Herreshoff #187803es Sabrina

"[1879-05-07] Wed 7: [From Cash Account in 1878 NGH diary:] [Paid] Cloth for Sabrina's [#187803es] jib. [$0.]90.
[1879-05-31] Sat 31: [From Cash Account in 1878 NGH diary:] [Received from] H[erreshoff] Mf. Co for Sabrina's [#187803es]. [$]415.00. [Paid] [HMCo] Work on catamaran [#187903es Lodola] & Sabrina's [#187803es]. [$]113.20.
[1879-06-14] Sat 14: [From Cash Account in 1878 NGH diary:] P[ai]d [HMCo] Catamaran # 8 [#187903es Lodola] and Sabrina's [#187803es] (By ch[eque] on N.E. B[ank] 5496). [$]104.96." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1879. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"My Own Boats. Except a few that will be mentioned as half-owner. ...
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1878 SABRINA - 16 foot c.b. cat boat [with] wide flaring sides and lean bilge like [the] "Penny Bridge Boats," but used much with RIVIERA's mainsail. In spring of 1879, SABRINA was sold to Dr. George C. de Marini, dentist to the Royal Russian family, and the mast moved aft and jib added. She was taken to the Gulf of Finland and there became famous for her sailing." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "My Own Boats. Except a few that Will be Mentioned as Half-Owner." Bristol, (originally compiled 1892 with additions in) 1929. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 114.)

"For my own pleasure sailing, I had built in the summer of 1878 a sixteen foot centerboard sailboat of wide beam on deck, but flaring sides like the "Penny Bridge boats," and named SABRINA. She was fast and well liked, and in 1879, I sold her to Dr. George C. de Marini [Dentist to the Russian Royal Family], and sent [her] to Russia where she beat all their 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. 52.)

"His next small boat was named 'Sabrina,' a sixteen-foot cat-boat, narrow on the water line but with wide flaring sides above. She was built in 1878 and sold in 1879 going to the Gulf of Finland where she became famous for her sailing." (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. 115.)

"... I will send you one of these days a photograph of the [#187803es] Minnehaha [ex-Sabrina], the boat you sent to Russia for me. I have sailed her in 17 races, in Finland and St. Petersburg - never was beaten. The last race in Finland, the committee would not let me enter unless I took no allowance - all right I said I'll accept - most of the races I went in with mainsail alone, but this time I had a 28 foot boat to contend with and an American boat, so I put on the jib. It was a good 4 hours triangular race + the Minnehaha came out 37! minutes ahead of the best of them. I had Cattley & Carl Wahl a Finnish friend who knew the course well. I had hired a small steamer and invited our friends and gave out refreshments free on boat, it was a glorious day. ..." (Source: de Marini, George C. [Letter to N. G. Herreshoff.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 41 (new), 203 (old). Access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff. January 24, 1909.)

"... about the MINNEHAHA [#187803es ex-SABRINA]. The Fins (Finlanders) in Vibourg have profited of the model of the MINNEHAHA and the HYAWATHA I had built in Wiborg ... from that time they began to build their sail craft with centre boards and called them Marini American boats! ..." (Source: de Marini, George C. [Letter to N. G. Herreshoff.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 42 (new), 204 (old). Access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff. August 14, 1910.)

"It was 'catboats' which came in the same form in which we know them today from American magazines. Straight stemmed, broad and low in the stern, with wide beam and little draft. They were centerboarders and comfortable boats, perfect for sailing in the Gulf of Finland. The most famous was [WLS Commodore Harry] Wahls 'Minnehaha' with her Indian name and directly imported from U.S.A., designed by Nathanael Herreshoff.
'Minnehaha' with 29m2 of sail, dominated in catboat races and ended her famous career sometime in the end of the 1890’s. The race was between Wiborg and Tråvgrund, where Minnehaha under her huge mainsail pressed in heavy winds, buried her bow and flipped forward throwing both Harry and Vivi Wahl into Wiborgs gulf." (Source: Ramsey, Henrik. Sommar och Segel. Stockholm, 1946, p. 17-18. Translation from the Swedish by Mike Hanyi.)

