HMCo #243p Swiftsure

"[1904-07-28] Thu 28: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 4th Cruise[, 1st day]. From Bristol towards Port Jefferson. Trip to New York with Swiftsure [#243p] in company, to go in to race for launches by Atlantic Y[acht] C[lub]. Left home [at 5-52 a.m.]. L[igh]t W wind & fair. Passed Dumplings. Moderate sea outside. Passed P[oin]t Judith. Watch Hill abeam. Passed Race Rock L[igh]t. Flood tide nearly finished. Ran slow for 20 m[iles] with Swiftsure alongside and crew onboard for dinner. Passed Cornfield P[oin]t l[igh]t ship. Tide ahead. Horton P[oin]t & 6 Mile Reef abeam. Overcast. Faulkner’s Is[land] abeam. Off Port Jefferson breakwater. Went in and anchored off town at 6-28. Swiftsure kept close to us all day. Was in charge of Sidney, having Martin for engineer. Had onboard Nat in forenoon and Nat, Griswold, and Carl Rockwell in afternoon.
[1904-07-29] Fri 29: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 4th Cruise[, 2nd day]. From Port Jefferson towards New York. Had a heavy thunder storm about midnight with heavy rain. Light rain in early morning, but soon cleared, a[nd] followed by a beautiful day with light west to northwest winds. In warming up engine, neglected to open feed water and wrecked feed pump of Swiftsure [#243p]. Wired for a new one and took her in tow. Underway. Bar buoy. Flood tide. Passed Eaton’s Neck. Passed Lloyd’s Neck, passed Matinicock P[oin]t. Passed Sands Point. Passed Throg’s Neck. Fair tide. Passed Lauvern’s[?] P[oin]t. Strong tide. Arrived off So[uth] Beach[?] Bay and went back ashore for telegram. About 4-30 ran down to Gravesend Bay and anchored for the night off Atlantic Y[acht] Club. Very fine weather.
[1904-07-30] Sat 30: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 4th Cruise[, 3rd day]. From Gravesend Bay towards Larchmont. Fine morning with light NE wind ch[anging] to SSE later with more strength. Got underway at 7-00 and ran up to McIntosh’s dock, So. Brooklyn, to get pump & parts of Swiftsure [#243p] with message from Bristol. Fitted parts and returned to Sea Gate arriving at 9-45, having Swiftsure in tow. Party came onboard at noon. Went onboard Swiftsure for race at 2 [p.m.], Standard the only competition in [our] class. Started at 2-30 making race of 20 k[nots] with 3 turns in one hour and [were] beaten by Standard by about 3 m[inutes]. Lost forward part of rudder which held back Swiftsure some. Underway, with Swiftsure in tow, at 4-14. Stopped off 23rd St E.R. and landed J.B.F. H[erreshoff]. Also Mildred and Francis L. H. who came aboard just before starting, [us] having left Mr. McIntosh at Sea Gate. Anchored at Larchmont at 7-50.
[1904-08-02] Tue 2: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 4th Cruise[, 6th day]. From Stonington towards Bristol. We had some rain last night and this morning it is thick fog with very light airs for 3 h[ours]. Underway and pass out by inner breakwater. Last of ebb. Pass Napatree buoy. Pass Watch Hill buoy. Slack water. Very thick fog. Pass P[oin]t Judith. Thick fog & rain with t[hunder] & l[ightning]. Pass Castle Hill. Last of flood in Bay. Arrived home [at 12-11]. We have towed Swiftsure [#243p] all the way since leaving P[or]t Jefferson on the way to N[ew] Y[ork].
[1904-08-17] Wed 17: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 6th Cruise[, 8th day] (NYYC Cruise). From Vineyard Haven towards Newport. Morning overcast & with fog. Wind SW moderate but promising much stronger. Yachts started in race to Newport in dense fog which cleared away in half an hour. Weather very fine rest of day with fresh SW [wind] and some sea outside. Underway & ran out to W[est] Chop to see start. Start ahead. West Chop abeam. Head tide & fog. Pass l[igh]t s[hip] buoy [at] tail of Middle Ground. Pass thru Robinson’s Hole. Head tide. Pass Penekeese Is[land]. Pass Hens & Chickens l[igh]t ship. Slow off Brenton’s Reef l[igh]t s[hip] to see end of race. Anchored in Newport Har[bor at 4-5]. Eugenia [#224p] towed Swiftsure [#243p] from Bristol and we have her alongside over night.
[1904-08-18] Thu 18: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 6th Cruise[, 9th day] (NYYC Cruise). Very fine day with NW to W breeze, light early, but increasing to 12 to 18 miles [per hour] and held all day. Races of powerboats and small sailing craft took place. Swiftsure [#243p] and Neon [#190301ep] entered. Had fine race. Swiftsure beaten a little by Vingt-et-Un, but Neon [#190301ep] won in her class. At anchor [in Newport] all day.
[1904-08-19] Fri 19: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 6th Cruise[, 10th day] (NYYC Cruise). From Newport towards [Narragansett Pier and return to] Newport. A very fine day. Strong breeze all night from NW, moderating early in morning and hauling to N, dying out before noon and [then] coming in moderate from SSW. Clear & cool, becoming overcast by sunset. Got underway at 9-45 and left tows [Swiftsure [#243p] and Neon [#190301ep] in Brenton Cove at anchor, then ran out to Brenton Reef l[igh]t ship to see start of Astor Cup Race. ...
[1907-07-14] Sun 14: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] From Bristol towards Westport & return. Ran to Westport for day trip, having Mr. & Mrs. Davis and Mrs. [blank], Grace and all of family, part of the boys going in Swiftsure [#243p]. A beautiful day and all enjoyed it and also surf bathing at Horseneck Beach. [Log:] Left home. Lower bridge. Seaconnet P[oin[t. 2 Mile R[ock]. Anchored off end [of] Horseneck P[oin]t. Left anchorage. 2 M[ile] R[ock]. Seaconnet P[oin]t. Home [at 6-27]. Swiftsure [#243p] made run in 1 [hour] 35 [minutes] going. Rate 15.6 k[nots] = 17.95 m[iles per hour].
[1907-07-19] Fri 19: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 3rd Cruise[, 1st day]. From Bristol towards Port Jefferson. Cruise up Sound to see yacht racing during Larchmont Week. Have Mr. John E. Davis, Hand[?] Peckham, Agnes, Sidney, Griswold, Francis & Clarence. Nat is at home sick. Swiftsure [#243p] in tow. Fine clear day. [Log:] Left home with Swiftsure [#243p] in tow. Pass[ed] Dumplings. Pass[ed] P[oin]t Judith. Pass[ed] Race R[ock] L[igh]t. Pass[ed] Little Gull L[igh]t. Cornfield P[oin]t l[igh]t s[hip] & Rocky P[oin]t abeam. Tide turn[s] ahead about 6-30. Port Jefferson chan[nel] buoy. Anchor inside of opening.
[1907-07-20] Sat 20: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 3rd Cruise[, 2nd day]. From Port Jefferson towards Larchmont. Underway. Passed Channel buoy. Fog. Passed Old Field P[oin]t. Fog. Passed Eaton’s Neck. Fog. Passed Lloyd’s Neck. Fog. Made Scotch Cap l[igh]t[ed] buoy. Anchor[ed] at Larchmont and gave sails to Winsome [#664s] & Aurora [#667s] that we brought. H[eav]y rain until 2 p.m. and all racing given up for the day. Calm & fog. Boys off in Swiftsure [#243p] in afternoon after much trouble in getting engine started. Thunder storm from NW in evening.
