Herreshoff #186701es Clytie

"Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to Mr. Foster
In reply to your valued letter of 18th instant, I am afraid I cannot give you much that will be of interest to the members of the Eastern Yacht Club. Being behind the Cape I have had little to do with the E. Y. C., ...
Some of the old timers of my design which were probably sailed in the E. Y. C. races may be mentioned. Fanchon, designed and built in 1865, owned by Edward Burgess from about 1869 for several years. Violet, 1866, Eben Denton. Clytie, 1867. Sadie, 1867 (first a schooner but changed to a sloop in 1868, and owned by Franklin Burgess 1870-71. Her model was made by John B. Herreshoff). Ianthe, schooner, 49' w. l., 1870, W. D. Pickman owner. (Model by John B. Herreshoff.) Latona, schooner, 55 1/2' w. l., 1871, W. D. Pickman owner. Faustine, schooner, 74' w. l., 1873, built for George Peabody Russell, and taken to England in 1874.
... Sincerely yours,
Nathanael G. Herreshoff" (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene. Letter to Charles H. W. Foster, ca. 1931. Quoted in Foster, Charles H. W. The Eastern Yacht Club Ditty Box, 1870-1900. Norwood, Mass., 1932, p. 39-41.)

"Dear Mr. Foster,
... My father always advocated boats of good displacement. His own boats, built for his own pleasure, were all vessels of the heavily ballasted keel type (1834-1860). So, when my brother John began building, the larger ones were with more than the prevailing amount of displacement. I was, therefore, brought up in that type, and I can remember, in my early racing, we always would defeat the shallower type from 'Up Sound' and New York as easily in light winds as in fresh ones. Our craft were (1864 to 67) Kelpie, Violet built in 1866 for Eben Denton, Clytie, and Sadie. The first was modeled by my father. Violet, by me in 1865, and Clytie, by me in 1866. Sadie, by my brother John in 1866.
...
Sincerely yours,
Nathanael G. Herreshoff" (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene. Letter to Charles H. W. Foster, dated March 6, 1932. Quoted in Foster, Charles H. W. The Eastern Yacht Club Ditty Box, 1870-1900. Norwood, Mass., 1932, p 139-141.)

"The following fall [1866], (before entering the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) I made another model for [the] same size yacht as VIOLET and CLYTIE was built.
(6) CLYTIE. [She was] launched in May, 1867, and was length oa. 36', length wl. 33', beam 12'2", depth 4'5". The mast was 8'6" aft of wood ends, and bowsprit 16'outboard. Mainsail 40' foot, 26' hoist, 21'8" head, 46' leech with 958 square feet. Jib [foot] 25'6", luff 38', leech 29'6" with 373 square feet. Topsail foot 26', luff 27'9", leech 18' 10", and 238 square feet. These dimensions [are] all cut sizes. Later, a much larger club topsail was used. She also had a rather large jib topsail and also a balloon jib or spinnaker, which seemed a very large rig. At the same time, the schooner yacht SADIE, modeled by John, and rig designed by me while at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was built and will be described later. I sailed CLYTIE in many races during 1867 and most of 1868 and she was very successful and nearly always first in her class. Her nearest competitor was WHITE CAP, designed by Fish, and owned and sailed by the Livingston brothers." (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. 104.)

"I also m[ade] the model for CLYTIE, a thirty-five and one-half foot overall, thirty-two and one-half foot waterline sloop, to be built for John's own use. Each of these three boats [was built] early in the season of 1867, and each was a successful winner in its class." (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. 23.)

