HMCo #514s May Queen

"[1899-01-23] Mon 23: Very fine & mild. L[igh]t SW & calm. Have order for 25 footer [May Queen] for E Whittemore. ...
[1899-04-21] Fri 21: Rain with l[igh]t NE [wind] in forenoon, strong in afternoon. Cool. Turned over #514 [May Queen].
[1899-05-23] Tue 23: Clear & cool. SW [wind] in PM. Launched #514, May Queen. ...
[1899-05-25] Thu 25: Very fine [with] strong SSW [wind] & cool. Tried #514 May Queen in morning. ...
[1899-05-30] Tue 30: Very fine. Mod[erate] to strong SW to S [wind]. Went to Newport in May Queen.
[1899-06-19] Mon 19: Very fine [with] SSW [wind] & clear. Relaunched #514 May Queen after altering.
[1899-06-25] Sun 25: Fair [in] AM. T[hunder] & L[ightning] with rain rest of day. ... May Queen (#514) delivered.
[1900-06-09] Sat 9: Very fine & warm. Variable [wind]. ... Quakeress [#501s ] & May Queen [#514s ] left to Buzzards Bay." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1899 to 1900. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Nos. 514 [#514s May Queen] & 515 [#515s Blazing Star].
In making moulds increase all measurements by 1/6, i.e. use scale having one foot = 14 common inches.
Deduct for planking 1" [measured by] common rule.
Deduct for timbers 1 1/2" [measured by] common rule.
Sheer line to be raised 1/2" all over.
Cut off bottom of lead 3/4" parallel width.
Raise bottom of keel at head of sternpost 15/16".
Keel 2 1/4" thick 3/*" below rabbet.
[Use] 14 5/32" rule for lead.
Note: Deck is to be lengthened 5 1/2" on sheerline forward. This will affect frames # 1, 2, 3, & 4 only. Bear in mind that following frame stations of 486 [#486s Edith] & 514 [#514s May Queen] coincide, 9 of 486 with 10 of 514, 23 of 486 with 25 of 514, 37 of 486 with 40 of 514.
The heights at 'outside' will be approximately
# 1 6.7.4
# 2 5.0.3
# 3 no change.
...
For stern see [offset] book of # 486 [Edith] and use 14" rule for approximate stern pattern." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.116.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"Two very successful twenty-five foot waterline knockabouts, BLAZING STAR and MAY QUEEN, were built, and the keel yawl PETREL, beside[s] several others." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Some of the Boats I Have Sailed In." Written 1934. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 67.)

"... The Wittemore and the Baker 25-footers [#514s May Queen and #515s Blazing Star] are well along. ..." (Source: Robinson, W. E. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, April 23, 1899, p. 27.)

"... The Herreshofft are also constructing 16 boats for members of the Beverly Yacht Club of Beverly, Mass. Most of these will be used in Buzzard's Bay. Thirteen of these boats are 15 feet on the water line and have centreboards [Buzzards Bay 15]. They are exactly alike and will be drawn for by their owners by number as were the famous Herreshof 30-footers in '97 [Newport 30s]. Two [#501s Quakeress and #502s Cyrilla] of the 16 are to be 21 feet on the water line and the other is a 25-footer [#514s May Queen]. ..." (Source: Anon. "Hustling At Herreshoff's." Bristol Phoenix, April 28, 1899, p. 1.)

"... Sec Emmons of the Beverly club will name his Herreshoff 21-footer the Cyrilla [ #502s]. Mr Baker's 25-footer will be the Blazing Star [#515s], and Mr Whittemore's will be the May Queen [#514s]. These Herreshoff boats, together with the 10 one-design 15-footers for the club, will be towed to Buzzard's bay and delivered to their owners there. ... ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, May 28, 1899, p. 29.)

"BRISTOL. R. I., June 2, 1900. ... The 30-footer Veda [#470s], owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the famous knockabout May Queen [#514s], built last year, are being overhauled in the yard at Walker's cove. ..." (Source: Anon. "The Virginia's Launching." Boston Herald, June 3, 1900, p. 20.)

"[Report of sale of May Queen to J.C. McCoy from D.L. Whittemore, by B.B. Crowninshied firm; intended for Narragansett Bay racing.]" (Source: Anon. [Title?] Boston Globe, May 30, 1909, p. ?.)