[1907-07-21] Sun 21: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 3rd Cruise[, 3rd day]. From Larchmont towards Hempstead & return. Beautiful day after thunder showers last evening. Wind moderate NW and quite warm. The boys off in Swiftsure [#243p] and cutter. Underway at 10 and ran around to New Rochelle and made call on Mr. Iselin, then started again at 12 and ran by Glen Is[land] & inside of David’s Is[land] and between the Nonations and easterly to Hempstead Bay and anchored off Butler Duncan’s place at 1-08 where boys joined for lunch. Mr. Duncan & Mrs. D[uncan] went off with us in Swiftsure. Mr. Cormack aboard. ...
[1907-07-22] Mon 22: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 3rd Cruise[, 4th day]. Larchmont. laid at anchor all day while the Captain raced on the Ingomar [#590s] and Griswold & Francis on Aurora [#667s]. Had light variable wind and poor race. Man at work on Swiftsure [#243p] engine.
[1907-07-23] Tue 23: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] [3rd Cruise, 5th day]. [From Larchmont towards Hempstead.] At anchor all day. Beautiful day with fresh NW [wind] and warm --- 80-84?. Dressed ship at 10-30 from signal. Water sports in p.m. and illuminations in evening. Off in Swiftsure [#243p] & el[ectric] launch.
[1907-07-24] Wed 24: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] [3rd Cruise, 6th day]. From Larchmont towards Hempstead & return. At anchor until 5 p.m. then ran over to Hempstead Har[bor] and anchored off Mr. Duncan’s at 6, running at 1/2 speed. Went onboard Avenger [#666s] at 11 with Francis and had a good but fluky race, which we won. The rest of company off in Swiftsure [#243p].
[1907-07-25] Thu 25: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 3rd Cruise[, 7th day]. From Hempstead & Larchmont towards Black Rock. Underway from Hempstead Har[bor] about 9-30 and ran over to Larchmont at 1/2 speed & anchored outside. ... [Log:] Up anchor & underway, Swiftsure [#243p] in tow. Passed Capp’s Is[land]. Passed Penfield Reef L[igh]t. Anchor in Black Rock Har[bor at 8-33].
[1907-07-26] Fri 26: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 3rd Cruise[, 8th day]. From Black Rock towards Bristol. Thunder showers at 4 a.m. Underway, Swiftsure [#243p] in tow. Passed buoy. Passed Stratford Shoal buoy. Passed Stratford P[oin]t. Showers. Passed south of Faulkner’s Is[land], Avenger [#666s] towing in company. ...
[1907-09-14] Sat 14: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] From Bristol towards Dighton & around Rhode Is[land]. Race for motorboats at Dighton in which Swiftsure [#243p] is entered. Left home at 11-19 & P[oin]t Pl[easant] at 11-30. Calm & fine with guests & children, including Adm. Isherwood, Mrs. Zeller, Mrs. West, Miss [blank], Sally, Flossie, Grace H[erreshoff], Agnes, [and] Clarence. Found Swiftsure [#243p] disabled above Somerset & towed [her] to S[outh] Dighton, arriving at 1-05]. Race postponed to make repairs in Swiftsure [#243p]. Left for home at 4-20 while race is on. Arrived at P[oin]t Pl[easant] [at] 5-59 & home [at] 6-11. L[igh]t SW [wind].
[1908-07-19] Sun 19: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 2nd Cruise, 1st day. From Bristol towards [Port Jefferson]. Left home, Swiftsure [#243p] in company. Passed Dumplings. Passed P[oin]t Judith. Rough ground swell. Passed Watch Hill. Passed [North] Dumpling L[igh]t. Have [had] Swiftsure in tow 1-1/4 h[ours]. Passed Bartlett’s R[ee]f l[igh]t s[hip]. Passed bar buy off Corn[field][?] R[eef][?]. Passed w[est] around shoal buoy. Stopped 5 m[inutes] for Swiftsure. Faulkner’s Is[land] abeam. Port Jefferson jetties. Anchored inside harbor mouth. Swiftsure in tow from 6-55; nearly 3-1/2 h[ours] in all. She ran close to buoy at jetties and struck propeller, bending 2 blades. ...
[1908-07-20] Mon 20: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 2nd Cruise, 2nd day. From Port Jefferson towards Larchmont & Glen Cove. Underway ffrom anchorage. Passed bar buoy. Passed Lloyd’s Neck. Stopped off Larchmont to watch racing. Followed racing craft until about 3 p.m., then [ran] across Sound and anchored at Glen Cove a little before 4 o’clock. Approximate distance run at slow speed [was] 15 miles in about 3-1/2 hours. Have Swiftsure [#243p] in tow nearly all day. Went in Swiftsure & called on Mr. [Butler] Duncan in early evening.
[1908-07-21] Tue 21: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 2nd Cruise, 3rd day. Gen Cove & Larchmont. At 6 a.m. moved anchorage to Mr. Duncan’s and slung Swiftsure [#243p] under [his] wharf with falling tide to straighten screw. At 10-45 ran across to Larchmont to see motorboat races. Rough in Sound with E wind. Only one class of cruising boats started. Anchored under breakwater about noon and later dropped into harbor. Went in Swiftsure to see water sports at club landing. Rained at 5-30. At 7-20, fearing easterly wind and rough weather, ran across Sound and anchored at Glen Cove about 8-10. Very heavy rain in evening & night. Total dist[ance] run [was] about 12 miles in 1-3/4 h[ours].
[1908-07-23] Thu 23: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 2nd Cruise, 5th day. [From Larchmont towards New York & Norwalk River.] Underway, leaving Swiftsure [#243p] at anchor. Pass[ed] Throgs Neck via Glen Is[land] channel. Stopped off Cunnipan[? Communipaw?]. H[eav]y T[hunder] & L[ightning]. Underway. Return thru E[ast] River. Abreast of Larchmont & ran e[ast], then return[ed]. Stopped at Larchmont for Swiftsure. Left Larchmont for homewards. Pass[ed] Cows [Bell] Buoy [off Stamford]. Anchor[ed] at Norwalk R[iver] mouth [at 6-45].
[1908-07-24] Fri 24: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 2nd Cruise, 6th & last day. From Norwalk towards Bristol. Swiftsure [#243p] in tow. Underway from anchorage. Pass[ed] bell buoy. Pass[ed] Fairfield[?] L[igh]t. Pass[ed] line bet[wee]n Stratford & Middle Ground. Pass[ed] 2 m[iles] s[outh] of Faulkner’s Is[land]. Pass[ed] close to Cornfield l[igh]t ship. Pass[ed] Race Rock L[igh]t. Cast off Swiftsure. Watch Hill abeam. Pass[ed] P[oin]t Judith. Pass[ed] Dumplings. Arrive[d] home [at 7-21]. Note: Fire banked. Charged batteries & banked Saturday night." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1904 to 1908. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection, St.Y. Roamer Logbooks.)

