HMCo #415s Wenonah

"[1891-11-17] Tue 17: R[e]c[eive]d order for 2-1/2 rater for H. Allen, Glasgow [#415s Wenonah].
[1892-02-26] Fri 26: Launched fin keel, #415 [Wenonah], ...
[1892-02-28] Sun 28: Tried #415 [Wenonah].
[1892-03-16] Wed 16: St[eame]r[?] A. B. Barstow took 25ft fin keel #415 Wenonah; boxed to be shipped to Glasgow." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1891 to 1892. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"Other notable fin keelers of 1892 designed by Captain Nat were the 'Handsel,' thirty feet W.L., owned by Mr. J. R. Hooper at Hull, Massachusetts; the 'El Chico,' twenty-five feet W.L., owned by H. M. Kersey of New York, and a sister yacht to the famous two and one half-rater 'Wenonah,' which was owned by Henry Allen and cleaned up on the Clyde. Almost from the start of the fin keelers the Scots and English imported these Herreshoff creations, and in the next year or two they were to be the principal winners in the smaller British rating classes." (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. 166.)

"A novel and interesting feature of the yachting season of 1892 was the 'fin-keel' boat, a production of N. G. Herreshoff.
It will be seen from the cut below that some of the peculiarities of the 'Gloriana' form are embodied in this singular craft --- namely, the long overhang and the rounded elongation of the bilge to the extreme limits of the bow and stern.
The chief characteristic, however, is the fin, or in effect a fixed centreboard carrying a weight of lead on its lower edge sufficient to give the craft stability enough to balance the rigging and press of wind in the sails.
The most successful fin-keel boats have a length on water equal to three-and-a-half beams, and as the section of the hull is round or nearly so, stability is gained in a manner already explained.
The first of this style of craft was built and launched in the autumn of 1891, and was called 'Dilemma' [#412s]; she had a very moderate-sized rig, the jib-stay being secured to the extreme point of the bow, but with this she easily beat the old style of cat-boat, and showed, besides unusual speed, many other desirable qualities.
In 1892 the fin-keel boat was generally introduced, three or four sailing in Boston waters, while New York, the Lakes, and Buzzard's Bay claimed one each to two in their home waters of Narragansett Bay.
The 'Wenona' [#415s] and 'Wee Winn,' [#425s] the first in the North and the latter in the South of England, showed our friends on the other side of the sea what their racing qualities were, which are soon told by referring to their record. Out of twenty starts made by 'Wenona' she won 17 first, 2 second, and 1 third prizes, and her sister in the South was even more fortunate, winning 20 first and 1 second prizes out of twenty-one starts. ... The value of the fin-keel type in adding to the resources of yachting is limited; the type does not contribute anything of living value to yachting, it serves only as a means to show that old types can easily be beaten, but that it takes a 'machine' to do it. Fin-keels are, it is true, very pleasant to sail in, and they work beautifully, but the design is probably limited in size to 35- or 40-ft. water-line in length, for above that size the fin becomes a very troublesome adjunct in its handling and adjustment. When the boat is afloat the fin is not objectionable, but in taking the bottom by accident, or in hauling it out, it makes the boat most troublesome to handle.
Larger fin-keel boats have been projected, and one of 45 ft. length on water-line has just been built, but their success from a general view-point is highly questionable." (Source: Herreshoff, Lewis. "Yachting in America." In: Yachting. The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. Vol. II, Chapter VI. London, 1894, p. 267-270.)

"Business is brisk at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co's Works. Mr. Edwin D. Morgan, owner of the Gloriana [#411s], has ordered a new 35-foot water line boat [#417s] --- a racer --- designed by the Herceshoffs, which will soon be commenced. The Company has also received an order, from a gentleman in Scotland, for a Herreshoff 2 1/2 rater [#415s Wenonah], to compete with the racing boats of that type in England and Scotland. Both of these craft are to be constructed with mahogany planking outside and pine inside. Several other boats are in course of construction at the boat works, and business is booming in boat building." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, November 21, 1891, p. 2.)

"The only other sailing yachts to be built [besides [#414s Wasp, #417s Drusilla and #413s Sayonara] are the 25-footer, or rather 2 1/2-rater, for the Clyde [#415s Wenonah], and a similar craft [#418s El Chico] for an American owner, neither of which have been commenced. ..." (Source: Anon. (W. P. Stephens?) "Building at Bristol." Forest and Stream, December 10, 1891, p. 421.)

