Herreshoff #192602es Garryowen [Garry Owen]

"My dear Mr. Goodwin,
Refering to your interesting visit here yesterday in which you left an order with our Company to build you a sailing dinghy from my design and what I thought would give you best pleasure in sailing at Essex.
I would like some information from you.
I think you mentioned the length not to exceed 16 feet, is that a positive limitation?
I find [#404s] Coquina is 16ft 7in extreme length and 15ft 9in in waterline - a little longer than I had in mind. She is 5ft 1in beam with 22in depth and 14in free board at mid section and as you probably noticed has rather a lean builge and very easy lines both fore & aft. When new she weighed 275lbs and as I used to sail her had the following weight: Centerboard, rudder, oars, rowlocks & c 58lbs, sails & rigging 43 lbs, sandbags 140lbs, self with winter suit 170lbs, total 686 lbs.
We have moulds for another boat designed 12 or 14 years after Coquina which I think would make a better boat for you and probably as fast under ordinary conditions. I am enclosing profile and half breadth of deck of each for comparison which will show better by holding paper up to light. This later design has an over hang forward which gives very graceful lines
Is 17ft 2in extreme length, 14ft 8in waterline, 5ft 5in beam, 24in deep and 16 1/2in freeboard at midsection. The plan[?] is a little flatter than Coquina, giving a much fuller builge[sic] and of course much more natural stability and capable of carrying larger sails. Boats built from this model have usually been rigged with mainsail & jib and the last two [apparently #192204es Sailing Cutter for #215p Roamer and #192501es Sailing Cutter for Katoura II] had jib headed mainsails set on short masts with yard having jaws in sails. If the extreme length of 17ft 2in is used the two masted rig could be used, but if the boat is made much shorter probably the jib & mainsail rig would be desirable to get sufficient sail area.
The hull of this model 17ft 2in long would probably weigh 300lbs and will all gear on board except ballast nearly 400lbs.
Is this too much for hauling out as you propose or would a smaller size boat of less weight be preferable? Do you want all spars & rig to store in board or would you prefer tall mast, or masts that you would stow away elsewhere?
Kindly advise me on these various points.
Very truly yours, N.G.H. June 24, 1926." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Letter to Charles A. Goodwin, June 24, 1926. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"Shipman & Goodwin
Counsellors at Law
45 Lewis Street
Hartford, Connecticut
September 14, 1925
My dear Mr. Herreshoff:-
I tried out the new boat [#192602es GARRYOWEN] on Saturday and was delighted with her handling as I was with her appearance.
She is quite a new proposition to me but I found that I soon got accustomed to her special points and was able to do with her I think a good deal more than can be done with a sloop or catboat. The ability to stow the masts and rigging in the boat is a great advantage over a single long mast and, as you told me, I cannot see but what she is just as fast as she would be under a sloop rig. I am delighted with her and thank you for all the thought and trouble you put in to make the outfit complete.
There is only one thing that I did not like about her and that is that you did not put on her name plate and I wish you would send me over a name plate on which it is stated not only that she was built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company but that she was designed by you.
With kindest regards, believe me
Sincerely yours,
[Charles A. Goodwin]" (Source: Goodwin, Charles A. [Letter to N. G. Herreshoff.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 20 (new), 136 (old). Access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff. September 14, 1926.)

"The 'Garryowen,' 17-foot, two-masted sailing dinghy built by Nathaniel G. Herreshoff for Charles A. Goodwin in 1926 was shipped from its winter haven at the Dauntless Club in Essex, to Hartford, Thursday and was put on exhibition with the half-models, photographs and drawings of Herreshoff designed craft being assembled for public viewing at the Morgan Memorial Museum.
Mr. Herreshoff, noted yacht designer or Bristol. R. I., who died in 1938, designed and built the boats which successfully defended the America's Cup six times.
The 'Garryowen,' which reportedly has never been beaten by any boat in its class, will be the only full sized boat on display. It was brought here from Essex by Marcus L. Potter, formerly with the Aetna Life Insurance Company, who lives in Essex and has sailed the 'Garryowen' for Mr. Goodwin. He was also in charge of rigging the boat, whose masts just barely clear the ceiling of the exhibition room. The exhibition will be open for private viewing Monday from 3 to 6 at a tea which is being arranged by Mrs. Charles A. Goodwin and her committee." (Source: Anon. "Noted Dinghy Here for Exhibition of Herreshoff Work." Hartford Courant, June 3, 1944, p. 3.)

"C. A. Goodwin of Opinion Morgan Exhibit of American Sailing Cannot Be Reassembled. ...
Fully rigged, the central exhibit is a 17-foot sailing dinghy designed by Mr. Herreshoff in 1926, built according to his ideas and under his personal supervision for Charles A. Goodwin, ...
Mr. Goodwin's dinghy, shipshape in every respect, was used by him at Essex last year. It is the only full-sized Herreshoff creation shown in this exhibit. It was called Garry Owen by Mr. Goodwin, after the Seventh Cavalry song of that name, also in one of the display cases. ...
The Wadsworth Atheneum Marine Room Committee is sponsoring the exhibit. Charles A. Goodwin is its president." (Source: Anon. "Nautical Art on Display for Public." Hartford Courant, June 7, 1944, p. 6.)