"July 26, 1904
Swiftsure #243
Preliminary trial, run over south 1/2 mile in harbor. Wind 16m[ph], SSW. 5 on board. 1/2 bunker[?] of coal & 1/2 tank water. Cross Creek Redash stove coal. Steam 225-210[lbs] max. 23 1/2in vac[uum].
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 24.5mph = 21 1/4kn]
Everything working well." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of July 26, 1904. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"Nov[ember] 4, 1904
Swiftsure #243
Screw 42in mean pitch
On harbor course, 5 [persons] on board, 1/2 bunker, and full tank, wind NE about 18 miles.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data]
Mean of 2 first rounds[?] = 24 miles [20.86kn], 790 r.p.m., slip 24%.
3rd run (S) = 24.85 miles [21.59kn]...
4th run (N) = 24.10 miles [20.94kn] ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of November 4, 1904. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"July 9, 1907
Swiftsure with 6 cyl. Lackawanna motor rated at 40hp.
Having original screw (24 x 42, 3 bl[ade]) on mile course in harbor, wind NW 18[mph], 4 on board.
Down 3-16. Up 3-16. Down 3-17.
Revolutions 595 p[er] m[inute]
Rate 18.4 miles.
Slip 23%." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of July 9, 1907. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"Dear George, ... Swiftsure [#243p] I talked it over with Mr. [James] Swan and agreed you could have her at whatever you think right. The hull is now carried on the books at $150, but there was no figure for the engine." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. [Draft Letter to George Nichols.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 51 (new), 54 (old). Access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff. No date (response to letter dated May 7, 1918.)