"... The Morgan 35-footer [#417s Drusilla] and the two-and-a-half rater [#415s Wenonah] for Scotland attract the most attention, next to the 46-footer [#414s Wasp], and are both well along. They have been placed right side up, and workmen are busy laying the decks and putting in such slight interior fittings as will be required.
The Scotchman is nearest completion, but both will be ready long before they are wanted in the spring.
A close look at the boats fails to show any difference between them except in size and the heaviness of frames thereby made necessary. Both are framed with extreme lightness, and both have a light double planking, of which the outer skin is mahogany.
The joiner work on the outside surface is like that in fine cabinet work, and no racing shell ever had a smoother surface than these boats can be made to present.
The frames at the chain plates and runners are very much heavier than elsewhere, and the strain at these points, where most of the strain comes, is carefully looked after.
The decks are of white pine, but are very light, with light oak deck beams. Strength is, however, sufficiently secured by four diagonal straps, which also aid in tieing the hull together and prevent straining and working under canvas.
Of accommodation bolow, the Scotchman has little or none, but probably this doesn't matter to those only looking for a day's racing.
The steersman sits on deck with his foot in a little cookpit, while a hatchway further forward gives a chance for the crew to get below decks. As, however, the boat will only carry mainsail and jib, two men besides the steersman should be able to handle her easily, so not much room is needed.
She will have a pole mast, no bowsprit, and a boom on the jib. The mainboom will project but little beyond the stern. A low gunwale, just enough for a foothold when down to leeward, will run around the deck. ... Both boats will have metal rudders and steer with a tiller.
As for their model it can be best described as that of a big canoe with long overhang and a ballast fin to give it stability and lateral resistance. The lines are full, but easy, and there isn't a hollow in them from stem to stern. No second look at such a hull is needed to show that it can be driven at great speed with the utmost ease. All that is needed is to keep it right side up and give proper lateral resistance. This the ballast fin accomplishes.
Neither boat has as yet received its fin, but both are in process of construction. That of the Morgan boat will be of a plate of heavy steel, nearly an inch in thickness, while that of the Scotchman will be lighter and of Tobin bronze.
The fins will have a much sharper slope on the forward edge than indicated in the sheer plan of the Dilemma given two weeks ago in these columns [Boston Globe, January 10, 1892, p. 23], and the lead will not project beyond them either forward or aft. Heavy bolts of Tobin bronze will secure the fins to the oak keel when the proper time comes. ..." (Source: Robinson, William E. "Has Come To Stay. Herreshoff's Opinion of the Ballast Fin. Shrewd Yacht Designer Tells Why He Believes in the New Type. Order for a 25-Footor for New York. Work on Hand at the Bristol Shops." Boston Globe, January 24, 1892, p. 22.)

"The Herreshoff Mnfg. Co. launched from their boat building establishment about 9 o'clock on Friday morning [February 26, 1892] of last week the two and one-half rater, ordered by a Scotch gentleman early in the season. The boat is 25 feet on the water line, and 37 feet over all, 7 feet beam and 5 1/2 feet deep. She has a fin keel, and a Tobin bronze rudder . She is expected to race on the Clyde, several boats having been built there to complete with her. The launching was witnessed by only a few persons outside the workmen of the shops." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, March 5, 1892, p. 2.)

"... During the week the two and one-half rater for the Clyde has been hauled out on the pier and the work of boxing her up for her transatlantic trip by steamer begun. The fin will be boxed up separately. ..." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoffs Are Busy. Many Boats Steadily Growing in the Bristol Shops." Boston Globe, March 13, 1892, p. 17.)

"... Prince Henry of Prussia, who purchased the Herreshoff boat Wenonah, has renamed it the Gudruda. Five new two-and-a-half-raters have been built to race against her in the Baltic. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bits of Yachting News." New York Times, May 12, 1895, p. 6.)

"METEOR ON THE CLYDE. ... Herreshoff Boats Win Races in German Waters --- ... From Our Own Correspondent. GLASGOW, June 24 [1896]. ... Hereshoff is evidently widening his reputation by the success of his yachts in German waters. His twenty-rater, Isolde, at the Nordeutscher Regatta Verein, carried off and won outright for the cutter's owner, Baron von Zedwitz, the Challenge Cup presented by the town of Hamburg, and Herreshoff's Wenonah, two and a half rater, the whilom terror of the Clyde, but now called the Gudruda, and owned by Prince Henry of Prussia, beat all the older five and four 'sail unit' yachts started against her. She got second prize, and was only beaten by a new Hamburg-built boat, modeled, no doubt, on Wenonah's lines. What gave eclat to the sailing of the Wenonah was the fact that Prince Henry steered the Herreshoff to victory.
To steer Wenonah under any breeze proves Prince Henry to be a real sailor, a compliment not yet earned by his brother, the Emperor, whose presence on board the new Meteor at Kiel when racing against Watson's forty-rater, the outclassed Varuna, was not suggestive of a yacht-racing Admiral, although his uniform might be. The exhibition of the Meteor at Kiel was no doubt an important State function, but the cutter was not designed for State functions, and her crew must heartily desire to be once more alongside Britannia or Ailsa, or, to speak more correctly, your Herreshoff Defender. ..." (Source: Anon. "Meteor on the Clyde." New York Times, July 6, 1896, p. 9.)

