Bill Robinson (author)
Encyclopedia
Bill Robinson was an American
sailor
, author
and editor
well known in the national and international sailing
communities for his 27 nautical books, speaking engagements, and contributions to nautical publications.
Born William Wheeler Robinson in Elizabeth
, New Jersey
, Bill attended Princeton University
from 1935 to 1939, graduating with a degree in English. He received a commission in the United States Naval Reserve in 1941 and served as an officer
until 1945. He commanded a 110 foot wooden Navy
subchaser
- hull number SC 743 - in the Pacific theater
during World War II
- serving honorably in troop and ship convoys and in the invasions of Arawe
, New Britain and Hollandia
. LTjg
Robinson was awarded the Bronze Star
(with gold star
denoting a second award) for his command's performance under air attack. He was a sportswriter at the Newark Evening News
(1947–1955) and then the Newark Star Ledger (1955–1957) following his return to civilian life. He developed a nationally syndicated boating column while at the Star Ledger.
Bill was an associate editor of Yachting
magazine from 1957 to 1967 and executive editor from 1967 to 1978. He served as an editor-at-large for Yachting
from 1978 to 1986, when the magazine was sold. He then served as an editor-at-large for the competing Cruising World magazine from 1987 to 1996.
Throughout his career and his retirement Bill traveled extensively as a writer, sailing cruiser and racer. He wrote sailing
and nautical-themed books and contributed articles to numerous professional journals. He served as a speaker and featured guest on cruises and at sailing events worldwide. With his late wife, Jane Dimock Robinson (dec. 1997), he lived in Rumson, New Jersey
from 1946 to 2002 and maintained a boat and winter residence in Tortola
, British Virgin Islands
throughout his retirement.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
well known in the national and international sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
communities for his 27 nautical books, speaking engagements, and contributions to nautical publications.
Born William Wheeler Robinson in Elizabeth
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Bill attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
from 1935 to 1939, graduating with a degree in English. He received a commission in the United States Naval Reserve in 1941 and served as an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
until 1945. He commanded a 110 foot wooden Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
subchaser
Submarine chaser
A submarine chaser is a small and fast naval vessel specially intended for anti-submarine warfare. Although similar vessels were designed and used by many nations, this designation was most famously used by ships built by the United States of America...
- hull number SC 743 - in the Pacific theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- serving honorably in troop and ship convoys and in the invasions of Arawe
Battle of Arawe
The Battle of Arawe was a battle during the New Britain Campaign of World War II. This campaign formed part of Operation Cartwheel and had the objective of isolating the key Japanese base at Rabaul. Arawe was attacked on 15 December 1943 by U.S...
, New Britain and Hollandia
Operations Reckless and Persecution
Operation Reckless, known as the Landing at Hollandia and Operation Persecution known as the Aitape landing, were Allied amphibious landings which commenced the Western New Guinea campaign. Both operations commenced on 22 April 1944....
. LTjg
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
Robinson was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
(with gold star
Award star
An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force...
denoting a second award) for his command's performance under air attack. He was a sportswriter at the Newark Evening News
Newark Evening News
The Newark Evening News was an American newspaper published in Newark, New Jersey. As New Jersey's largest city, Newark played a major role in New Jersey's journalistic history. At its apex, The News was widely regarded as the newspaper of record in New Jersey. It had bureaus in Montclair,...
(1947–1955) and then the Newark Star Ledger (1955–1957) following his return to civilian life. He developed a nationally syndicated boating column while at the Star Ledger.
Bill was an associate editor of Yachting
Yachting (magazine)
Yachting is a monthly English-language magazine published since 1907. It was founded by Oswald Garrison Villard, publisher of the New York Evening Post and the Nation. The next year Herbert L. Stone became the manager. In 1938 Stone and some friends bought the magazine.It features articles on...
magazine from 1957 to 1967 and executive editor from 1967 to 1978. He served as an editor-at-large for Yachting
Yachting (magazine)
Yachting is a monthly English-language magazine published since 1907. It was founded by Oswald Garrison Villard, publisher of the New York Evening Post and the Nation. The next year Herbert L. Stone became the manager. In 1938 Stone and some friends bought the magazine.It features articles on...
from 1978 to 1986, when the magazine was sold. He then served as an editor-at-large for the competing Cruising World magazine from 1987 to 1996.
Throughout his career and his retirement Bill traveled extensively as a writer, sailing cruiser and racer. He wrote sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
and nautical-themed books and contributed articles to numerous professional journals. He served as a speaker and featured guest on cruises and at sailing events worldwide. With his late wife, Jane Dimock Robinson (dec. 1997), he lived in Rumson, New Jersey
Rumson, New Jersey
Rumson is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,122.Rumson was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1907, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on the results of a...
from 1946 to 2002 and maintained a boat and winter residence in Tortola
Tortola
Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Local tradition recounts that Christopher Columbus named it Tortola, meaning "land of the Turtle Dove". Columbus named the island Santa Ana...
, British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
throughout his retirement.