"In 1904 the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company built the fast steam launch 'Swiftsure,' and Captain Nat used her a season or two. She was fifty-two feet three inches, O.A. and only six feet one inch beam. She had a light, double-ended hull of light construction and must have been a model easy to drive through the water for her steam power plant was similar to ones used in two launches he had designed that went twenty-one miles per hour, but 'Swiftsure' under a good head of steam could get up to some twenty-six miles per hour. However, she could not hold that speed for long runs or on courses that had some turns, but she made good time, nevertheless, in two races she ran in 1904. The first was on July 30 off the Atlantic Yacht Club when she raced the big sixty foot powerboat 'Standard' that had a two hundred horsepower engine. In this race, including the turns, 'Standard' made an average speed of 24.29 miles per hour while 'Swiftsure' averaged 23.16 miles per hour. On August 18, at Newport 'Swiftsure' and 'Vingt-et-un' ran over a course of sixteen nautical miles which was in two laps, 'Swiftsure' keeping ahead the first round but 'Vingt-et-un' passing her just before the finish with both launches averaging 25.64 statute miles per hour, which was very good going considering the strong wind and choppy sea and the turns of the course, for it is well known that the turns of a race course much reduce the speed. This I think was about the last race between steam and gasoline launches in open salt water.
Captain Nat did not use 'Swiftsure' much but I remember one run I had in her between Newport and Bristol in a fresh northerly breeze. She may have been going twenty-four or twenty-five miles an hour and running almost noiselessly; it certainly was a run to be remembered. I believe if 'Swiftsure' had had an oil-fired boiler so she could hold her steam better, had carried slightly higher boiler pressure, and had not had a rather clumsy tube condenser under her bottom she would have been several miles per hour faster. At any rate she ran remarkably well for her horsepower and weight, and went very smoothly in a choppy sea, and I cannot help thinking a model like 'Swiftsure' would carry her weight at twenty-five miles per hour with less power than any launch afloat today, for most launches of her weight and speed today have nearly double her horsepower. 'Swiftsure' was the last small, high speed steam launch Captain Nat designed, and although he designed larger and slower steamers for a few years longer the internal combustion engine was surely taking the place of steam." (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. 119, 121-122.)

"Swiftsure ... was designed and owned by my father. She was a long, narrow double-ender that went very fast for her small horsepower. She was 52 feet long and 6 feet beam, and I believe she could get up to something like 27 knots, or 31 miles, for short bursts of speed, but never averaged over about 25.5 knots on long race courses that had sharp turns. Swiftsure was built in 1904 and her speed was remarkable for a coal-fired boiler without forced draft. She probably was the last fast American steam launch to run on salt water." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. An Introduction to Yachting. New York, 1963, p. 55.)

"The Herreshoff shops are very quiet and will be until the fall orders begin to come in, and as these may include one for a new cup defender, there is a bright side to present conditions for the mechanics at the boat shops. The Herreshoffs are engaged in building a fifty-foot steam launch [#243p Swiftsure] at present, and a smaller launch [probably #240p 240] in the new shop. The larger of the pair which is now nearly completed, will, it is said, make a speed of 24 miles an hour easily. She will be ready to be put overboard in less than two weeks." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." New York Times, July 4, 1904, p. 7.)