"Nachdem "Bubble" ein Rennen auf dem Gmundener See siegreich gegen die dortigen besten Boote gesegelt hatte, wurde sie mit der Bahn nach Berlin geschafft, um dort den Rest der Saison zu verbringen und im nächsten Frühjahr an den Berliner Regatten teilzunehmen. Nachdem sie ihre Berliner Frühjahrs-Engagements erfüllt und in zwei Regatten das beste Material Berlins mit Leichtigkeit geschlagen halte, ging sie mittelst Eisenbahn nach Kiel, um dort in den für sie offenen Regatten zu starten. Auch hier wurde sie mit Leichtigkeit Siegerin, wie am gleichen Tage auch "Gudruda" in ihrer Klasse sich spielend ihre ersten Lorbeeren unter deutscher Flagge erwarb.
"Gudruda" wurde 1892 auf der Werft von Herreshoff für Herrn Henry Allan in Glasgow erbaut.
Das Boot wurde mittelst Dampfer nach dem Clyde gebracht und war dort in den Jahren 1892 und 1893 das schnellste seiner Klasse. Unter dem Namen "Wenonah" segelnd, gewann es in dieser Zeit in 46 Rennen 33 Preise im Werte von 3000 Mark. Ende 1893 erwarb es sein jetziger hoher Besitzer und liess es mittelst Dampfer nach Stettin befördern, von wo es im Frühjahr 1894 nach Kiel segelte. An den Kieler Wettfahrten dieses Jahres nahm die jetzt den Namen "Gudruda" führende Yacht mit dem denkbar besten Erfolge teil und schlug, meist unter der Führung ihres hohen Eigners segelnd, alle Gegner mit spielender Leichtigkeit. Diese vortrefflichen Leistungen verschafften der Yacht schnell viele Freunde und waren die Veranlassung, dass mehrere Yachten gleicher Grösse erbaut worden sind, die teils die ganz gleiche, teils sehr ähnliche Formen aufzuweisen haben.
"Gudruda" ist eine ältere und grössere Schwester von "Bubble", und in ihrer ganzen Eigenart und Bauausführung ist sie dieser sehr ähnlich, wenn auch "Bubble" mancherlei Abweichungen in der Spantform sowie in den Wasserlinien, in der Form der Platte und des Wulstes aufzuweisen hat. Im ganzen erscheint "Gudruda" schlanker und schärfer, ihr Spanten sind flacher als die von "Bubble", die fast Kreisausschnitte darstellen, auch sind "Gudrudas" Ueberhänge vorn und achtern nicht so lang wie "Bubbles".
Vorsteven, Kielgang, Innenhölzer und Decksbalken bestehen aus Eichenholz, die Aussenhaut ist mit Ausnahme des obersten Plankenganges Mahagoni. Die Innenhölzer stehen in Abstanden von 230 mm. Da die Metallschrauben der bronzenen Kielplatte durch den Kielgang hindurchgehen, ist der Boden durch hölzerne Bodenwrangen von 70 mm Höhe und 40 mm Dicke verstärkt.
Das aus Yellowpineplanken von 70 X 20 mm hergestellte Deck liegt auf eichenen Decksbalken von 40 X 20 mm, die in Abständen von 250 mm liegen.
Die mittelst langer Schrauben am Rumpf befestigte bronzene Kielplatte ist 10 mm stark und wiegt 325 kg. Der an der Unterkante befindliche Bleiwulst von fast dreieckigem Querschnitt hat ein Gewicht von 680 kg, sodass Platte nebst Wulst einschliesslich der Befestigung am Rumpf ein Gesamtgewicht von 1090 kg darstellen. Das Ruder ist eine Bronzeplatte von 6 mm Stärke, die Aufhängung ist wie bei "Bubble" durch eine senkrechte metallene Spindel bewirkt.
Abmessungen:
Rumpf:
Länge über alles 11,42 m
" WL 7,77 m
Grösste Breite 2,17 m
Breite i. d. WL. 2,03 m
Geringste Freibordhöhe 0,50 m
Rennwert nach den Bestimmungen des Deutschen Segler-Verbandes in Segeleinheiten 5,00
Bleiballast 680 kg
Bronzeplatte 325 kg
Takelage:
Grosssegel 40,37 qm
Klüver 13,22 qm
Zusammen 53,59 qm
Rundhölzer:
Länge des Mastes von Oberkante 7,50 m
Länge des Topps am Mast 0,35 m
Stärke des Mastes im Deck 0,14 m
Stärke des Mastes am Topp 0,10 m
Länge des Baumes 8,20 m
Stärke des Baumes 0,10 m
Länge der Gaffel 4,40 m
Stärke der Gaffel 0,10 m" (Source: Belitz, Georg. Seglers Handbuch. Berlin, 1897, p. 183-192.)