"[Item Transcription:] Refering to your interesting visit here yesterday in which you left an order with our Company to build you a sailing dinghy [#192602es Garryowen] from my design and what I thought would give you best pleasure in sailing at Essex.
I would like some information from you.
I think you mentioned the length not to exceed 16 feet, is that a positive limitation?
I find [#404s] Coquina is 16ft 7in extreme length and 15ft 9in in waterline - a little longer than I had in mind. She is 5ft 1in beam with 22in depth and 14in free board at mid section and as you probably noticed has rather a lean builge and very easy lines both fore & aft. When new she weighed 275lbs and as I used to sail her had the following weight: Centerboard, rudder, oars, rowlocks & c 58lbs, sails & rigging 43 lbs, sandbags 140lbs, self with winter suit 170lbs, total 686 lbs.
We have moulds for another boat designed 12 or 14 years after Coquina which I think would make a better boat for you and probably as fast under ordinary conditions. I am enclosing profile and half breadth of deck of each for comparison which will show better by holding paper up to light. This later design has an over hang forward which gives very graceful lines
Is 17ft 2in extreme length, 14ft 8in waterline, 5ft 5in beam, 24in deep and 16 1/2in freeboard at midsection. The plan[?] is a little flatter than Coquina, giving a much fuller builge[sic] and of course much more natural stability and capable of carrying larger sails. Boats built from this model have usually been rigged with mainsail & jib and the last two [apparently #192204es Sailing Cutter for #215p Roamer and #192501es Sailing Cutter for Katoura II] had jib headed mainsails set on short masts with yard having jaws in sails. If the extreme length of 17ft 2in is used the two masted rig could be used, but if the boat is made much shorter probably the jib & mainsail rig would be desirable to get sufficient sail area.
The hull of this model 17ft 2in long would probably weigh 300lbs and will all gear on board except ballast nearly 400lbs.
Is this too much for hauling out as you propose or would a smaller size boat of less weight be preferable? Do you want all spars & rig to store in board or would you prefer tall mast, or masts that you would stow away elsewhere?
Kindly advise me on these various points." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Goodwin, Charles A. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_270. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. 1926-06-24.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I tried out the new boat [#192602es GARRYOWEN] on Saturday and was delighted with her handling as I was with her appearance.
She is quite a new proposition to me but I found that I soon got accustomed to her special points and was able to do with her I think a good deal more than can be done with a sloop or catboat. The ability to stow the masts and rigging in the boat is a great advantage over a single long mast and, as you told me, I cannot see but what she is just as fast as she would be under a sloop rig. I am delighted with her and thank you for all the thought and trouble you put in to make the outfit complete.
There is only one thing that I did not like about her and that is that you did not put on her name plate and I wish you would send me over a name plate on which it is stated not only that she was built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company but that she was designed by you.
With kindest regards, believe me ..." (Source: Goodwin, Charles. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_05620. Correspondence, Folder 20, formerly 136. 1926-09-14.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #192602es Garryowen [Garry Owen] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

"Sailing Dinghy for Mr. Chas. A. Goodwin on moulds of #568 [Sailing dinghy for St. Y. Colonia]. N.G.H. July 1926. Frame spaces 7 1/2". Stern butternut 5/8". Planking Eastern Cedar 5/16" thick, lapped strakes. Aft deck 5/16" cedar canvas covered. Washboards butternut. Aft seat Butternut [as per notes on drawing 28-62]." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 26, 2009.)

"Job No. was possibly transcribed incorrectly and instead of 14500 might be 14588 as per former plan x76-154." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 26, 2009.)

"The L. Francis Herreshoff Collection (Coll. 138) at Mystic Seaport Museum contains material about Garryowen in Box 4, Folder 6." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 1, 2009.)

"'Garryowen', also known as 'Garry Owen' (and Garyowen, Gary Owen and Gary Owens), is an Irish dance tune of the 1700s which became the marching tune for the US 7th Cavalry Regiment during the late 1800's. The tune was a favorite of General George Armstrong Custer and became the official air of the Regiment in 1867. According to legend it was the last tune played before the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It is now (Since 1881) the Parade Tune of the Royal Irish Regiment, British Army." (Source: http://boards.history.com/thread.jspa?threadID=600020675&tstart=30&mod=1144043126108, retrieved March 18, 2009.)

"Garryowen was built for Charles A. Goodwin (1876-1954) a prominent citizen of Hartford, CT who according to his obituary, had served nineteen consecutive terms as chairman of the Metropolitan District Commission of Hartford, fifty years on the board of directors of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, been president of the State Savings Bank since 1918, had been senior partner of one of Hartford's leading law firms, Shipman and Goodwin and been a member of the board of directors of the Phoenix State Bank, the AEtna Insurance Company, the Church Life Insurance Corporation, and the Holyoke Water Power Company and in 1926 had been president of the Wadsworth Atheneum --- where Garryowen was exhibited in 1944 as part of an exhibition 'The Art & Genius of NGH' organized by Goodwin. From 1906 to 1912 Goodwin had also been owner of the New York 30 #637s Oriole. After his death in 1954 Garryowen passed on to his son, the Rev. Charles Goodwin (1913-1997) who lived in Korea and summered in the U.S. and had her maintained at Seth Persson's yard during his years of ownership. After his death the boat was bought by a nephew who brought it to Vermont." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 22, 2017.)

"A near sistersip to Garryowen, named Sundance II, was built around 1976 by Clinton Lloyd (with a different rig and, apparently, slightly different shape) as per an email by Jon Persson to Maynard Bray dated April 1, 2009. Sundance II was bought in July 2017 by David Gardner in Castine from Bill Corbett who had acquired her in 2002 and done extensive repairs in 2009. Over the following 6 months Gardner restored Sundance II and built a new birdsmouth mast, tiller, and sails as per an Email by David Gardner to Claas van der Linde, dated December 11, 2018.)". (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 11, 2018.)

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