Herreshoff #187304es Peri

"[In 1866 the] Company also built several small catboats, from John's own model, that went to the Burgess boys, Charles F. Adams, and others. These were very successful, and were followed by several more in the succeeding three or four years, so that the growing generation of North Shore men were brought up in Bristol built catboats, all modeled by John." (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.)

"February 13, 1937
Dear Mr. Stephens -
... I saw quite a bit of the Burgess family by my brother John building all the boats for the Burgess boys. ...
With kindest regards,
Sincerely,
Nathanael G. Herreshoff" (Source: Letter 25. From N. G. Herreshoff to W. P. Stephens, dated February 13, 1937. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 155-159.)

"Yachting. The New Features of the Present Season. ... The Beverly Yacht Club.
There have been several additions to the fleet of this club. The following are the new yachts: ... the Peri and the Ruby, each cat-rigged, 18 feet, built by Herreshoff, the former owned by S. W. Burgess and the latter by E. W. Preston." (Source: Boston Globe, June 20, 1873, p. 8.)

"... For two or three years previous to '78, the Peri, in the hands of Mr. Sidney Burgess and her present owner, Vice-Com. Lee, stood at the head of her class in these waters. She is one of Herreshoff's best boats. ..." (Source: Anon. (Reefpoint). "Yachting News. Beverly Yacht Club." Forest And Stream, July 3, 1879, p. 427.)

"CITY POINT YACHTING. ... Herreshoff in them days was turning out some fine catboats, the Posy, Fanny, Maud, Bristol, Peri, Ruby, Virginia, Dandelion, Pansy and Tulip, bein' a few of his that used to carry off a good many prizes. ..." (Source: Anon ("Water Line.") "City Point Yachting. Great Record Made by Catboat Fanny." Boston Globe, February 2, 1890, p. 10.)

"CITY POINT YACHTING.
... Boston harbor is a good place to sail cat-boats, and prob'ly the catboat class under 20 feet water-line has given fun to more young sailors than all the rest put together. ... The Water Witch, a Pierce boat, came out in '72, and the Peri, a Herreshoff cat, in '73. Long about that time it used to be close work between the Maud, Peri, Bristol and Water Witch. The Bristol was another Herreshoff boat, but she had a square stern, while the Maud and Peri had counters. ..." (Source: Anon. ("Water Line.") "City Point Yachting." Boston Globe, March 16, 1890, p. 10.)

"When he mentions '... all the boats for the Burgess boys' N.G.H. is making one of the rare references to a little-known chapter of yachting history. It is the period prior to 1878, when John Brown Herreshoff was building what may have been the fastest miniature racing catboats in North America or abroad. The Burgess family alone bought about a half a dozen. These and many others sailed in the Boston area won against all comers in races for craft in the UNA tradition." (Source: Streeter, John W., editorial note. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 159.)

"This July 13, 1874, racing circular announced a special regatta for three classes of yachts off Beverly. The first class included all boats between 21 to 30 feet on the waterline, the second class included all boats measuring over 17 feet and not over 21 feet, and the third class consisted of all boats under 17 feet. During the early years of racing, most of the boats racing were catboats, and the winner was chosen by a handicap system of rating the boats. The first class was won by the Eva, the second class was won by the Peri and the third class was won by the Pink". (Source: Regatta circular caption. In: Rosbe, Judith Westlund. The Beverly Yacht Club. Charleston SC, Chicago IL, Portsmouth NH and San Francisco CA, 2006, p. 16.)

"The fourth regatta of the Beverly Yacht Club was held off Nahant on July 25, 1874. The Sunday Herald reported on the event: "Of all the many regattas of this club none have been blessed with more propitious weather than that of yesterday --- clear sky, warm sun, a good breeze, a full attendance of members and boats, a fine sail with no mishaps --- all tending to render the fourth regatta one of unexcelled and rarely equaled merit. ... In the first class the Eva (W. H. Bangs Jr.) took the first prize, a silver inkstand, and the Fire Fly (G. H. Balch) the second, a silver goblet. The first prize in the second class was awarded to the Peri (S. W. Burgess), and the second to the Avon (F. R. Sears Jr.). In the third class the Tulip (W. Burgess) took the first and the Pink (J. B. Mills Jr.) the second." (Source: Regatta circular caption. In: Rosbe, Judith Westlund. The Beverly Yacht Club. Charleston SC, Chicago IL, Portsmouth NH and San Francisco CA, 2006, p. 17.)

• Peri
• 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: Peri
Type: 18' 6" cat
Owner: Henry Parkman [sic, i.e. S. W. Burgess as per Olsen Yacht List 1874 or E. Burgess as per model guide]
Year: 1873
Row No.: 516

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.