HMCo #372p Vasanta

"[1919-12-16] Tue 16: ... Launch Pynchon 85' power yacht #372 [Vasanta]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1919. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"May 5, 1920
Trial of #372, Vasanta
80ft o.a., 76ft l.w.l., 12ft-6in beam, 4ft-0in draft.
2 - 6 cyl., 5 3/4in x 7in Speedway motors.
Propeller 28in x 25in, H.M.Co.
Whole of Popasquash course, Fresh N.E. wind [followed by tabulated trial run data with best speed being 18.66mph [= 16.21kn]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Experiments Booklet '1911 Trial Trips and Experiments' under date of May 5, 1920. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"Captain Nat later designed many gasoline yachts, including the eighty-one foot 'Vasanta' built for George Pynchon in 1920." (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. 250.)

"An 80-foot power cruiser ordered from the Herreshoff's by George M. Pynchon some time ago, but not built owing to pressure of Government business, is under way. The boat, which will have a raised deck forward, resembling a destroyer, is in frame." (Source: Anon. "Notes From the Week's Log." Boston Globe, August 17, 1919, p. 51.)

"All the frames of the 80-foot power cruiser being built by Herreshoff's for George M. Pynchon, former owner of the 60-foot racing sloop Istalena [#663s], have been set and this week the work of planking the garboard was started." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, August 31, 1919, p. E5.)

"George M. Pynchon's power cruiser under construction at Herreshoff's is entirely planked up and the deck frames are being put in place." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Daily Globe, September 21, 1919, p. 61.)

"G. M. Pynchon has purchased the 50-footer Ventura [#711s] from former Commodore George F. Baker Jr. He contemplates racing that yacht, which has been renamed Istalena, when racing in the 50-footer class is revived. Mr. Pynchon is also having built at Herreshoff's a power cruising yacht [#372p Vasanta] which will act as a tender for the racing sloop at times." (Source: Anon. "Yachtsmen Plan for Next Season." Rudder, November 1919, p. 528.)

"The new 80-foot power cruiser [#372p Vasanta] building at Herreshoff's for George Pynchon of Greenwich, Conn, is ready for launching and will be put overboard soon, to make room in the shops for other new construction." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, December 7, 1919, p. 47.)

"A new 80-foot power yacht constructed at the boat shops of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company for George M. Pynchon, New York, was launched at the shops Tuesday [December 16, 1919]. The craft will not be fitted out until next spring." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, December 19, 1919, p. 4.)

"... The 80-foot power cruiser built by Herreshoff for George M. Pynchon of New York was launched last Tuesday [December 16, 1919]. This craft, which has not been named, will be used as a tender to the New York Yacht Club one-designed 50-foot sloop Ventura [#711s], purchased a couple of months ago by Mr Pynchon from former Commodore George F. Baker. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, December 21, 1919, p. 46.)

"... George M. Pynchon's power yacht Vasanta, recently built at Herreshoff's, has been fitted out and has been taken away from Bristol by Capt S. B. Howell." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, May 23, 1920, p. 53.)

"... This year the [Herreshoff] plant is very busy. Not only has the Resolute been overhauled, fitted with new spars and commissioned there, which in itself is a big task, but many other power and sailing craft have been built. It is a long time since Herreshoflf's was so busy and much of this success must be credited to A. Loring Swasey, who is the vice-president of the company. Mr. Swasey is not only a designer of repute but he is a practical constructor of considerable experience and a very capable business manager. This Spring Captain Nat. Herreshoff has been far from well. He contracted a heavy cold on his return from Bermuda and at one time pneumonia was feared. James Swan is the Superintendent of the plant. He is one of the most capable steel constructors in the country and the work now in progress in the shops shows his skill. ...
The Vansanta [sic, i.e. #372p Vasanta] for George M. Pynchon is completed and has been delivered to her owner. This is a very attractive-looking power boat 85 feet long and with two Speedway engines of 150 h.p. each, driving twin screws and making 18 miles an hour. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Building Yards Very Busy. Many New Vessels at Herreshoffs." Rudder, June 1920, p. 14)