"Der Danziger Yacht-Klub 'Gode Wind', von dem hier die Rede sein soll, hat seinen Klubhafen im Graben des Forts Weichselmünde. ... Eigentum des Clubs sind die drei früher auch in Kiel gut bekannten und zum Teil berühmten Yachten 'Atair', 'Gudruda' und 'Sigrun'; dieselben stehen denjenigen Mitgliedern stets zur Verfügung, welche vor der Kommission des Klubs das Schifferexamen bestanden haben nach dem Vorbilde des Akademischen Segler-Vereins. ...
'Gudruda', die dritte Klubyacht, wurde im Jahre 1892 von Herreshoff in Amerika erbaut und lenkte die allgemeine Aufmerksamkeit auf sich, als sie im Jahre 1893 von unserm hohen Sportgenossen, dem Prinzen Heinrich, angekauft und nach Kiel gebracht wurde. Der hohe Eigner segelte die Rennen meistens allein mit nur einem Matrosen und machte beispielsweise auch so und in allerleichtester Kleidung die denkwürdige Sturmregatta der Kieler 'Kanalwoche' 1895 mit --- ein Beweis für die grosse Handlichkeit des 8,15 S. L. grossen Fahrzeuges. Als reiner Wulstkieler besitzt Gudruda zwischen Bodenbrettern und Decksbalken nur eine lichte Höhe von 90 cm, und es kann daher von einem längeren Aufenthalt unter Deck nicht die Rede sein. Die Besegelung von 50,5 qm ist für unsern meistens flauen Sommer viel zu gering und die Yacht fängt erst an mitzureden, wenn ein kleiner Sturm weht. Im übrigen hat sich das Fahrzeug stets gut bewährt und ist durch seine doppelte Beplankung völlig dicht geblieben, hat sogar eine durch Ruderverlust hervorgerufene Strandung auf den Steinen der Neufahrwasser-Mole unbeschädigt Überstanden. ... [The Gdansk Yacht Club 'Gode Wind' which will be discussed here, has its club port in the trench of the fort Weichselmünde. ... The club owns the three yachts 'Atair','Gudruda' and 'Sigrun' which were formerly well known and even famous in Kiel; they are always available to members who have passed the skipper exam ...
'Gudruda', the third yacht club was built in 1892 by Herreshoff in America and attracted general attention when it was purchased in 1893 from our high sporting fellow, Prince Henry, and taken to Kiel. The high owner sailed the race usually alone with only a sailor and did so, for example, and in the lightest of all clothes, in the memorable storm of the Kiel Regatta 'channel Week' 1895 --- a testament to the great handling of this 8.15 sailing length vehicle. As a pure bulb keel Gudruda has between floorboards and ceiling beams only a clear height of 90 cm, and therefore a longer stay under cover is out of the question. For our mostly sluggish summers the sails of 50.5 square meters are too small and the yacht begins to be competitive only when a small storm is blowing. Otherwise, the vessel has always worked well and has remained completely tight due to its double planking, it was not even damaged by a grounding on the rocks of the Neufahrwasser-Mole caused by a loss of her rudder. ... ]" (Source: Anon (Habicht). "Der Segelsport auf der Danziger Bucht." Die Yacht, December 20, 1904, p. 254-256.)