"To prevent John and Dexter Stone (they were in partnership then) [from] using this model [of VIOLET] any more, I took an axe and cut it up, then went to work and made a new model for a same sized sloop yacht. This John and Stone built from the following winter (1866-67) and named CLYTIE, and they also built a fifty foot overall schooner yacht from John's model that was named SADIE. Both these boats proved to be fast. I sailed CLYTIE all the season of 1867 and part of 1868, first in all the New York Bay races, and won all. Then I went to Boston and won, and later took part in the Boston Yacht Club Cruise. In this, we found VIOLET a good competitor, but could always beat her a little.
CLYTIE was a most satisfactory [boat]. Although she was quite heavily built, and with oak and hard wood cabins, she was fast in light weather going. Her only fault was hard steering on a reach, partly due to form and partly to a wide rudder." (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. 47-48.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND Sept 17, 1936. {1936/09/17} Dear Francis ... I remember of a short but severe tropical storm, - a 'summer hurricane', - in which we, by good luck we got in harbor and just escaped a probable loss of yachts and lives. Your Uncle John had sold a second hand shallow yacht to be delivered to the lower fort in Boston Har. - and we, in 'Clytie', a fine new able yacht, were bound to Gloucester to take part in the first cruise of the Boston Yacht Club, in 1867, which was to the Maine Coast. Both yachts Clytie & Solace (30' wl) were poorly manned, all amateurs but the cook on Clytie. Off Chatham with moderate easterly & fair. Solace's centre-board broke, - so the end could be seen under weather builge and we took her in tow, - sailed all day and the following night, and arrived [p4] the following morning in increasing n.e. wind and heavy rain. After delivering Solace at the fort, (Independence ?) we proceeded up to Boston under shortned sail and anchored with both anchors, right off the City wharfs, and held on during a violant gale and rain from n.e. to n. and it was all over by night. The next day in going to Gloucester we passed several schooners, wallowing along with with sails in ribbons or gone. ... Your affectionate Father." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 12: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"In his younger life [J. B. Herreshoff] had sailed and cruised a great deal in sailboats and entered his yachts in many races. He went on the Boston Yacht Club's first cruise in 1867 in his yacht 'Clytie' and won several of the runs. In the Boston Yacht Club's first regatta on June 17, 1867 'Clytie' led from the start, making both the best actual and corrected time over the course. In this race the second was 'Violet' and the third 'Kelpie,' all yachts built by J. B. 'Violet,' however, was modeled by N. G. and she raced with marked success for fifty years." (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. 55-56.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 50:]
Clytie, sloop, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1867.
12.60 tons; 33.2 ft. x 12.7 ft. x 5.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, [blank] head [bow].
Lic[ensed] ([for] C[oastal] T[rade]) June 11, 1868. Owner: John B. Herreshoff of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
Lic[ensed] ([for] C[oastal] T[rade]) Oct. 29, 1868. Owner: Nathaniel G. Herreshoff of Bristol. Master: Nathaniel G. Herreshoff. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Clytie.)

"Our harbor was enlivened on Saturday [August 1, 1868] last by the presence of eight of the fifteen yachts belonging to the Atlantic Yacht Club, of Brooklyn, N. Y., then on their annual cruise --- the other seven remaining at Newport. The following are names of the yachts, their owners, and the places where they belong: Sloop White Wing, Commodore Sheppard Romans, New York; sloop Gracie, Vice Com. William Voorhis, Nyack, N. Y.; sloop Nimbus [#186805es], Rear Commodore William Peet, Brooklyn; schooner Alga, James G. Gregory, Brooklyn; sloop Addie, Jacob Voorhis, Jr., New York; sloop Clytie, John B. Herreshotf, Bristol, R. I.; sloop Mariquita, L. De Forrest Woodruff, New York; sloop Carlton, J. Rogers Maxwell, Brooklyn.
The Atlantic Yacht Club was organized in 1861, and now numbers thirty-six yachts and nearly one hundred members.
The yacht Gracie was on her trial trip. She was built at Nyack, under the immediate direction of her owner and from the same moulds of the Clytie [#186701es], of this town --- the latter being the fastest yacht in this country. [The famous Gracie was almost twice as big as Clytie and quite certainly not built of Clytie's moulds.]
The Nimbus [#186805es] was built by Mr. John B. Herreshoff, of this town, and was launched on the twenty-third day of last month [July 23, 1868].
The Addie, Gracie, and White Wing are now being overhauled at the yard of Mr. Herreshoff, preparatory for the race of the New York Yacht Club Squadron
which will take place next week, from Newport to Block Island." (Source: Anon. [Title?] Bristol Phoenix, August 8, 1868, p. 2.)

"... The Clytie [#186701es], champion of the second class sloops, lies at anchor at Bristol, R. I., with the Nimbus [#186805es] and Sadie [#186704es], and flies the champion pennant since last autumn. When that is taken from her she will be ready to try our New York built boats, and till the she will 'rest on her laurels.'
Her builder and owner, Mr. John B. Herreshoff, has been overhauling the Nimbus and building a new yacht to be called the Orion [#186903e], for Mr. Thayer, of Hoboken. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting. The Season of 1869." New York Herald, May 9, 1869, p. 4.)

