HMCo #416s Alpha

"[1892-02-13] Sat 13: ... Setting up 21' #416 [Alpha. This number was corrected and was apparently first #420 (Reaper), then #419 (Coquina) and finally #416 (Alpha).]
[1892-02-29] Mon 29: ... Turned over 21' c[enter] b[oard] #416 [Alpha].
[1892-04-15] Fri 15: Launched 21f[t] #416 [Alpha].
[1892-04-16] Sat 16: Capsized #416 [Alpha].
[1892-04-17] Sun 17: Made trial of #416 [Alpha].
[1892-05-05] Thu 5: Tried #418 El Chico and also #416 [Alpha] & #420 [Reaper].
[1892-05-09] Mon 9: ... Shipped #416 [Alpha] to Boston." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1892. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"#416.
21ft w.l. Racing Boat.
Frame spaces 8".
In making moulds deduct
for timbers 1 1/16".
for planking 9/16".
Total 1 5/8".
Sheer height given is to under side of deck.
Thickness of deck 1/2".
Thickness of keel 1 7/8".
Thickness of stem 2 1/2".
Deduct for timbers # 7 & forward 7/8".
Deduct for timbers # 35 & aft 7/8".
Floor 4'-6"." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.077.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"The Providence Journal contained recently the following interview with N. G. Herreshoff, the Bristol yacht designer:
' Nat G. Herreshoff, the designer of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, was at the office of the company. He was asked to say something about the performance of his designs on Memorial Day at Boston, Marblehead, and New-York. The three boats which raced on that day were the twenty-one-footer Alpha [#416s] of Boston, the thirty-footer Handsel [#422s] at Marblehead, and the twenty-one-footer El Chico [#418s] at New-York. Alpha and Handsel, it will be recalled, were victorious in the races they entered, but El Chico was beaten, and she has been more talked and written about at New-York this season than any other Herreshoff boat excepting Mr. Archibald Rogers's Wasp [#414s], the forty-six-footer. Handsel, a fin keel, belonging to J. R. Hooper, beat the Burgess centreboard Hawk and the Burgess keel Fancy. Alpha, a centreboard, beat Exile, which the Boston papers have been continuously repeating was probably the better boat of the two. El Chico, a two-and-a-half-rater, was beaten by one of William Gardiner's [sic, i.e. Gardner] designs. Mr. Herreshoff said:
' 'All I have to say about the victory of Alpha is that she was built for a fast boat, an out-and-out racer, and beat her rival, as we expected her to. She is a racer, and we had tested her and knew what she could do, if she was sailed in the best style. She is a centreboard, and, of course, if it blows and the water is rough, she must be carefully handled to race well. The water was fairly rough that day. Now we want to see what she will do, this centreboard twenty-one-footer, in comparison with the twenty-one-foot fin keel. Undoubtedly a centre-boarder can beat a fin keel in light breezes, but more depends on the sailing of a centreboard boat when it is rough than on the fin keels. We can't tell how these designs will do in a comparative way, and it would be foolish to predict. Alpha is one of the new boats. She was launched April 20 [sic, apparently slightly earlier].
... ' 'The designer prefaced his talk with the statement that he had not heard from the owners of either El Chico or Alpha. ..." (Source: Anon. "Mr. Herreshoff Interviewed." New York Times, June 7, 1892, p. 3.)

"But Captain Nat rather upset things that year in the twenty-one foot class, for while copies of his fin keelers were being designed and built by most everyone, amateur and professional, he came out with the centerboard twenty-one-footer 'Alpha,' which won fourteen firsts out of fifteen starts at Marblehead that year. (She would have made a clean sweep but was disqualified in one race.) Her name was derived from the fact that her deck plan was very triangular, her stern being almost her widest part. The fact is that 'Alpha' was quite similar to the sandbaggers of a decade before, only her bow was carried out in a graceful overhang. This sort of craft is fast, of course, in light and moderate weather with a trained crew, but I can't help thinking that in more wind and sea some of the fin keelers should have beaten her. Perhaps Captain Nat was already conscious that the defect of the fin keeler was too much wetted surface, particularly for racing in light weather regions like Marblehead." (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.)