"... Der Danziger [Klub] 'Gode Wind" ... wird, da er jetzt die älteren Yachten, den 1892 bei Herreshoff erbauten einstmals berühmten Wulstkieler Gudruda und die alte Tourenyacht Frigga aus seiner Flotte ausmerzt, weil sie nicht mehr auf der Höhe sind, noch in diesem Sommer ein neues Boot kaufen, ...[... The Danzig [club] 'Gode Wind" ... will acquire this summer a new boat, since it is now eliminating from its fleet its older boats, the 1892 Herreshoff built once famous bulb keel Gudruda and the old yacht Frigga, because they are no longer up to date ...]" (Source: Anon. "Die nationalen Klassen in Ostdeutschland." Die Yacht, 1914, Issue No. 18, p. 426.)

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers and Iron Clippers ... Glasgow' stationery in preparation to the design of #415s WENONAH:]
Dear Sir,
Referring to my letter of last week I beg to enclose a statement of dimensions, sail areas, etc. of some of our best 2 1/2 raters.
ORNSAY[?] is the boat I want to beat, and I think she has the best proportion of sail area to length among the Clyde boats, at least for Clyde breezes.
Referring to your letter of 14th inst. --- perhaps I misunderstood you question as to a double skin. I though you meant a wood lining inside the ribs of the boat, but since writing, it has occurred to me that probably you referred to a double outside planking. This is not a style of building common in this country, and I have no experience of it. I would rather leave this, and all other details, to your own judgment, simply asking you to build the best boat you can, always bearing in mind that she is wanted exclusively for racing.
The Yacht Racing Association is going to decide at next meeting --- in October --- whether or not centreboards are to be allowed in future. There is a strong feeling against them here --- especially among owners of keel boats who have been beaten. I shall [p. 2] let you know the decision of the Y.R.A. as soon as it is made public.
I send you by this mail some photos of 2 1/2 raters. You will notice that they have all lugsails, and no bowsprits. If you prefer a mainsail & jib I have no objection, as i think the lug is both inconvenient and ugly.
Yours truly, ...
P.S. I also send you a copy of the Y.R.A. rules in which pages 14 to 21 give rules of measurement for rating. I shall be glad to give you any further information you may require. [With detailed 'Particulars of 2 1/2 rating yachts' (ORNSAY, ELFIN, LIZETTE, and BABE' on an attached sheet of paper.] [Incl. envelope 'Per White Star Steamer' to NGH in Bristol'." (Source: Allan, Henry. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_04010. Folder [no #]. 1891-09-29.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections for an unidentified 24 1/2ft lwl boat titled '1st trial. 24 1/2ft w.l. plate keel. Nov[ember] 21, [18]91. (1st model)'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 143.5cuft = 9150[lbs] and an addition of weights of Hull, Rig, Equipment, Crew (5) and Ballast totaling 9850lbs. [Is this related to Model 1532 which at a scale of 1:24 would be for a vessel of 35.2ft LOA, but given that both its bow and stern are damaged may have been for a slightly longer vessel? Or is this related to #415s Wenonah which had been contracted for on November 16, 1891? Or is this related to MRDE04_04230 which shows penciled pantograph hull sections for an unidentified 24 1/2ft lwl boat titled '1[st] trial. 24 1/2ft w.l. plate keel for Mt. Desert Y.C. [#189107es] (2nd model). Not used'? Note that cuft calculation suggests a 1:16 model scale, same scale as the model for the Mt. Desert Y.C.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04220. Folder [no #]. 1891-11-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint sailplan titled '2 1/2 Rater. Dec. 17, [18]91. Hart Nautical Collections Plan No. HH.5.05413 (075-025) for #415s WENONAH of 1892-01-27 is identical except for a slightly longer mast and gaff and thus increased sail area." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0460. WRDT08, Folder 18, formerly MRDE09. 1891-12-17.)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten and penciled table with data for 'Date of Order', '[Hull] No.', 'Name', 'Length on W.L.', 'Beam', 'Draft', 'Rig', 'Keel or Centerboard Keel', 'Ballast' for #400s CONSUELO, #401s ROMP, #402s CLARA, #403s CALYPSO, #404s COQUINA, #405s ALICE, #406s IRIS, #407s BIRD, #408s PELLICAN[sic], #409s GANNET, #410s MAB, #411s GLORIANA, #412s DILEMMA, #413s SAYONARA, #414s WASP, #415s WENONAH, #416s ALPHA, #417s DRUSILLA, #418s EL CHICO, #419s COQUINA 2ND, #420s REAPER and #421s BEE. Undated (data until 1891 is typewritten, thereafter penciled, suggesting that the table was prepared in January 1892 before EL CHICO, the first boat with a penciled year, was contracted for)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Construction Record Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_04530. Folder [no #]. No date (1892-01 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled specifications for 'A sloop rigged yacht for the 25-rating class. To have a plate keel of Tobin Bronze with lead on its lower edge'. With scantlings, cockpit arrangement, sized of hatches and dimensions. Dimensions and description (cockpit and hatches) suggest this to be either for #415s WENONAH or #418s EL CHICO. The latter is much more likely, because the former was always referred to as a 2 1/2-rater rather than a 25-rater. Undated (EL CHICO was contracted for on January 18, 1892)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_00960. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1892-01-18).)