"[Clytie (2) (Sail, C. B.) owned by Fred. Cunningham, Port: Boston; LOA 37.6ft; LWL 33.6ft; Beam 12.6ft; Draft 4ft; designed by J. B. Herreshoff and built by J. B. Herreshoff in 1867.]" (Source: Stebbins 1888 Yachtsmen's Souvenir, p. 24.)

"CLYTIE.
The centerboard sloop yacht Clytie was designed by N. G. Herreshoff and built by J. B. Herreshoff, Bristol, R. I., and launched in 1867. She hails from Boston and is owned by Robert W. Neff and W. R. Rollins. She sails with the Corinthian (of Marblehead), Boston and Quincy Yacht Clubs. Official number, 5,418.
DIMENSIONS.
Length over all, 37 feet 3 inches.
Length load waterline, 33 feet 7 inches. Depth, 5 feet.
Draft, 4 feet 6 inches.
Beam, 12 feet 7 inches." (Source: Mott, Henry Augustus. Yachts and Yachtsmen of America. New York, 1894, p. 497.)

"... A builder for whom, [boatbuilder and designer C. B. Harrington] always had the profoundest respect is Mr Herreshoff, and speaking of him, Mr Harrington said recently 'He's a wonderful man. The best they had across the water couldn't beat him. In fact I never knew a Herreshoff boat to get beaten but once.' And then he slapped his knee as he recounted the old days when he used to match his boats against those of all comers.
'You see it was on' the 17th of June, '73, there was a race off Marblehead course and I sailed the Pilgrim, which I had designed and built that very year. There was a spanking breeze over the quarter and we were on the last leg with evervthing behind with exception of the Clytie built by Herreshoff and Herreshoff was sailing her. As they saw us gaining on them they kept crawling out over the windward side. It wasn't any use though for we went by them as clean as a whistle. I know that sounds like quite a yarn but if any one disproves my story there is a man who can prove it and that is Mr Herreshoff himself.' ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Designer Dead. C. B. Harrington Dies at Bath, Me., Following Recent Fall." Bristol Phoenix, January 7, 1921, p. 4.)

"[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).)
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"[Item Description:] Congratulation re #499s COLUMBIA from 'an old Bristol boy who used to shock[?] balls for you on the common in the [18-]sixties when Pamply[?], Johnny Post, Talbot & c. used to play'. Remembers #186701es CLYTIE and #186704es SADIE. 'Bristol boys never forget the beautiful town by the sea.'" (Source: Buguall[?], J.T. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52820. Subject Files, Folder 46, formerly 60. 1899-10-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with pinpricks, radials, and tracing marks titled 'CLYTIE [#186701es]. Taken off model Ap[ril] 22, 1908'. With note 'Scale 1in per ft. Sections 3.266ft apart. Representing 32ft 8in length of w.l. with outside of stem 6 1/2in forward of w.l. Model represents moulded size, and almost 1 3/8in is to be added all over for thickness of planking & deck. (Reduced to make model for NYYC.)'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01480. Folder [no #]. 1908-04-22.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sketch labeled CLYTIE [#186701es] with dimensioned sailplan and profile with numerous measurements which may have been taken off the model. Undated, this may well be from the 1920s or 1930s?" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_03210. Folder [no #]. No date (1920s or 1930s ??).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #186701es Clytie even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Clytie
• 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: Clytie
Type: 33' sloop
Owner: J. B. Herreshoff
Year: 1867
Row No.: 119

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.

"See also: Mystic Seaport, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection (Coll. 138). Box 16, Folder 1. Clytie: Bristol, R.I., 'The Log of My First Cruise in 1868'. [Handwritten log by N. G. Herreshoff. Facsimile. 12 Pages.]" (Source: http://library.mysticseaport.org/manuscripts/coll/coll138.cfm, retrieved February 13, 2011.)

"Mainsail 40' foot, 26' hoist, 21'8" head, 46' leech with 958 square feet. Jib [foot] 25'6", luff 38', leech 29'6" with 373 square feet. Topsail foot 26', luff 27'9", leech 18' 10", and 238 square feet." (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. 104.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for New Measurement Tons (12.6) from the 1874 Olsen's American Yacht List (Old Measurement Tons were reported as 18 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.