"There was launched from the Herreshoff shops yesterday at 3 o'clock a speedy craft which is entered to take part in the Auto boat races off Gravesend, Saturday [July 26, 1904]. The boat is owned by Capt. Nat. Herreshoff and is entered in his name. She is 51 feet on the water line, six feet beam at greatest width, tapering at each end, and draws only about 17 inches of water. She has very small over hangs forward and aft, and looks to be all that her name, Swiftsure implies. She is equipped with a triple expansion engine that makes 700 revolutions a minute and develops one hundred horse power. Her boiler is tested for 270 lbs. of steam and she is expected to make 24 miles an hour. She is built very light, of seven-eighths planking and is painted white. She has a small cockpit for her skipper and her engineer sits forward of the boiler. As soon as she was launched yesterday afternoon, a wood fire was built under her boiler and she was given a trial in the bay, running out to Hog Island and back. One of the feed pumps did not work well and so no actual speed test could be made. If everything works well about the Swiftsure she will be taken to New York Thursday, accompanied by Capt. Nat Herreshoff in his steam yacht Roamer [#215p]. Capt. Nat has evinced great interest in his latest production and looks for a good record from her next Saturday. She will be given speed trials today and tomorrow." (Source: Anon. "Autombile Boat Launched." Bristol Phoenix, July 26, 1904, p. 3.)

"Capt 'Nat' Herreshoff's new racing steam launch, the 'Swiftsure,' a description of which was given in Tuesday's Phoenix, had successful speed trials in the bay Tuesday [July 26, 1904] afternoon and showed a speed of a trifle over 21 miles an hour, under natural draught, and with steam not quite up to the limit of 270 lbs. Capt. 'Nat' has confidence that his latest production will give a good account of herself in the auto boat races at Gravesend tomorrow. The Swiftsure was towed to New York yesterday by Capt. Herreshoff's steam yacht Roamer [#215p], leaving here early in the morning. Capt. Nat Herreshoff will be at the wheel during the race, and James T. Robertson will be the engineer. The most formidable rival of the Swiftsure in the races tomorrow will probably be the auto boat Standard." (Source: Anon. "The Swiftsure Taken to New York." Bristol Phoenix, July 29, 1904, p. 4.)

"Over 24 Miles An Hour.
Three Competitors in Atlantic Yacht Club Races All Show High Speed --- Nat Herreshoff Steers His Craft.
Very fast time was made yesterday in the motor boat races held by the Atlantic Yacht Club twice over a ten-knot course, starting in front of the clubhouse at Sea Gate and rounding the Robbins Reef bell buoy. Only three boats went over the course, half a dozen other entries failing to appear at the starting line, but these three, although entirely representative of the manufacturing element, made a splendid race, and gave the statisticians of motor boat figures something to talk over with great satisfaction.
The auto boat Standard, managed by her owner, C. C. Riotte, which recently won the challenge cup offered by the American Power Boat Association, making in those events the best time done by a power boat in America, eclipsed her former figures. Her best previous time was a trifle over 23 statute miles an hour, but in the twenty-knot run yesterday, the boat covered the course in 50 minutes 50 seconds, an average of 21.05 knots an hour, or 24.207 statute miles. This was a remarkable showing, and the little group of auto boat enthusiasts who watched the contest were more than delighted at the result.
The Standard has as her opponent the Swift Sure, the new boat designed and built by Nathaniel Herreshoff. The Herreshoff boat is propelled by steam, being, in fact, the only auto steam boat in existence in this country. She is equipped with triple expansion engines capable of giving 100 horse power, and her boiler is tested to stand 270 pounds of steam. The boat is 51 feet long. The Standard is 58 feet long and has a horse power of 110 to 125. For her first test and with her engines not yet tuned up to their best, the showing of the Herreshoff boat was considered admirable, and the opinion was freely expressed that the boat might beat the Standard's time in the near future.
M. Herreshoff, who came down from Bristol in his steam yacht Roamer [#215p] on purpose to see the race, steered the Swift Sure himself and said he was well pleased with her time. Her elapsed time over the twenty-knot course was 59 minutes and 36 seconds, an average of 20.13 knots an hour, or 23.15 statute miles.
The Vingt-et-Un, a smaller edition of the Challenger, which was beaten in England yesterday for the Harmsworth Cup, sailed over the course in a class by herself. Her time was 57:54, a little better than the Herreshoff boat, giving the Vingt-et-Un an average of 20.77 knots an hour, or 23.88 statute miles. C. M. Hamilton steered the boat. The interesting feature of the race was the close time made by all three boats, and the fact that each one did better than twenty knots an hour.
Commodore Harrison B. Moore's steam yacht, Zara, was the committee boat." (Source: Anon. "New Auto Boat Record. Standard Defeats The Herreshoff Entry By Narrow Margin." New York Times, July 31, 1904, p. 10.)