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"[Item Description:] Untitled, penciled table providing data for L (WLW), D (Displacement in Tons net), T (measurement tens[? or tons?], S (Sail area), L * sq-rt(S) / 15* cube-rt(D), L * sq-rt(S) / 18* cube-rt(D), and (sq-rt(S) + L) / 2 on the X-axis for the following boats: DILEMMA [#412s], 2 1/2 rater [apparently #415s WENONAH], 35ft E.D. Morgan [#417s DRUSILLA], GANNET [#409s], PELICAN [#408s], ALICE [#405s], CLARA [#402s], CONSUELO [#400s], COQUINA [#404s], BIRD [#407s], 21' [#???s], GLORIANA [#411s], 46 Rodgers [#414s WASP], GRACIE, KATRINA, SHAMROCK, and HURON. Two penciled tables on verso: One showing max speed in miles and kots and wind required for lengths ranging from 35 to 80ft, the other appearing to show required wind speeds for max hull speeds for boats ranging from 30 to 80ft. On envelope labeled 'Immediate. United States Weather Report.' Undated, but postmarked 'Jan 19, 1892.'" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72740. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F04, formerly MRDE15. No date (1892-01-19 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] I have just received your tempting invitation & I am so sorry I cannot accept it but I cannot leave Mrs Morgan for the present. Curiously enough your last two letters have arrived just after I have written you, a sail in the 'foreigner' [possibly #415s WENONAH, to be launched February 26, 1892, three days after this letter was written] would please me beyond anything so you can imagine how sorry I am ab[ou]t not going. [Incl. envelope.]" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_77860. Correspondence, Folder 98. 1892-02-23.)
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"[Item Description:] Congratulations from England on the success of your 2 1/2 rater on the Clyde [#415s WENONAH] and the beautiful half-rater on the Solent #425s WEE-WIN, compared to our boats she is handsome, was talking to Lord Brassey about our model club, I advised him if he wanted a champion to go to Herreshoff, I am only a working man but I yield to no man in my love for all that is beautiful in yachts and ships." (Source: Lear, H. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_45760. Correspondence, Folder 100. 1892-10-01.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten report in quotation marks:] The boats that have been generally most successful on the Solent last season have been fin keel boats. Sibbick goes in for a plate fin pure and simple with the ordinary bulb, but in Payne's boats (which have had a fair measure of success) the form is modified somewhat where the plate joins the bottom of the boat, so as to reduce the girth, which is a considerable factor in our measurement --- but all are small displacement boats, with the exception of a l/2 Rater which Mr. Froude built. She was of fairly large displacement, has large sail area, and was very successful in light winds, as of course with her big displacement she had so much less girth, and the measurement saved in girth was put into sail area. This, however, is the only big displacement boat that has ever been even moderately successful.
The most successful of the 2 1/2 Raters (to windward at least) was a boat which came across from Germany, built by Herreshoff [This boat has not been identified. #415s WENONAH?]. She was small displacement, and had a fin keel and bulb. Going to windward she was far and away better than the others, but she could do nothing else, and as our Solent courses are very largely reaching ones, she was only moderately successful as a prize winner. [Untitled, between 1892 and 1895 ?]." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01790. Report. Folder [no #]. No date (between 1892 and 1895 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [On 'Hotel Bristol, Berlin, Unter den Linden' stationery:] Berlin, den 26th [no month] 1894
My dear Mr Herreshoff
Through the kindness of Captain [Hank] Haff and his son Clayton I again embarked on the 'VIGILANT' in the race of August month[?] off Cowes but[?], of course as usual had a most inspiring good time.
It was the second day of the R.Y. I. regatta the Thursday of Cowes week and the meeting of the two rivals after the BRITTANNIA[sic] defeat in the race [p. 2] around the isle, when both yachts distinguished themselves in a wind-jamming contest upon the rocks.
The race on buoy 8 was fastformed[?], you remember to enable the 'BRITTANNIA' to haul out and fix bottom' a privilege which the 'VIGILANT' [#437s] did not allow herself and perhaps unfortunately as results proved for ever so little a rock-rub[?] seems to endanger the balance between the chances of two much closer rivals.
There was a cracking breeze blowing directly up [p. 3] the Solent, and both yachts started under jack-yarders, mainsail, jib and staysail close-hauled westward to East Lepe[?] buoy.
But as usual Haff was caught napping and swung across the line with the 'BRITTANNIA' luffing dean in the wind, and bore away on the port tack 10 yards under the lee of his rival. Of course it was very close work on both boats, and we all worked fiercely at the head-sails to remedy our error and get [p. 4] about and away from out the grasp of our quick-handling rival.
But though we Norwegians, heterogeneous lot that we were tumbled over each other like fiends beneath the glance of Mr. Iselin, in our eagerness, yet there stood the Briton handled by as magnificent a British crew as ever trod deck 'fasted squarely on our head-sails.'
And[?] this position, the result of our gun[?] starts is quite where Carter[?] [p. 5] wanted us to be placed and there we were handily kept until we turned the E. Lepe[?], when he was far ahead of us on a flowing tide.
I cannot accurately tell why we were not the faster that day. In running the hurricane[?] boat[?] always went like a mad-horse. But in close windward work we were no match for 'BRITTANNIA' and clever Carter. We perhaps outfooted her when hauled by the wind, and certainly on the [p. 6] last leg of the course to the finish-line when we gained about w minutes.
But we never could out-wind the slippery Briton. If he ever found us working out from his lee he always bore down on us to blanket.
Of course that made Haff and Iselin nervous, but what could they do? For when we again settled down to luffing away creeped the Briton to windward again and what made us all so mad was that [p. 7] there was a cracking wind aloft, and we were expected to win by on shore.