"George M. Pynchon of New York has been known for years as an enthusiastic and experienced owner of yachts of the better class. Some years ago his sailing yacht was a conspicuous success on Long Island Sound but in recent years he has turned more to the power boat for his pleasure. He has taken a lot of fun from his 80-footer, which is a Herreshoff creation with Speedway engines, but recently he decided to order a larger boat.
The new Vasanta ... will be 92 feet in length and the power plant will consist of a pair of 300 h.p. Speedway engines. The design was produced in the engineering department of Consolidated and she is rapidly nearing completion in their shops. ..." (Source: Anon. "The New Vasanta." Rudder, May 1926, p. 32.)

"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan with interior arrangement plan, deck plan and outboard profile titled '2nd Design 100ft Yacht for Mr. G. M. Pynchon by N.G.H. Mch 5th [19]19'. (This is apparently a larger and much different preliminary design for #372p VASANTA. This design appears to be similar to #191901ep Unbuilt Steam Yacht for Thomas Slocum.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_05450. Folder [no #]. 1919-03-05.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'Model of 309 [#309p SP-1218]. Changed for G. M. Pynchon's [#372p VASANTA]. May 1919. Scale 1/2in'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 896cuft = 57300lbs = 28.65 tons." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04910. Folder [no #]. 1919-05.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten design notes and sections by NGH: Calculations for 'Pynchon' (possibly for #372p VASANTA?)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Note / Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_47580. Subject Files, Folder [no #], formerly 25?. No date (1919-10 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Lawrence Gas Company, R.W. Emmons, 2D, Treasurer, 79 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts' stationery:] Your letter of January 1st [1920] I received more than a week ago. I have delayed answering it until after the New York Yacht Club meeting, which was held night before last, as George Cormack telegraphed and wrote you.
The Committee replied to Lipton they would agree to his terms, namely, to race, beginning July 15th off Sandy Hook, but declined to make any alteration in rig in the way of Marconi topmast. This being settled, George [Cormack] and I have got underway with the schedule for captain, mates and crew for Resolute. [Chris] Christiansen with John Christiansen, whom we had the first year will be our Captain and first mate [on #725s RESOLUTE]. We have already obtained some of our old men.
The question of tender still troubling us. Steamers like CAPE COD will cost to run this year nearly $45,0000 a piece for each boat, which seems a sinful waste of Syndicate money. Charlie [Adams] and I are both in favor or rechartering the QUEEN [#657s], and in order to obtain if necessary more room, building a house over her from the main deck forward in the line of a receiving ship. This will enable us to mess all the men at the same time and give us ample accommodations for sails, supplies and for ourselves. Such a lay-out together with Harold Vanderbilt's tender [#301p MAGISTRATE] would be adequate for our purpose. Nothing definite has been settled, but this is what Charlie and I lean towards. George [Cormack], however, is still in favor of steamers.
The Cup Committee have decided to begin the racing on May 2lst --- a series of 5 races to he held off New Haven; an interval then for alterations, refit, etc., and then a series to begin off Newport about June 4th and continue until the first of July. Newport races only to actually count for selection.
This being the schedule it is out opinion that RESOLUTE should be launched about May 1st, as with her crew on the spot it will not take long to rig her, and from experience of previous years, weather at that time is none too favorable anyway. I do not know how this will suit your plan, but I think if you plan to arrive about that time we can get on all right.
The new wooden mast for RESOLUTE has not been started and there is some discussion as to where to built it. Your ideas were that it should be built in the south shop, if I remember correctly, and unless I hear from you to the contrary I will have it constructed there. Chase has the rigging for same practically all completed. There is not much else to report regarding RESOLUTE.
George Nichols is to arrive in Boston for our Directors meeting next week, and at that time he and I will take up with Sidney the subject of making winches for him, as per an understanding you had with him just before you sailed.
Jim Swan has no doubt written you regarding all the other work in the shop; especially work on the schooner [#827s OHONKARA] seems to have gone on very satisfactorily.