"... May Queen is the fastest craft on Narragansett Bay, and during the season won the championship of Buzzard's Bay in her class as well. To May Queen goes the championship of the class prize, the Weybosset cup and the Newport cup, while Hugi gets the class championship trophy and the Tilden-Thurber trophy.
May Queen, a Herreshoff boat, built ten years ago, was purchased by J. C. McCoy, of Nayatt, a newcomer to the game, and captained by F. B. Thurber, of Little Haste fame.
Rating near the top of the class, she proved wonderfully fast in all conditions and exceeded the fondest hopes of her admirers. In championship races she secured the gun in every race in which she started, being beaten on allowance once by Medric II, and once by Priscilla.
She proved fast in all kinds of going, but to windward in a moderate breeze is a wonder. She captured the Weybosset cup for the season's championship, the race week prize, the McKee cup and the long-distance race prize.
Not satisfied with her showing locally she was taken back to Buzzard's Bay for the annual Van Rensselaer championship race and secured the first prize for the sixth consecutive year against the combined fleet of Buzzard's Bay craft, including several that were built for the one purpose of going after this trophy.
At the latter end of the season she was taken to New York for the week of racing. Although penalized more than two feet by the quarter-beam proviso in the uniform rule, on account of her full ends, she raced against Mimosa III [#610s], and broke even with her, each securing a first and second. Unfortunately an accident prevented the sail-off, which was to have been held on a day when May Queen could hardly have failed to win." (Source: Anon. "Larchmont Race Week." Forest and Stream, September 25, 1909, p. 504.)

"No. 6661 --- For Sale --- Crack Herreshoff 25-footer, 42 ft. o. a., 25 ft. w. I., 10 ft. beam, 4 ft. draught. Centerboard, all ballast, lead, outside. This yacht is one of the fastest of her size afloat, and is besides a superlatively good cruiser or afternoon sailer. 5 ft. headroom, toilet. Built in very best possible manner of mahogany and fastened with brass screws. Complete inventory, including two suits of sails, extra mast and gaff, cushions, and everything necessary for complete equipment. This is an opportunity to get an absolutely perfect yacht of her class at a very reasonable figure. Apply to Hollis Burgess Yacht Agency, 15 Exchange Street. Boston, Mass. [Note: Although not identified by name, this can only be #514s May Queen. Only two yachts built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company match the description and accompanying photo: #514s May Queen and her sister #515s Blazing Star. Blazing Star was in Canada since at least 1911 which leaves May Queen as the only possible choice.]" (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Rudder, March 1912, p. 217.)

"The crack Herreshoff 25-footer May Queen, probably the fastest of her class, has been sold by J. C. McCoy of Providence, R I, to J. S. Crosby of New York, who will race her on Long Island Sound. The May Queen was not raced last season, but lay in Nock's yard at East Greenwich." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, April 21, 1912, p. 51.)