I believe myself if you will allow me to venture an opinion, that the removal of many tons (I believe 3 or 4) of ballast, and the heavy anchor and chain the previous night was a big mistake. For we didn't Carry our club topsail at all easily, while 'BRITTANNIA' was as stiff as Captain Lawless' flag pole, and her sails were a [p. 8] sight to see. Twice did our sails fail --- our staysail broke at the clew twice, and one spinnaker tore itself loose in a mad run to leeward. But this was not because we didn't want to win, or misled[?] to with withdraw (as honest Captain Lawless was proverbially supposed to do in the FELICITE[?] sloop).
Mrs Iselin was on board with us, and the Prince and the [p. 9] Duke of York on the BRITTANNIA. Mr Iselin's present on the boat was salutary, he put a good deal of energy into matters didn't swear once and stopped unnecessary talking. He vastly improved the 'esprit DE corps' and harmonized under his leadership the actions of Jeffrey Diaper and young Haff. I do believe [p. 10] Mr Herreshoff, that Haff has not been well supported by good under officers and a trained crew. You will pardon my presumption in criticising. But outside of the fail[?] of waters, climate, conditions, lack of knowledge of British methods of yacht racing, it seems to me that the VIGILANT measured[?] by a raw[?] crew, as she is, can be perhaps justly pardoned her defeats.
[p. 11] Englishmen themselves are a but surprised at her defeats for the wholesome defeat administered by the little Bristol boats the 'WEE WINN' [#425s], 'MORWENA' [#431s], 'WENONAH' [#415s] and 'DACOTAH' [#440s] have sunk deep in their hearts.
That they still fear the VIGILANT is evidenced by the tendency to still receive the BRITANNIA virtuous[?] as indecisive.
[XII] If you will kindly show this to Mr Charles [Herreshoff, Jr.?] as I think he will be interested.
Please tell Mr. Lewis [Herreshoff] whose article in the Badminton Library has attracted much attention and which I have read that little Mr Wilson [sailmaker] of New York begs to take exception to his remarks about the American sail-making as compared with Lapthorne. I had much amusement with him on this head. With best wishes
I am Sincerely yours ...
Lucian Sharpe
Muuwex[?] Cie[?] Paris" (Source: Sharpe, Lucien, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_00840. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 239. 1894- ??-24.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on '21, Clarendon Road, Holland Park. W.' stationery:] London
Dear Mr. Herreshoff,
I was sorry not to have met you at Kingstown about the one rater for my friend Charles Tyrevlit[?] Ricardo, Esq.
Secretary of Upper Thames Sailing Club
Bourne End, Bucks, England (The Club has 3 Challenge Cups ...)
Private address Raymead, Maidenhead, Berks.
He has only returned from a long cruiser of over 3wo[?] months, through Holland to Friesland & Amsterdam via Calais, Dunkerque, Bruges, Ghent & Rotterdam. [p. 2]
I enclose all the data from Mr. E. T. Ricardo. Photos of present boats, or Lines from Head of the 'Challenge' which is the fastest ... [unreadable]
Please address your business letters to Mr. Ricardo as he will pay you ... in the meantime let me congratulate you on the great success of DAKOTA 10rater [#440s] on the Clyde ... [p. 3] fine one rater sailed by Miss Sutton WENONAH 2 1/2 [#415s] now GUDRUDA and the mauery[?] little WEEWINN 1/2 rater [#425s] - a very lovely little craft indeed.
Last night I was dining with Mr. Howard Gould when we had a great chat about the season's racing. I have been sailing in CARINA 40 & sailed one race in VIGILANT [#437s] at Dartmouth. Start Y[acht] Club in a dead calm [p. 4]
The lines of VIG[ILANT] are very beautiful and it was most unfortunate that just when most wanted the 'centreboard' was wound to be ;on strike'. You have no idea how this was regretted & much sympathy was felt for Mr. G. Gould. Asking your king interest in this one-rater, smooth water with much 'Hard a Sea'
I remain
Yours truly
Robt. T. Pritchett [marine artist]
[With separate sheet:]
Rating - we would suggest that she rate not less than .8 or more than .9 so that she would derive the greatest benefit from the crew of three up to windward. .8 is chosen as the lowest rating as H.M. The Queen's Challenge Cup is only open to boats of .8 and over.
Length of course 6 to 9 miles, generally a run and a turn to windward. [p. 2]
Distinguishing no. of Boats in Photographs: ...
Dimensions ... [p. 3]
Notes.
Planking ...
Ballast ...
Draft ...
Deck ...
Mast & Spars ... [p. 4]
Water smooth, no sea, must be very quick in stays, as river[?] is extremely narrow in parts, wind moderate.
Boat wanted solely for Racing purposes.
Price ? delivered in London.
Must be delivered not later than March 1, 1895. [With sketches of AILEEN, MONA and MIRAGE & FOLLY type on separate sheet of paper. With clipping from 'The Field, The County Gentleman's Newspaper' from July 7, 1894, p. 31 titled 'The Challenge 1-Rater' as well as clipping from 'The Field, The County Gentleman's Newspaper' from July 28, 1894, p. 157 titled 'Sorceress 1-Rater'. Incl. envelope from Pritchett to NGH in Bristol." (Source: Pritchett, Robert Taylor. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_03040. Folder [no #]. 1894-09-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I mailed you yesterday translation of the German Rules and to-day am in the position to give you further information regarding the Rating of GUDRUDA [#415s ex-WENONAH].
Her girth, according to the German measurer is 6.40 meters, sq-rt(sail area) is 7.32 square meters, length waterline 7.77 meters." (Source: Oswald[?], P.R.[?]. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_70850. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. 1894-12-28.)
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"[Item Description:] remembers #415s WENONAH on the Clyde, has worked as mast maker all his life, sends suggestions for new method of making steel masts" (Source: Rodgers, John. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_23770. Correspondence, Folder 69. 1930-02-18.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #415s Wenonah even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Wenonah (HMCo-made index card)
• Wenonah and #415p YMs18 (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: Wenonah
Type: J & M
Length: 25'
Owner: Allan, Henry