The first little S boat is practically completed, and some of the proposed owners of same have made inspection.
All seem to be pleased with the boats with the exception of one point, and opinion has been so strongly expressed that I have taken it upon myself to alter the specifications as originally planned by you, and I trust you will understand and forgive me in case you have any feeling in the matter. The case is this. The present oak ribbon which you have designed and placed on the first boat with the hollow under side, in place of the usual pear-shaped shear streak, they all desire changed for the older method.
While I recognize your idea, which is a good one both as to cover board for the canvas deck and also the hollowed out underside for shedding water, it gives the boats a very heavy effect looked at from broadside or stern view, and I thought it best to meet their desires in the matter, and the other boats will be built as I stated above on the old method. The only other alteration was the slight tipping of the seats in the deep cockpit boats; the first boats seats are flat, and while comfortable enough in the forward part of the cockpit, are not as comfortable as if dipped in the after part.
Chase is going at the rigging for these boats and the first mast is all done. I will follow out your suggestion and have the boat launched and weighted according to your instructions, but if the weather holds mild, although it has been very cold recently, Charlie Adams and I propose to rig up, launch and try out the first boat under sail before the other sails are made, and I think between us we will discover anything that may not be just right. Arthur Adams, Charlie's brother has just ordered four more 12 1/2 footers, and as we were already building one, we have taken the order for the other four at $750 a piece.
We are in hopes of getting an order for a good-sized house boat to carry us through the spring and summer work. Swazey is on his way South to see two or three gentleman regarding same. We shall need this new work soon.
The expert accountants have been making the annual audit, but at the time of the stockholders meeting held last Thursday, complete figures were not in. I am sorry to have to tell you that their figures so far bring us out with a loss instead of a profit for the year. As soon as I get the final correct figures I will forward you a copy, but although Mr. Garfield, Charlie Adams and myself, as well as Young and Swan are convinced that the profit we should have showed is tied up somewhere in the inventory and we have not yet been able to dig it out. We have already dug out $6,000, and I am in hopes we may find other misrepresentations.
I am convinced our methods are all right, and our book-keeping system all right, and further that any Company which could have paid off $100,000 indebtedness as we did the past year is a good-going concern, and even if this year's statement shows us behind instead of ahead, I am confident we will only come out with all the better balance this coming year. The officers and directors of the previous year were all elected at the meeting, and we are to hold as i stated a Directors meeting Wednesday next.
You must be having splendid weather and a fine time, It seems hard to think of you sailing in summer clothes, while we are experiencing 5 below zero day before yesterday, and now a snow storm with a foot and a half on the ground.
The Alumni of Harvard have chosen me to be their chief Marshal on my Twenty-fifth anniversary this coming June.
This same honor was given to Charlie Adams on his Twenty-fifth, and on that day I am afraid the RESOLUTE will have to stop work --- otherwise my attention from now on will be largely given to her.
They are already at work on the SHAMROCK pearing off some of her fore-foot, and I believe further they are expecting to relay the deck. George [Nichols] will have a hard time to get his work [on VANITIE] done in the same yard, but I do not think we can possibly do anything more for him than we have agreed to. His present plans are, namely; shorten bowsprit and main boom while increasing the height of his rig a little, thereby reducing his sail area enough to reduce his time allowance 30 seconds. Charlie and I think he is working in the wrong way. We would both have left the base line as it is and increased the rig at least 500 sq. ft if not more, giving us more allowance, trying to come nearer to to SHAMROCK's rig. There it would give us a better line on how we will go with the latter. However, I do not think it makes much difference what he does, or what SHAMROCK does, for as Charlie says, if we cannot beat them both we had better quit racing for good.
With my very best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and Mrs. Herreshoff, and hoping to hear from you soon, and further trusting my delay in answering your letter is offset by what I have written, I am
Yours faithfully, ...