"[Item Description:] Penciled sketch with a comparison of four mid-ship sections, one labeled COQUINA [#404s], the other labeled SABRINA [#187803es]. Otherwise unlabeled, untitled, undated." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_05070. Folder [no #]. No date (1878 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled construction section and profile on very smudged paper titled 'NORA [#187802es] and SABRINA [#187803es]. 1878'. With list of scantlings 'Timbers 1 x 3/4in ash. Keel 1 1/4 x 6in amidships. Planking 1/2in. Stern 1 1/2in stuck[?]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0269. WRDT04, Folder 24, formerly MRDE08. 1878.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan with dimensions titled 'SABRINA [#187803es]'. On verso penciled sailplan with dimensions titled 'NORA [#187802es] & SABRINA [#187803es]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0453. WRDT08, Folder 36, formerly MRDE09. No date (1878 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled dimensioned sailplan with manufacturing instructions titled '16 ft. Boat. New sail for SABRINA (MINNEHAHA) [#187803es]. Sept 1885'. Also marked in lower right corner 'NORA 1st [#187802es]'. Sail area is 228sqft." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0452. WRDT08, Folder 36, formerly MRDE09. 1885-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled construction plan with half-breadth plan and inboard profile titled '#403. 16ft 8in Sail boat (SABRINA [#187803es] model) for Dr. G. C. De Marini (CALYPSO). April 1889. Scale 1in = 1ft'. On verso three superimposed hull profiles, of which the shortest appears to be #403s SABRINA and the intermediate-length one appears to be related to #407s BIRD." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0268. WRDT04, Folder 24, formerly MRDE08. 1889-04.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) ink on linen penciled letter:] Dear Nat
I send you plans of centreboard (steel plate) as used by Charles Wahl of Wiborg, Finland.
I have no doubt you will improve on it. An immense advantage it has of being always free & can be pulled entirely out into the boat whilst sailing & I hope you will [p. 2] arrange one such for the new MINNEHAHA [#403s CALYPSO] --- as to the outside lead keel I do not like it as it makes a weight too far aft and is only useful when going free --- and I have never found the best[?] of it, and I have sailed in all weathers!
It also makes the boat so much heavier when taking out [p. 3] of the water & showing it about.
When you get this with this drawing you can send it to Minneapolis.
I always forgot to tell you that the new sail that I got for the M[INNE]HAHA [#187803es ex-SABRINA] did not work at all. The gaff part was much too long and the boat could not sail so near the wind --- too large at [p. 4] top & would have needed 2 or three feet longer mast to make it set. With one reef in, it worked very well.
With best regards to all
Faithfully your friend
G[eorg]e deMarini
Admiralty Quay 4
St. Petersburg
April 14/16 1889
[P.S.] Expect to see you in July! [With ink on linen (black and color) drawing of centerboard with English-language notes marked in lower right corner 'Wiborg. 8. 4. 1889. M (or W?)'.] [With envelope from St. Petersburg to Bristol postmarked 6 AIIP 1889.]" (Source: de Marini, (Dr.) George C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_01770. Folder [no #]. 1889-04-16.)
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"[Item Description:] letter from 70 rue Gerard, Brussels; re invented swimming help, swim across the British channel, built canoe, rowboat, etc. when living in Finlayson, Minn., 'will send you one of these days a photograph of the [#187803es] MINNEHAHA [ex-SABRINA], the boat you sent to Russia for me. I have sailed her in 17 races, in Finland and St. Petersburg - never was beaten! The last race in Finland the committee would not let me enter unless I took no allowance --- all right I said I'll accept --- most of the races I went in with mainsail alone, ... I had Cattley[?] & Carl Wahl a Finnish friend who knew the course well', 'Since I have been in Europe with my children I have been occupying myself with lathe work', description of lathe & tools, 'I do not wonder at what you say of your not being so busy at yacht building at present', 'just now the great movement is in autos'. Incl envelope from Belgium to NGH. Incl envelope envelope from Walter Macleod & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio to 'Supt. Herreshoff Mfg. Co.', postmarked 1909, marked on verso in pencil '2 letters from Dr. Geo. C. D Marini to NGH on subject of Swimming Webs'." (Source: de Marini, (Dr.) George C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14790. Correspondence, Folder 41, formerly 203. 1909-01-24.)
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"[Item Description:] mounted photo labeled in ink on recto [#187803es] 'MINNEHAHA' [ex-SABRINA], labeled in pencil 'SABRINA' and printed on mount 'Fredrik Diehl. Wiborg', labeled in ink on verso 'Rounding the Stern of the steamer = End of race, 1/2 an hour ahead of 16 competitors, in Golf of Trangsund, Finland (below Viborg)' (was part of a group of four photos sent by Dr. George C. de Marini on May 22, 1909 in an envelope labeled '4 photographies (3 mounted), ..., Dr. de Marini, 70 rue Gerard'. No date (1882 or later as photographer Fredrik Diehl is known to have moved to Finland in 1882)." (Source: de Marini, (Dr.) George C. (sender). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36200. Subject Files, Folder [no #], formerly 205?. No date (sent by de Marini 1909-05-22).)