"The Hollis Burgess yacht agency has sold the ... crack Herreshoff 25-footer May Queen, owned by J. C. McCoy, of Providence, R. I., to J. S. Crosby, of New York, who will race her on Long Island Sound." (Source: Anon. "Yachts Change Hands." Forest and Stream, April 27, 1912, p. 537.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Printed unidentified pages from what has been shown to be the 1898 Beverly Yacht Club Yearbook (pp. 36, 37, 38, 35) and providing regulations, dimensions, and scantlings for the Beverly Yacht Club. Cruising Class (25 Footers). Undated, annotated in pencil by NGH with 'Re[ceive]d fr[o]m Cha L. Whittemore. Jan 23 1898'. [Charles L. Whittemore would contract a year later for the BYC 25ft raceabout #514s MAY QUEEN.]" (Source: Beverly YC (creator). Measurement Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_76190. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F18, formerly MRDE15. No date (ca1898-01-23).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Typewritten (carbon copy) table titled 'Memorandum' with penciled additions listing boats built 1898/1899 with columns labeled 'No.', 'W.L.', 'Rig', 'To deliver', followed in some cases by penciled data for Boat Name and Actual Delivery Date. Relevant contents:
#514s MAY QUEEN [W.L.:] 25ft [Rig:] J.&.M. C.B. [To deliver:] May 23 [1899]. [Note:] Cabin. Restricted class." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator) and Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01300. Folder [no #]. No date (1898-04 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary midship section sketch titled #514s [MAY QUEEN], #515s [BLAZING STAR]'. With note '900sqft sail' and 'Can use [#486s] EDITH 2nd model at scale of 14/12 per[?] frame[?] & length. Ballast about 4750lbs' and further note 'W'ld make. Deck 39ft 9in. (41). w.l. 24ft 7in. (25). Beam 10ft 6in. (10.6). Beam w.l. 9ft 5in. (9.3). Draft 4ft 1 (4.0).' With scantlings. On verso more penciled midship section sketches. Undated, MAY QUEEN and BLAZING STAR were contracted for in January 1899." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_02610. Folder [no #]. No date (1899-01 ?).)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] #514s MAY QUEEN" (Source: Goodwin[?]. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22820. Correspondence, Folder 67, formerly 135. 1909-08-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Narragansett Bay Yacht Agency. 240 Banigan Building. Boston Correspondent B.B. Crowninshield. New York Correspondent Frank Bowne Jones' stationery:] Providence, R.I. Sept[ember] 7, 1909
Owing to the hurry in which I went off with MAY QUEEN [#514s] I did not have the chance to acknowledge and thank you for your favor of the 20th ult.
On being measured by the measurer of the Atlantic Y.C. MAY QUEEN was found to rate 27.96 but a trifle over the estimate which you made. The excess was entirely due to the difference in method they having taken spar measurement while I presume you took actual sail. Under their method they made the S.A. 958 instead of 900 Sq. Ft.
We raced three days at the Atlantic Y.C. Starting with M.N.O. and P. classes although P class was figured separate in the final results and although the lightest wind during the three day was 18 miles, secured a first, a second and a break down.
The first day was started in a moderate breeze. We had against us MIMOSA III [#610s] and CRESCENT and were sailing over the course with VIVIAN II [#487s ex-ONWARD], PHANTOM and EIDOLON. Having secured the best start we held MIMOSA under our lee during the entire first leg and ran away from CRESCENT and VIVIAN II. At the end of the round a terrific squall struck and the big PHANTOM and MIMOSA passed us. The wind was over 35 miles per hour but we kept going and though rather badly beaten by MIMOSA, secured second in our class and beat the M boats VIVIAN II [p. 2] and EIDOLON very badly so that both finally dropped out. On allowance MIMOSA beat us about 7 minutes while we beat the two year old Gielow boat CRESCENT over twelve minutes without our allowance.
The second day the wind had dropped to about 22 miles. We held second to MIMOSA with the same fleet, all over the first round and were well inside of our allowance when the wire sling holding the throat halliards parted.
The last race of the A.Y.C. series was started in a 10 mile breeze.
We simply walked away from MIMOSA on every point of sailing during the first round. At the start of the second round the wind increased suddenly to nearly 20 miles and we were badly overblown, MIMOSA passing us but was unable to save her allowance and we got the race. Both CRESCENT and VIVIAN II were far astern.
Saturday we went to Oyster Bay, MIMOSA III did not arrive in time but we went up against the big yawl NIMPEA. We also sailed over the course with the N.Y. 30 footers. It blew from 25 to 30 miles and the sea was wicked but we reefed before starting and gave the yawl a bad beating. We also beat all the 'thirties' except NEPSI [#632s] and PHRYNE [#643s] being beaten by a few seconds by the first and a couple of minutes by the second of the two above.
Monday was at Larchmont. There was a steady 10 mile breeze and perfectly smooth water. The conditions were ideal for MAY QUEEN for the first time. Before the race MIMOSA's skipper conceded that we would beat him from 5 to 10 minutes boat for boat while CRESCENT refused to race against us and entered the handicap class. Right at the start our rudder came loose from the post and we were unable to steer at all so dropped out. MIMOSA beat all the 'thirties' by nearly two minutes so we lost the chance to lead not only the fast MIMOSA but all the N.Y.Y.C. class as well.
