the yacht, centers on the life of the original owner, New York senator Holland Sackett Duell as he is immersed in The Great War, politics at the highest level, the birth of Hollywood, fortunes and mansions, love affairs as well as scandalous affairs and, of course, the thrill of illustrious New York Yacht Club sailing aboard his yacht Rowdy. Fully bringing to life the era and flair of Gatsby and Hemmingway, Rowdy, by contrast, is completely true, historically significant, and meticulously documented in support of the authenticity. 100 years after her launch, Rowdy (the yacht) is still making history. She is berthed in the Mediterranean and, in such playgrounds as Cannes and Monaco, she has won hundreds of races against the finest classic yachts in the world. As Sandman Yacht Company stated “this yacht has indeed dominated her class at the classic regattas making her probably the most successful classic race winner on the Mediterranean Circuit EVER.” Literary Awards • National Indie Excellence Awards; Historical Biography – WINNER • Indie Reader Discovery Awards; Biography – WINNER • IBPA Ben Franklin Award, biography - SILVER MEDAL WINNER • Publishing Professionals Network – Certificate of Excellence (cover and interior) • AIA Clemens Medal; for “Outstanding Literary Quality, Book Design & Standard of Editing” • Non Fiction Book Awards; Biography – GOLD MEDAL WINNER • Reader Views Choice Award, Biography – FIRST PLACE • Feathered Quill Literary Award; Historical – FIRST PLACE • Feathered Quill Literary Award; Best Debut Author – Third Place • Beverly Hills Book Awards; Cover Design – WINNER • Beverly Hills Book Awards; Interior Design – WINNER • Beverly Hills Book Awards; Coffee Table Book – AWARD WINNING FINALIST • Readers’ Favorite International Book Award, Biography – SILVER MEDAL WINNER • International Book Awards; Biography – AWARD WINNING FINALIST • Next Generation Indie Book Awards; Biography - AWARD WINNING FINALIST • Foreword INDIEFAB Book of the Year; Biography - AWARD WINNING FINALIST • Eric Hoffer da Vinci Eye (outstanding cover art) - AWARD WINNING FINALIST • Eric Hoffer Book Award; Reference - HONORABLE MENTION • San Francisco Book Festival; Biography - HONORABLE MENTION • New York Book Festival; Biography - HONORABLE MENTION Reviews (full text at ) San Francisco Book Festival – “Brimming with passion, definitively researched, and amazingly readable” Foreword Reviews – “an intriguing true story of love, war, politics, Hollywood, and wealth at its highest level.” FIVE STARS Midwest Book Review – “a strong recommendation for sailors and non-sailors alike.” Good Old Boat – “a beautiful coffee table book and would be worthy to grace any personal or yacht club library.” Eric Hoffer Book Awards – “Rowdy is the meticulously researched story of an antique boat and the people associated with it. ……. a fascinating glimpse into the past.

658 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2015

About the author

Christopher Madsen grew up in Santa Barbara, California. He bought his first boat at the age of 18 and, over the next 40 years, logged hundreds of trips to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands which lie 20 miles offshore. It was this love of the ocean that put him in the same orbit as Rowdy when she became available for purchase. Six years and 25,000 hours later, with Rowdy’s renovation completed, Madsen entered the former New York Yacht Club champion in her first race in 50 years, winning 1st in class.

Madsen’s twin daughters were born soon afterwards and, in order to spend as much time as possible with them, he sold Rowdy in early 2006.

But during those many years in the boatyard, the story of Rowdy’s past had begun to emerge and, when Madsen sold the yacht and put down his tools, he picked up a pen and embarked on another seven year project in creating this book.

The publication of this book, however, in no way marks the end of the story. The current chapter is now taking place in the Mediterranean where Rowdy was relocated to by her new owner. Monaco and Cannes are her playground where she has won race after race competing against the finest classic yachts in the world. Among many other victories there, Rowdy won the coveted Rolex Trophy in Les Voiles De Saint Tropez in both 2008 and 2009. She tied for first place in 2010 but, after losing a pick from a hat to settle the draw, Rowdy accepted second place!!

As Sandman Yacht Company stated “this yacht has indeed dominated her class at the classic regattas making her probably the most successful classic race winner on the Mediterranean Circuit EVER.”