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

• Wenonah
• 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: Winona [sic, i.e. Wenonah]
Type: 25' fin keeler
Owner: Henry Allen
Year: 1892
Row No.: 762

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.

Month: Nov.
Day: 16
Year: 1891
E/P/S: S
No.: 0415
Name: Wenonah
LW: 25' 0"
B: 7' 0"
D: 6' 0"
Rig: J & M
K: FK
Ballast: Lead
Amount: $1935.00
Notes Constr. Record: 1894 at Keil Germany. N..... G...ura [?]
Last Name: Allan
First Name: Henry

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.

"[Exported to Scotland. Owned by Prince Henry of Germany from 1894 on and named Gudruda; later owned by Danziger Yacht Club 'Gode Wind' which intended to replace her in 1914.]" (Source: Die Yacht, Issue 18, p. 426).

"Dimension LOA 11.42m = 37ft 5 1/2in from Belitz, Georg. Seglers Handbuch. Berlin, 1897, p. 183-192." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 26, 2015.)

"Built in 102 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $19/day, 66 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area main sail 40.37sq m = 435sq ft, jib 13.22sq m = 142sq ft for a total of 53.59sq m = 577sq ft.]" (Surce: Belitz, Georg. Seglers Handbuch. Berlin, 1897, p. 183-192.)

"N/A"

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