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"[Item Description:] received on the 19th inst yours of the 9th inst and was glad to see that you decided at once for having the 5th vol [of Holtzapffel's work] on ornamental turning; should advice you to get the 4th vol. also; chucks and other lathe attachments, 'On the 22[nd] I mailed to you 3 photos of MINNEHAHA [#187803es ex-SABRINA] & CALYPSO [#403s] which you sent us to Lake Minnetonka. She was very nice but did not come up to MINNEHAHA. Also a photo taken of self by [son] Eddie whilst I was sketching, it was too hot to fish. I took 56 trouts with the artist fly in 3 hours! We lived on trout & bacon (you can see the bacon in the box in front of me.)', I enclose a photo of a few things I have turned and sculpted, spool holder & pin cushion, centre parts in ivory fluted, on right side over inlays in ivory, table I made & carved, in walnut, I have made quite a lot of pieces of furniture, Alice is getting on well & we really hope she will receover her reason. Incl envelope annotate by NGH in pencil with list of equipment or things to be done for a boat. Incl photo of carved table with annotation on verso 'In the centre solver golt (inside also) cup, given at St. Petersburg by the Grand Duke Alexis --- won by MINNEHAHA [#187803es ex-SABRINA] De Marini stearer'." (Source: de Marini, (Dr.) George C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_15090. Correspondence, Folder 41, formerly 203. 1909-05-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] You must excuse me not having written to you for quite a while but I have had so many things to annoy[?] me besides the continued derangement of Alice's brain!
I have also been ill in bed with my bronchitis. We have also had my eldest daughter + husband from Minnesota making us a visit. They have gone to Finland to visit her husband's family + coming back this way to stay here a while before they return to America by the next September.
I must congratulate you for great success of the WESTWARD [#692s] altho' I was not surprised after their race across the ocean with head winds, when I remember crossing in 15 days in a steamer!
I suppose you will soon have time to look thro' the Holtzapffel books which I am sure will interest you very much. I advice you to get 'possibilities of small lathes' by James Lukin, B.A. author of 'The Lathe & Its Uses' and 'simple decorative lathe work' [by?] Guilbert Pitman, 85 Fleet str, London E.C. 1905, in which you will find the best directions for constructing yourself an eccentric chuck. I have made 3 but only the 3rd one is being the most perfect because I followed Lukin's directions with my own improvement that is I made the poosn[?] the back piece[?] that screws on the nose[?] of the lathe profile [sketch] instead of [sketch] leaving th necessary space for the long screw and [sketch] piece fastener at the top of the back of the sliding plate instead of digging out a recess for the same. I have also a work by J.H. Evans on ornamental turning, in 3 vols with numerous illustrations and pretends 'instructions for constructing the various apparatus' --- but I do not find them so easy or clear --- also peek[?] by Guilbert Pitman 86,87 Fleet str, London E.C. 1904.
All these books are about 1/4 each.
...
I have been twice to the great Exposition here + have been surprised as the extent of the buildings just put up for the occasion + I hear they are all to be torn down after the fair is closed which will probably be next October or beginning of November. So far it has been quite a success. Brown & Sharpe of Prov. have quite a stand there and make a very respectable show with their fine machines and fine tools.
A few days ago I was looking over one of old ac[coun]t books trying to find what I had p[ai]d[?] for certain things I bought long ago + I came across an entry --- to money sent to John Herreshoff, April 1860, $15.00 = makes me feel as if I gave him a start in his brilliant career. I could not help having a good laugh over it. It was settled when I bought the sail boat [#187803es MINNEHAHA ex-SABRINA].
As to the swimming fixtures I find that they must be made differently and not under shoes but with a water proof material that flaps together when pushing and falls together as you draw your knees up towards the chest. [Sketch]. I have not yet made a pair to suit but hope to some day.
Best regards... [Incl. envelope from 70 rue Gerard, Etterbeek, Belgium with postmark which may be dated Juillet 18, 10.]" (Source: de Marini, (Dr.) George C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_15350. Correspondence, Folder 42, formerly 204. No date (1910-07-18 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] congratulations on WESTWARD [#692s], 'about the MINNEHAHA [#187803es ex-SABRINA]. The Fins (Finlanders) in Vibourg have profited of the model of the MINNEHAHA and the HYAWATHA I had built in Wiborg ... from that time they began to build their sail craft with centre boards and called them Marini American boats! This year was the 50th anniversary of the river yacht club and they had great races, and all the 1st prizes in the different classes were won by the Finnish American Marini boats except one 1st prize by 10 meter Swedish boat the ALDEBARAM one 9 metres 1st prize Finnish American, called the DEFENDER, one 8 meters, VALKYRIAN, first prize, one 7 meters Am. class BRITA first prize, one 7 meters MAFALDA, Am. class, 2nd prize, one 6 meters Amer. class MICHANA 1st prize, one 1st class Amer. class ULK 1st prize, one 30 meters Amer. class, PAN 1st prize. So you see there was not much left for the Russian boats.', sending through daughter carving tools, 'My daughter Mamie & her husband John A. Oldenburg will leave Rotterdam on steamer ROTTERDAM for New York about the last week of this month', my youngest daughter is improving much, my daughter in law (Edd's wife) has been very ill for 4 weeks, steadily improving, I'll be 79 years old next November 11th, 'We are going to leave this house and move to a much pleasanter part of the city by the Park and Forest --- after the 15th of October [19]10 our future address will be 56 Beausejour, Uccle, Bruxelles, Belgium.' Incl handwritten list of four books on lathe work, apparently prepared by George C. de Marini for NGH. Incl. scrap of paper with penciled text (by George C. de Marini or Mamie Oldenburg?) on the back of what appears to be a letter by a Belgian instrument tuner: 'Forgot to put this in the bundle which contains 14 small wood carving tools and wooden models for castings in metal the wheel & hub or nose you will easily make from drawings in the books.' Incl. envelope from 70 rue Gerard, Etterbeek, Belgium." (Source: de Marini, (Dr.) George C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_15390. Correspondence, Folder 42, formerly 204. 1910-08-14.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #187803es Sabrina even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: N/A
Type: 16' J & M
Owner: Herreshoff Company
Row No.: 789