With two first, a second and two break downs out of five starts,
I think our trip was exceptionally successful. Everywhere MAY QUEEN [p. 3] was greatly admired for her handsome lines, roomy interior and remarkable showing against MIMOSA III which boat all the Sound yachtsmen seem to think a wonderful all around boat.
I thought you would be sufficiently interested in the doings of a ten year old Herreshoff boat manned by a Rhode Island crew, racing under a rule unthought of at the time of her launch, to be glad to have this report from me, so took the liberty of this lengthy letter.
I sailed the first race and Thurber the other four. We had the weather berth in every race at the start and our sail handling appeared to be much quicker and more effective than any of the boats we went up against so we were satisfied that local boatmen are not so far behind the other men as we had feared they might be.
Very sincerely yours ..." (Source: Goodwin[?], N.R.[?]. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22830. Correspondence, Folder 67, formerly 135. 1909-09-07.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I was most pleased to receive your letter regarding my sloop ANITA [#734s] which as you know was the VITESSA owned by the late Galen Stone at Marion, Mass. About ten years ago I bought the sister boat MINK [#733s] from Mr. Emmons and in my opinion these boats are the best day sailing craft ever designed. For a combination of comfort, ability, easy handling and appearance I have never seen their equal. I would never have sold MINK if I thought I could not buy one of the others and it was years before I got VITESSA after Mr. Stone died.
Mr. Dabney kept his boat BAGATELLE [#736s] until about two years ago. She is now on Great South Bay. Another of these boats [#738s WHITE CAP, later ARIA] was around New Bedford for years. She had a new cabin house with berths, galley & w.c. and water tight cockpit put in.
There were four boats not three as you mention. I put in ANITA the mast, rigging & sails of the 6 metre LEA in same mast step as old rig. She now has about 500 sqft as against old gaff rig 550, but of course we now use a 6 metre genoa jib and somewhat larger spinnaker. She is improved with this new rig especially in light air to windward. We have beaten Class R GAMECOCK [#932s] and POLLYANNA, most of the older 6 metres and raceabout MAY QUEEN [#514s], and in very light air with spinnaker ANITA is marvelous, sailing as fast as many racing boats nearly twice her size.
We won Larchmont Y.C. race week four years out of five and in the New York A. C. Block Island Race won 2 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third out of five sarts. The WASAKA [#619s] you mention is the same old boat. I sailed her a few times several years ago. She is quite flat and powerful but fast. The MUMSEY ex PLEASURE [#907s] was owned by George Ratsey who sold her to Harry Maxwell and she changed owners trice since. She was a sweet boat with more cabin and less cockpit than ANITA but had less stability and was not as fast. I hear that Olin Stephens will get a contract from Harold Vanderbilt to design a cup defender Class J for 1937. Many thanks for your kind letter and I hope I may soon see you or hear from you again. [Incl. penciled boat building numbers and dimensions by NGH.]" (Source: Granbery, George P. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_20760. Correspondence, Folder 59. 1936-09-04.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #514s May Queen even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• May Queen (HMCo-made index card)
• May Queen (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: May Queen
Type: Knockabout
Length: 25'
Owner: Whittemore, C.

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• May Queen
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: May Queen
Type: 25' sloop
Owner: C. Whittemore
Year: 1899
Row No.: 426

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Year: 1899
E/P/S: S
No.: 0514
Name: May Queen
LW: 25'
B: 10' 6"
D: 4'
Rig: Knockabout
CB: y
Ballast: Lead [sic, i.e. Lead outside]
Amount: 3300.00
Notes Constr. Record: New moulds. Model 486.
Last Name: Whittemore
First Name: C.

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"Though described as a knockabout by NGH, the construction plan shows May Queen #514s to have had a boswprit (as opposed to her sister Blazing Star #515s which was a knockabout and had no bowsprit)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"May Queen is known to have raced in Handycap Class on Long Island Sound between 1925 and 1928, owned by H. D. Savage." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2015.)

"[Maynard Bray remembered May Queen to have been in storage as a basket case in the same yard in South Portland where #709s Joyant was also stored. This must have been around 1976-1978. He expected her to have been broken up shortly after.]" (Source: Bray, Maynard. [Private email to Claas van der Linde.] May 3, 2015.)

"Built in 120 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $28/day, 82 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.