"Providence, R. I., August 13. --- The Herreshoff shops at Bristol, which have been closed several weeks, are to be started up again in full operation next Monday, and it is learned that orders for a number of new boats of small size are to be filled. ... The steam launch Swiftsure, owned by Designer Herreshoff, has had her machinery overhauled at Bristol, and tests of speed have been given the craft, with a view of improving her pace for other races of the season." (Source: Anon. "Rhode Island Letter." Forest and Stream, August 20, 1904, p. 162.)

"Newport, R. I., Aug. 18 [1904]. --- If the record is correct and there is every reason to believe that is, the automobile racing boat Vingt-Et-Un II owned by W. L. Brooks, of the New York Yacht Club, and the Swiftsure owned by Captain Nat Herreshoff, of the same club, broke to-day all speed records for any class of power boot in this country. These two boats, and the Mercedes, entered by W. S. [Starling] Burgess, of Boston, were the starters in the class for automobile racing bouts in the New-York Yacht Club's power boat race of eight miles with two turns, sixteen miles in all. The Vingt-Et-Un covered the distance in the remarkable time of forty-two minutes fifty-eight seconds, which is at the rate of 22.22 knots an hour, or 25.67 statute miles an hour. Herreshoff's boat finished only three seconds behind her, so she made practically the same speed. The Mercedes finished six minutes and thirty seconds after the Vingt-Et-Un, and made 19.41 knots an hour, or 22.32 statute miles.
The Standard's record time, made on June 24, was at a rate of 20.53 knots, or 23.60 miles, an hour. This was hailed as the fastest time that had ever been made by a power boat. The Kanawha, in her race for the Lysistrata Cup, had made 19.90 knots an hour six days before.
... The course was from the tug Unique, anchored about 800 yards west of Fort Adams, around a mark off Jamestown, thence around Gould Island and return, over the same course, and repeat. Captain 'Nat' Herreshoff steered the Swiftsure, C. M. Hamilton the Vingt-Et-Un and H. L. Bowden, the Mercedes. ..." (Source: Anon. "Record For Auto Boats: Vingt-Et-Un Ii And Swiftsure Go More Than 25 Miles An Hour." New York Tribune, August 19, 1904, p. ?.)

"Thursday, August 18 [1904] --- At Newport. While the fleet did not race on Thursday, the yachtsmen were by no means idle, as between power boat and small boat racing, rowing races for the Owl and Gamecock colors, and preparing for the Astor cup races, the members of the club put in a pretty lively twenty-four hours. ...
Finding that the steam yacht race was off, the yachtsmen turned their attention to the power boats, and they were rewarded by seeing the best and fastest race ever held by this type of craft.
There were three starters in the race, and they included Nat. G. Herreshoff's steam-driven Swiftsure, a 51ft. boat of 90 horse-power, which he steered himself; Vingt-et-un, a 75 horse-power 40-footer, owned by W. L. Brooks, and steered by C.-M. Hamilton; and Mercedes, a 32ft. 60 horse-power boat, owned by Herbert L. Bowden, which was designed and steered by Starling Burgess, which boat was credited with a trial trip speed of 27 miles per hour.
There was a strong N. W. breeze blowing, and quite a little sea on in Narragansett Bay when the preparatory signal sounded at noon. These boats are little better than floating coffins, and their crews went out prepared for a ducking. ...
These boats were sent twice around an 8-mile triangle, or 16 miles in all. The first leg took them over to Jamestown, and then they went up the bay and back to the starting line. Mercedes got the best of the start, as she was sent away with a good headway. Nat Herreshoff in Swiftsure, who hugged the line closely, was next away from a standing start, but quickly jumped into full speed, and last of all came Vingt-et-un, moving very fast. Swiftsure quickly flew into the lead, as Mercedes took in water so fast that her crew had to pump for their lives, and at the first mark she half filled with water and dropped rapidly astern, Vingt-et-un moved quickly up into second place, and began to pick up on Swiftsure. She made the turn better than the Herreshoff boat, which had to slow down, so at the end of the first round she was only 8s. astern of the leader. The boats were timed as they rounded as follows: Swiftsure, 12:31:34; Vingt-et-un, 12:31:42; Mercedes, 12:34:32. On the first 8 knots of the course Swiftsure had beaten Vinght-et-un 8s., and Mercedes, 2m. 58s. Swiftsure averaged. 21.55 knots on the first round, and Vingt-et-un about the same.
On the second round Vingt-et-un caught Swiftsure just after they turned the first mark, and for some moments they raced along like one boat, finally the gas-propelled boat took the lead, but the steam-driven craft had the power and stuck very close to her. With the spray flying in clouds from their bows and a yeasty wake marking their path through the water, they crossed the finish line almost side by side, Vingt-et-un winning by just 3s., with Mercedes over a mile astern. The elapsed time of the last 8 knots were Vingt-et-un, 21m. 16s.; Swiftsure, 21m. 27s.; Mercedes, 24m. 56s. Vingt-et-un and Swiftsure both averaged 22.30 knots, or 25.64 statute miles, for the 16 knots, but judging by the previous work of the boats, there is just a suspicion that the course was short.
Among the smaller power boats which raced over an 8-knot course, the little 4 1/2 horse-power Neon [#190301ep], owned by N. G. Herreshoff, Jr., beat the Wayfarer, owned by John Hays Hammond, Jr., by 15m. 45s. on time allowance. ..." (Source: Curry, Duncan. "New York Y. C. Cruise." Forest and Stream, August 27, 1904, p. 182.)