"When the 'Wasp' was being rigged and fitted out the little centerboarder 'Alpha,' that we have just spoken of, was also completed. Captain Nat had just taken her out for her trial and brought her in to the wharf near the 'Wasp' where Captain Barr was greatly admiring 'Alpha.' Captain Nat, who was always fond of Charlie Barr, said, 'How would you like to take her out for a spin?' Charlie jumped at the opportunity, and calling a couple of his crew from 'Wasp,' boarded 'Alpha.' At the time Charlie was only about twenty-four years old, and all of his experience had been in heavily ballasted Scottish cutters. He ordered one of his men to cast her off and pull the jib to windward. When this was done 'Alpha' turned on her heel like a top, filled her sails, and promptly capsized. It is said she hardly went a boat's length before she was flat on her side and swamped. Of course a light boat like 'Alpha' should be ballasted by her crew moving to windward, and has to be luffed or have her sheet eased in the puffs, but when properly got under way might carry her sail in a fair breeze. Captain Nat used to tease Charlie Barr about that incident in the years to come when Captain Charles Barr had become the greatest of all yacht captains." (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. 167-168.)

"The fin-keel type at home was almost as successful, except when brought into competition with a centreboard boat of sloop rig, 21 ft. length on water-line, called 'Alpha.' She was built and designed by the projector of the fin-keels, and was the chief member of a large 21-foot class that was fully exploited in Boston during the season of 1892, where the 'Alpha' won in every race she entered." (Source: Herreshoff, Lewis. "Yachting in America." In: Yachting. The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. Vol. II, Chapter VI. London, 1894, p. 269.)

"Bristol, R. I. April 18 [1892]. --- Another has been added to the list of the Herreshoff designs already afloat this season.
It is the centreboard 21-footer for Messrs. F. L. Dunne, J. Fred Brown and Arthur P. Hunt of Boston, and she was launched and rigged last week and given a trial trip yesterday.
'Nat' Herreshoff had the tiller and tried the boat on all tacks. The wind was fresh from the westward, but all sail was carried very handily and the boat seemed both fast and able.
There was nothing else out sailing with which her speed could be compared, but Mr. Herreshoff has nevertheless a very grood opinion of her and expresses himself as satisfied with the way she moved.
He would not, however, when asked about her performance, predict from it that she would be a winner.
'Boats are always fast when alone,' he said, "and we shall all know more about the comparative speed of the boats after a month's racing than we know now."
The boat now lies moored to a buoy off the south pier of the Herreshoff works, and if looks were any criterion of speed, she never would be picked for the first boat home in a race.
But it often happens that the homeliest boats have the most speed, and it is well to trust to performances rather than looks.
For a certainty, however, the boat is not a handsome one.
The bow rounds up from the waterline with an overhang of some four or five feet, and the stem has a very short overhang and sets very low in the water. Very little, crook is shown in the sheer, and a short bowsprit, not over five or six feet outboard, adds to the peculiar appearance.
The mast is stepped some five feet or more from the forward end of the waterline, and the main boom does not project much more than that distance over the stern. From tip of bowsprit to end of mainboom is less than 40 feet, while the mast is less than
Thirty Feet Above the Deck.
This shows that the sail plan is a small one, as compared with the 'splashers' of Boston design, and that the Bristol boat will take a comfortable allowance from them.
The mast looks large, and, from its size, should be a hollow one.
But, whatever the looks of the boat as a whole one can gainsay the fineness of her lines or the fairness of her model.
She shows the rather bluff bow now favored by the Herreshoffs, but the lines are all easy and continue so even at extreme angles of keel. The run is particularly good and the rather low quarters will help materially when keeled.
She is very close to 9 feet beam and draws about 18 inches of water. Her metal centreboard will be about all her ballast except that of the 'live' variety carried on the windward side.
She is painted white above the water-line and has a bright deck and fair sized cockpit. A metal rudder is used.
Her easy form, light displacement and absence of all dead wood aft, will make her a hard boat to handle in a race, and much will depend on properly trimming the live ballast.
The boat is now ready for delivery to her owners and when wanted will be shipped by rail to Boston. This will probably be early in May, and then she will be given frequent practice sails until the opening of the racing season.
... At the South pier lies Mr. Rogers' 40-footer Wasp [#414s] with all her rigging set up and everything ready for bending her sails.
This last will be done in a few days, and the probabilities are that she will be given, a trial trip before the week is over. After that she will be taken to New York and tried, there until she is in condition for the early races.
Capt. Charley Barr is on hand with some of his crack crew, and expresses himself as much pleased with everything about the boat. ..." (Source: Anon. "Tried on all Tacks. Another 21-Foot Centreboard Afloat. Herreshoffs latest Production Appears to be Fast and Able. ..." Boston Globe, April 19, 1892, p. 11.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 11 [1892] --- The new Herreshoff boats are getting afloat one by one, and the present outlook is for a clearing of shops early in the season, save for the steel steamer [#172p Truant] for Mrs. Newberry of Detroit, which will not be ready until late in the summer. ...
The [#416s Alpha] 21-foot centreboard was shipped to Boston the first of the week [May 9, 1892] with all her ringing, and will be put in shape again in that city. ..." (Source: Anon. "New Yachts Afloat." Boston Globe, May 12, 1892, p. 2.)