P.S.: Since writing I have been in communication with Mr. Kittredge the expert accountant and his statement is as follows; namely that if we fail to find any further discrepancy in the inventory to offset what loss the Company now shows as per figures sent you, there are two items to account for a large loss, namely: The Richards contract [#329p CAROLA] on which we allowed $3,000 for completion and delivery this year, has probably cost us, as figures will show, nearer $8,000. Then since you left, as probably Jim Swan has written the government has assessed their war tax against us on all contracts completed since that law was out into effect, excepting the Richards boat. These taxes amount to some $9,900, and we cannot include them in this years assets, for the reason that in the case of Harry Lippett [#368p MARY ANN], he has refused to pay his tax. In the case of the Sabine launch and the Codman launch [#342p, #343p, #344p or #345p?], as no account of this was made to them, it is the feeling of the Directors that we must pay the tax, although we may get Mr. Codman's. In the case of of Herrick [#311p APACHE and #371p GYPSY] and Crozier [#369p SUNFLOWER], Pinchon [#372p VASANTA] and the others, the matter has been brought to their attention I understand, and we should expect their taxes. Since, however, this question has arisen, we have had a legal clause drawn, and all contracts now go out from the Company's office including this clause and precluding any liability on the part of the Company being stuck for the taxes, as it states this must be paid before delivery is made.
Please do not worry yourself any over these financial details, however, as I think everything will come out all right in the end.
[Penciled PPS:] Enclosed is copy of Butler Duncan's letter just rec[eive]d regarding dates for trial races." (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_26390. Subject Files, Folder 6, formerly 90-95. 1920-01-17.)
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"[Item Description:] Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Inc. Tentative Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 1920. Tentative Comparative Balance sheet as at December 31, 1920 and 1919. Tentative Condensed Statement of Profit and Loss for Year Ended December 31, 1920. Including detailed profitabilty statements for several contracts including #367p Launch for St. Y. CORSAIR III for J.P. Morgan [loss of $20.71], #372p VASANTA for G. M. Pynchon [loss of $2,362.72], #373p ADOLAR for August Heckscher [loss of $1,277.95], #374p ALERT for Charles A. Stone [loss of $17,652.54], #375p PETUNIA for Henry L. Tiffany [loss of $2,122.67], #376p ESLOMA for William H. Vandervoort [loss of $5,244.00], #827s OHONKARA for Carll Tucker [profit of $3,257.44], 16 S-Boats [#850s ELLEN, #828s GOB, #851s MONSOON, #830s SPINSTER, #831s PAPOOSE, #832s WOODCHUCK, #833s CHEERIO, #834s WIDGEON, #835s KAJEE, #836s DAPHNIA, #837s DOODAH, #838s TEATICKET, #844s VANT, #845s SWALLOW, #846s FANO, #849s CIMA: loss of $7,548.16 (i.e. $471.76 per boat on a sales price of $2,450)], 8 Buzzards Bay Boats 12 1/2s [#829s FALCON, #839s SHELDRAKE, #840s OPITSAH, #841s MISTRAL II, #842s JABBERWOCK, #843s BULLRUSH, #847s PENGUIN, #848s DOODLE BUG: loss of $819.48], 4 small boats for yacht Edgar Palmer [GUINEVERE #192005es, #192003ep, #192004ep, #192004es: loss of $3,839.25]. [These documents found / filed with 'Tentative Financial Statements for the Period from January 1, 1923 to June 27, 1923.']" (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50660. Financial Statement. Subject Files, Folder [no #], formerly 124?. No date (after 1920-12-31).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink) trials booklet titled '1911. Trial Trips and Experiments'. Relevant contents:
§44: #372p VASANTA Trial Run max speed 18.66mph [= 16.21kn] (1920-05-05)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator) and Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_04280. Folder [no #]. 1911-06 to 1926-05.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #372p Vasanta even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Vasanta (HMCo-made index card)
• Vasanta (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: Vasanta
Type: Gasoline
Length: 80'
Owner: Pynchon, George M.

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

• Vasanta
• Tara ex-Vasanta
• Wasteena ex-Vasanta
• 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: Vasanta
Type: 81' gasoline
Owner: George M. Pynchon
Year: 1920
Row No.: 716

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: 1920
E/P/S: P
No.: 372
Name: Vasanta
OA: 80' 0"
LW: 72' 2"

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.

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (46) from the 1920 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Net Register Tons were reported as 31) 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.