"During her four years as a steamer (she was converted to gasoline in 1908), Swiftsure raced against the gasoline-powered speedboats Vingt-et-Un and Standard, but without great success. Even if the races themselves were inconclusive, there was no doubt as to which form of propulsion would be the winner in terms of public acceptance. At the time of Swiftsure's debut, steam was on its way out; and an avalanche of new gasoline (and soon diesel) engines were coming in. ...
Because of his background as designer of some of the very fastest steam yachts afloat, NGH wanted Swiftsure to triumph, but Vingt-et-Un ... won this race.
L. Francis Herreshoff wrote of a trip he took aboard Swiftsure at the age of fourteen: 'I remember one run I had in her between Newport and Bristol in a fresh northerly breeze. She may have been going 24 or 25 miles an hour and was running almost noiselessly; it was a run to be remembered!'
L. Francis doubtless recalled the boat as well as the run when, some forty years later, he designed the 47-foot fast launch Piquant, whose narrow beam and peaked stern were reminiscent of Swiftsure. One of the chief virtues of both boats was that they could maintain good speed in rough water." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 128.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled sections (model tracings with pinpricks) and displacement (?) calculations for a keel boat at L 19.5, 17.5, 17.75, 19.9. Also weight calculations, 'Hull 1500[lbs], Rig 350[lbs]; Crew 100[lbs], Ballast 1830[lbs], [Total] 3880[lbs]'. On verso, crossed out, an order for 500ft of ploughsteel wire for steamer 243 [#243p SWIFTSURE] and stock as well as for garden hose for Love Rocks. No date, ca 1904 judging from SWIFTSURE's building date." (Source: Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_7620. Sections and Calculations. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. No date (ca1904 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections and displacement curve titled 'High speed st[eam] launch. Jan[uary] 10, 1904. Scale 1/12in. No. 243 [#243p]. SWIFTSURE'. With calculations and list of particulars 'Dis[placement] 129.1cuft [8262lbs]. … Draft 1ft. Length w.l. 50ft. Beam 6ft. Beam [at] w.l. 5ft 3in. Length 51ft 8in'. Not in NGH's handwriting." (Source: Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. (?) (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_03960. Folder [no #]. 1904-01-10.)
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"[Item Description:] Microfilm print of an entire page (p. 5?) of The New York Times. Yachting related articles are titled "Kaisers Yacht Cup Coming. Big Ocean Race Next Year Likely to be a Big Affair", "New Motor Boat Record. Newport Yachtsmen Witness Fast Time by VINGT-ET-UN [which had beaten #243p SWIFTSURE by three seconds (the article also described a race won by #190301ep NEON)]. No Entries for Hauoli Cups. Miss Grosvenor [#544s EAGLET] and E. D. Morgan's Daughters Sail Fifteen Footers [#587s WHISPER and #588s ECHO]. Astor Cups Today", and "Bensonhurst Yacht Won Cup"." (Source: New York Times (creator). Newspaper Clipping. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.135. Oversize Folder, Folder Races. 1904-08-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook. This booklet had two lives: In 1907-1908, 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 it was used for winter storage records, listing name of boat, owner, storage location, billed amount, and dates of storage. Listed were for the winter of 1907/1908: #235p MIST, ORIANA, #571s LARIKIN, EAGLET, #453s VAQUERO II, #580s TRIVIA, #663s ISTALENA, COSSACK, #666s AVENGER, #220p ATALA (for sale), #207p MIRAGE, #224p EUGENIA, #146p AUGUSTA, #247p SEA URCHIN, #105p COSETTE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA, #481s SPALPEEN, DUCHESS, #669s ELEANOR, #460s KILDEE, #647s CAPRICE, #408s PELICAN, #243p SWIFTSURE, #617s COCK ROBIN, #177p VANISH, #446s ALERION, and #591s IROLITA I, for the winter of 1908/1909: #666s AVENGER, #663s ISTALENA, #481s SPALPEEN, #580s TRIVIA, #617s COCK ROBIN, COSSACK, #177p VANISH, #242p #242, #243p SWIFTSURE, SKIP, #446s ALERION, CHEWINK II, DUCHESS, #571s LARIKIN, #460s KILDEE, #679s PEPITA, EAGLET, #408s PELICAN, #453s VAQUERO, #146p AUGUSTA, #224p EUGENIA, COYOTE, #264p SARAH WEBB, #207p MIRAGE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA I, CASSANDRA 27ft Launch, and #263p CASSANDRA 34ft Launch, and for the winter of 1909/1910: #252p WANECHE (no further boats were listed). At some later time, the same book was turned upside down and inscribed with a new title in ink '200Ft Submarine Destroyer [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser]. Data + Calculation Book. Herreshoff Mfg Co.' on its now-new front cover (formerly its back cover), followed by weight data estimates and calculations for this submarine destroyer." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.087. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Submarine Destroyer 200-Footer. 1907-1908, 1908-1909, 1909-1910, 1918-06.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖

"[Item Description:] Pencil drawing of a fast steam launch underway titled on verso 'SWIFTSURE [#243p] and torpedo boat MANIE[?], drawn by A.S.DeW.H. ? about 1910'." (Source: Herreshoff, A.S. deW. Correspondence (penciled drawing) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW04_00070. Folder [no #]. ca 1910.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (mostly in pencil but also in ink) trials booklet titled '1898 - 1909'. Relevant contents:
§36: #243p SWIFTSURE Trial Run mean speed 24.5mph = 21.4kn (1904-07-26)
§41: #243p SWIFTSURE Trial Run best speed 24.85mph [21.59kn] (1904-11-04)
§47: #243p SWIFTSURE Trial Run speed 18.4mph (1907-07-09)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE09_00060. Folder [no #]. 1898-09 to 1911-04.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
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"[Item Transcription:] [Second page of a May 7, 1918 letter from George Nichols to NGH, the first page was filed in subject folder 'HMCo Board of Directors Correspondence', incl NGH draft reply plus NGH draft letter to Adm. D. Taylor:] ... so I would be glad to have as much notice as possible to make these arrangements.
Sincerely yours, George Nichols. [Incl NGH draft letter to Adm. Taylor:]
Admiral D.W. Taylor
Bureau of Con & R
Dear Sir
Referring to your conversation with Mr. George Nichols, about a 200 foot Patrol boat, I want to thank you for having caused blueprints sent me of the 'Eagle Class' patrol boats. These have been of material aid in working out the plans we are working on for Mr. Nichol's representatives.
As directed I am keeping these plans quite confidential and they will not go out of my private room.
The plans we are working on have lines very similar to that adopted by the Department of C & R for the 110 foot patrol boats, which have proved such excellent sea boats and we hope to have them developed sufficiently to show the general arrangement and construction by the end of this week and I want to ask if it will be your pleasure for Mr Nichols and myself show you and discuss with you these plans next week and if so will you kindly make an appointment when we should be at your office.
I am yours very truly,
NGH
[Incl NGH draft letter to George Nichols:]
Dear George, I have yours of 7th and am writing Ad[mira]l Taylor as you suggest. We are getting on very well with the plans, and hope to have them sufficiently matured[?] by the end of this week. Some changes have suggested themselves.- The most important one being to put shelter spaces each side of the chart house, as in the new Destroyers. It will materially enlarge the area of the Bridge and also give shelter for the men in rough weather.
I quite agree with you about the stack of #323 [#323p SP-2840] and will take it up with Mr. [James] Swan, on his return. He is away today about getting posted on workman's rules. He was waited on Monday by representatives from most of the departments asking for a raise to the Shipping Board schedule.
SWIFTSURE [#243p] I talked it over with Mr. Swan and agreed you could have her at whatever you think right. The hull is now carried on the books at $150, but there was no figure for the engine." (Source: Nichols, George (incl NGH reply and NGH to Adm. D. W. Taylor draft). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18900. Correspondence, Folder 51, formerly 54. No date (1918-05-07).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #243p Swiftsure even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Swiftsure (HMCo-made index card)
• Swiftsure (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: Swiftsure
Type: Steam
Length: 51'8"
Owner: Herreshoff Mfg. Co.

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Swiftsure
• 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: Swiftsure
Type: 51' 8" power
Owner: N. G. Herreshoff
Year: 1904
Row No.: 669

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.

Year: 1904
E/P/S: P
No.: 243
Name: Swift Sure
OA: 51' 8"

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"Dimensions LOA 51-8; LWL 50-0; Extr. Beam 6-0; Depth 2-10; Draught 2-4 from 1906 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2015.)

"Steam engine rating 115hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Open Type. 4 1/2 & 7 & 11 1/4 x 7, 700[rpm], 120[hp]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

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