Herreshoff #186605es Psyche

"Psyche [#186605es]: 45ft Length on deck. 41ft 6in Length on water. 14ft 8in Breadth extreme. 4ft 11in Depth. 3 3/8in Deadrise per foot. Peaked (or round) stern. 1ft 8 1/2in Sheer. 5ft Freeboard [at] bow. 3ft 3in Freeboard [at] stern. 2ft 1 1/2in Freeboard [at] lowest place. 14ft 6in Centreboard length. 15ft 3in Centreboard from woodends. 11ft 3in Centre of mast from woodends. 47ft Mainsail foot. 32ft Mainsail hoist. 26ft Mainsail head. 54ft Mainsail leech. 29ft Jib foot. 44ft 6in Jib hoist. 36ft Jib leech. 30ft Gafftopsail foot. 34ft Gafftopsail luff. 23ft Gafftopsail leech. 32ft Jibtopsail foot. 60ft Jibtopsail hoist. 37ft Jibtopsail leech." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. and/or other Herreshoff family members. Handwritten table listing early Herreshoff-built boats and their dimensions up to 1870. No date (1870 or later). Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDE03.)

"HAIDEE 2nd, ARIAL, VIOLET, PSYCHE, and FANNIE were built the following winter [1865/1866] by Herreshoff and Stone. Neither of these boats made a brilliant record the first year, but were very [well] liked and approved [of] when in the hands of later owners." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Boats and Yachts that I have been Especially Interested in by Sailing and Some of Which I Have Owned." Bristol, April 1932. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 103.)

"The forty-five foot overall sloop yacht PSYCHE was launched in May, being built by Fitch B. Taylor from a model by me. She proved able to win in the Brooklyn and the newly formed Atlantic Yacht Club." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "The Old Tannery and My Brother John." Written July 28, 1933. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 22-23.)

"In the 1866 spring regatta of the Brooklyn and Atlantic Yacht Clubs, I started the sloop yacht PSYCHE that I had designed and John and [Dexter] Stone had built the winter before for F. B. Taylor, and won. She had an elliptical stern and [was] forty-five feet overall, about forty-two feet waterline, and a good, able craft." (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. 47.)

"'Qui Vive II,' 42' O.A.
'Prudence,' 36' O.A.
'Patience,' 36' O.A.
'Hope,' 28' O.A.
'Faith,' 28' O.A.
'Henrietta,' 16' O.A.
'Haidi,' 25' O.A.
'Ariel.'
'Violet.'
'Psyche.'
'Fannie.'
So far as I can make out, these later yachts were designed or modeled by J. B., C. F. Herreshoff (the father), and Nat all working together, but C. F. and J. B. were depending on Nat more and more each year. After about 1870, when Captain Nat designed 'Shadow,' thirty-six feet O.A. sixteen feet three inches beam, all later Herreshoff yachts were designed by Captain Nat alone. (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 58-59.)

"A large yacht, built by Messrs. Herreshoff & Stone, of this town, for Mr. Taylor of the Brooklyn Club, New York, called Psyche, was launched from their yard Monday [April 23, 1866] afternoon. This is the largest, and most elaborately finished yacht that has been built at this yard." (Source: Anon. "Launch." Bristol Phoenix, April 28, 1866, p. 2.)

"The New York Tribune says: --- 'We recently visited the establishment of Messrs. Herreshoff & Stone, of Bristol, R. I, the builders of the sloop Kelpie [#186403es], which attracted so much attention at the time of the regattas last spring, and was subsequently purchased by Mr. Taylor, of the Brooklyn Club, where we found no less than six boats of their build on the stocks or already launched, from 30 to 45 feet in length. These gentlemen carry on the business of yacht and boat building on a scale probably unequalled in this country, conducting on their own premises, nearly every operation necessary to convert the raw materials --- wood and iron --- into boats. They buy their timber in the log, sawing it to suit in their own steam mill, and, in fact, for many purposes, as knees, &c, send their own men into the woods to cut it In their blacksmith shop, block shop, spar-yard, and rigging loft, the various adjuncts of the vessels are turned out, so that their establishment is almost a miniature navy yard. At present the sails for their boats, are made under their supervision, at Newport; but they hope soon to make arrangements for adding a sail-loft to their other departments. Among the boats launched this spring, and now building in their yard, are the Psyche [#186605es], for Mr. Taylor of the Brooklyn Club; Ariel [#186601es], for C. Anthony, Esq., of Providence, and Haidee [#186501es], for S. C. Powell, Esq., of New York. The first named is 45 feet in length on deck, and is to be finished in the most elegant manner, with black walnut, mahogany and other hard woods. She will have two staterooms, and a piano in her cabin --- a luxury, we venture to say, never before introduced into a boat of her size." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachting." Bristol Phoenix, April 28, 1866, p. 2.)

"The annual Regatta of the New-York Club, for many years the leading event of the season in aquatic circles, came off yesterday. ...
The [Psyche] sailed around the steamer several times before starting and elicited much comment as the winner of a prize in the regattas of both Monday and Tuesday and as it proved in the end, would also, had she been entered, have taken a prize to-day. She is of the build of Messrs. Herreshoff & Stone of Bristol, R. I., the 'blind man' whose yachts attracted so much attention last year. These builders are represented in New-York during the present week by no less than five yachts, all built within little over one year, and it appears to us that they have demonstrated their superiority in the most essential points. Some of our yachtmen object, perhaps with reason, that they are 'homely' boats --- but we opine that here at least the old agage holds good, 'handsome is that handsome does;' and if anybody does not admire their sterns, obviously their most uncomely point, it is only necessary to get some craft fast enough not to be obliged to look at them. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting. ... The Blind Man's Yacht, the Psyche." New York Tribune, June 15, 1866, p. 8.)