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.

"The same sail- and construction plan was used for both, ES187802 Nora or ES187803 Sabrina." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"I used an early construction plan I found at HMM labeled 'Nora & Sabrina' for the hull. This sail is from the sail plan for 'Sabrina & Nora' which I believe is the first set of sails for each boat. With a short gaff and a long boom. The typical cat rig of this time period. And yes, the first set of reef points really do run at the angle shown. With this long a boom, being as low as it is, when heeled in a heavy wind it would tend to drag in the water.a great way to capsize... you can't let out the sheet to spill the wind because the boom is held in the water. By reefing with this first reef, it would lift the end of the boom so when heeled the boom would not be as close to the water when heeled. Possibly, this still didn't satisfy NG as he says he sailed Sabrina with Riviera's mainsail, and I get the feeling that he was experimenting because the new sail for Sabrina has a shorter boom and a longer gaff than the first sail. This new sail has about the same length head/gaff as Riviera's but the foot/boom is slightly longer than Riviera's. It may be a bit of a turning point, going for a longer, more peaked up gaff and a shorter, not so low boom." (Source: Bray, Kathy. Email to Claas van der Linde, May 2, 2008.)

"Beam of 7' at the deck, and 6'3 at the waterline. The length is a little over 16'...about 16'2" LWL and 16'3" LOA. Handwritten at the top is: "Timbers 1" x 3/4" ash; Keel 1 1/4" x 6" amidships; Planking 1/2"; Stem 1 1/2" (remainder is unreadable)." (Source: Source: Bray, Kathy. Email to Claas van der Linde (citing N. G. Herreshoff's construction plan for ES187802 Nora and ES187803 Sabrina held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum), May 2, 2008.)

"Sabrina was sold in the spring of 1879 to N. G. Herreshoff's friend Dr. George C. de Marini who exported her to Finland, where she became famous as a nearly unbeatable boat in the Gulf of Finland. Sabrina's last owner was the well-known Finnish yachtsman and businessman and musical instrument collector Harry Wahl of Wiborg, Finland. Note that #403s Calypso was built in 1889 for de Marini's son-in-law John A. Oldenburg, who had emigrated to the U.S. from Wiborg." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. June 1, 2011.)

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