"In the regatta at Stonington, on the 'Fourth,' [July 4, 1870] the Orion [#186903es], owned by Mr Thayer, of New York, and built by Mr John B Herreshoff, of this town, was the successful competitor gaining the prize of one hundred dollars. ... The first prize to centre-board boats in the first class, at the regatta in Boston on the 4th inst. [July 4, 1870], was given to the Sadie [#186704es], late ot this town. The first prize to keel boats was won by the Psyche [#186605es]. The first prize in the second class was given to the Violet [#186606es], the second to the Kelpie [#186403es], centre-boards. The first prize in the third class was given to the Posey [#186603es ex-Fannie I], the second to the Secret [#186408es], centre-boards. Those boots were all built by Mr. John B. Herreshoff, at his yard and shops in this town. ... At the regatta of the Eastern Yacht Club, of Marblehead, Mass., Tuesday [July 12, 1870], the Sadie [#186704es], of Boston, was the winning boat. Coming was second. The time of the Sadie was four hours and twenty-five minutes, and the Coming four hours thirty minutes and twenty-five seconds. Dexter Stone's Psyche [#186605es], another Herreshoff boat, although not in the race, came in next to the winner." (Source: Anon. "Local Tintypes." Bristol Phoenix, July 16, 1870, p. 2.)

"The sloop yacht Psyche, built by Herreshoff, and owned by John G. Richardson, of this city, was on Monday [June 19, 1871] sold to Edward N. Dickerson, of New York, for $4,250. " (Source: Herreshoff, John B. "Newport News." New York Herald, June 25, 1871, p. 4.)

"The first regatta of the [Atlantic Yacht] club was sailed on June 11, 1866, the year the club was founded. Fourteen yachts started, the race being sailed without time allowance. The Hector, owned by Mr. William Peet, and Psyche, owned by Mr. F. B. Taylor, were the winners. Psyche was a fast sloop, designed by Herreshoff. She was the first yacht seen hereabouts to carry a club-topsail and a balloon jib-topsail. Though of rather crude design compared with the modern artistic 'creations' of the down-to-date sail-makers, these flying kites made a great sensation wherever seen." (Source: Kenealy, A. J. "The Atlantic Yacht Club. Its Origin and History." Outing, June 1898, p. 286.)

"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) table providing what amounts to be the earliest Herreshoff construction record with detailed dimensional data (Name, Owner, Length on deck, Length on water, Breadth extreme, Depth, Deadrise per foot, Width of stern, Sheer, Freeboard at bow, stern and lowest place, Centreboard length, Centreboard from woodends, Centre of mast from woodends, Bowsprit out board, Mainsail foot, hoist, head, leech, and area, Foresail foot, hoist, head, leech, and area, Jib foot, hoist, leech, and area, Gafftopsail foot, luff, leech, and area, Fore-gafftopsail foot, luff, leech, and area, Jibtopsail foot, hoist, leech, and area and Notes ) for Julia [#185602es], Sprite [#186001es], Kelpie 1st [#186301es], Magic [#186404es], Toad [#186411es], Prudence [#186406es], Patience [#186405es], Hope [#186402es], Faith [#186401es], Qui Vive [#186407es], Kelpie 2nd [#186403es], Teazer [#186410es], Secret [#186408es], Fish Boats [#186505es, #186506es, #186507es, #186508es, #186509es, #186510es, #186511es, #186512es], Fish Boats [#186513es, #186514es, #186515es, #186516es, #186517es, #186518es], Fanchon [#186501es], Angie [#186503es], Haidee [#186604es], Ariel [#186601es], Psyche [#186605es], Fannie 1st [#186603es], Violet [#186606es], Fish Boats [#186607es, #186608es], Fish Boats [#186609es, #186610es, #186611es, #186612es, #186613es, #186614es], Lively Whale [later Daisy ???] [#186707es ???], Fannie 2nd [#186702es], Hartford [later Polly ???] [#186703es ???], Sadie [#186704es], Clytie [#186701es], Waterfall [N/A], Bristol [#186801es], Ione [#187003es], Poppasquash [#186502es], Etta [N/A], Oysterboats [#186710es, #186711es], Spring Green [#186709es], Pellican [#186708es], Henrietta [N/A], Meteor [N/A], Fatter[?] [N/A], Annie Moies [#1p], Charlotte [#186803es], Annie [#186905es], Hildegard [#186808es], Thetis [#186705es], Clio [#187101es], Fleetwing [N/A], White Straw[?] [N/A], [Mignone] [#186904es], Fish Boats [square stern, 1868] [N/A], Sadie [#N/A (dupl. listing)], Fannie [N/A], Bunsby [#186802es], Orion [#186903es], Breeze [N/A], Nimbus [#186805es], Alice [crossed out, this MIGHT be Bessie] [#187001es], Viking [#187008es], [Ianthe] [#187002es], [Surf] [#187007es], [Georgie Miller] [#187011es], and [Pink] [#187010es]. Undated, the latest vessel on the list was built in 1870." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator) or other Herreshoff family members (?) (creator). Construction Record. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01410. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1870).)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #186605es Psyche even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Psyche
• Psyche
• Wynne ex-Psyche
• 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: Psyche
Type: 49' 11" sloop
Owner: J. J. Murphy
Year: 1866
Row No.: 548

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.

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for New Measurement Tons (27.61) from the 1875 Manning's Yachting Annual (Old Measurement Tons were reported as 49 by the 1872 Fox Yachting Annual) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

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