"The 21-foot centre-board racing yacht just finished by the Herreshoffs at Bristol, for Messrs P. L. Dunne, I. P. Bowne [sic, i.e. J. F. Brown], and A. P. Hunt, of Boston, was launched April 12 [1892]. It appears that she turned turtle Saturday [April 16, 1892 as confirmed by NGH diary], with the designer, Mr. Nat. Herreshoff, on board, with two of the Scotch crew. The men had to swim ashore. The boat was righted, bailed out, and put in trim for the trial trip Sunday, when she showed a good turn of speed, but required very careful handling. --- New York Spirit of Times, April 30 [1892]." (Source: Anon. "British Yachts are Not Like This." The Field, May 14, 1892, p. 722.)

"The latest arrival is the Herreshoff centerboard [Alpha #416s] for Messrs. Brown, Dunne and Hunt. She came by rail, was taken from the car and launched at Harrison Square and should be rigged and sailing to-day. Mr. Brown, who will have her tiller in the races, is away on his wedding tour, but Messrs. Dunne and Hunt with Barclay Tilton will sail they can in her [sic], for they realise that she will take plenty of handling in order to win. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht News Notes." Forest & Stream, May 19, 1892, p. 484.)

"The Alpha, now hauled out at Hull, will be repainted before she goes overboard. The damage to the hull of the boat when she lost her contreboard was only slight, for the centreboard bolt passed through plates on the keel and not through the keel itself. The Herreschoffs will try and have the now board in place in time for the race on Friday. The boat has had many visitors since she was hauled out, and any one who sees her easy midship section and small beam wonders how she stands up under sail." (Source: Anon. "Repairs to the Alpha." Boston Globe, July 10, 1892, p. 15.)

"[Half-page season review with detailed race accounts. With woodcut based on phto by Peabody neg. no. 552 from July 28, 1892 accompanied by text 'The Alpha's Picture. The cut of the Alpha which The Globe presents today is from a photograph which has never been published. It shows to good advantage the long overhang of the boat forward, the peculiar curve of the stem and the way in which the boat settles by the stern when sailing so as utilize to the utmost the low counter.'] (Source: Robinson, W. E. "Alpha The Leader. She Wins Championship of 21-Foot Class. Freak is Second. Review of Season's Racing wih Each Boat's Record." Boston Daily Globe. September 11, 1892, p. 9.)

"Alpha, the Herreshoff 21-footer, was loaded on a car and housed in and left Boston on April 28 [1893] for Lake Minnetonka, where her new owner, E. J. Phelps, will race her. Wilson & Silsby are making a new suit of sails for her, though the old suit went with her." (Source: Anon. "Yacht News Notes." Forest and Stream, April 27, 1893, p. 372.)

"The twenty-one-foot class of 1892 has been relatively the fastest class of yachts ever built, not even excepting the swift forty-six-footers of 1891. The fact that the twenty-one-footers of former years have studiously kept out of the racing has prevented exact comparison, but measuring the new twenty-ones with the older boats which have occasionally had the pluck to stand up and be counted, and also comparing them with the larger classes, it is fair to assume that the speed of the twenty-one-footers has been increased about ten minutes over the ordinary seven or eight mile course; and this, too, in spite of the fact that the twenty-one-foot class of 1891 was considered very speedy.
Of all the twenty-one-footers, the Herreshoff centreboard 'Alpha' has won an undisputed lead. Her record of fourteen firsts out of fifteen starts, her one defeat being a protested race which she won on the time, speaks for itself. 'Alpha' has had the best handling, and was in shape earlier in the season than her competitors, all of which helped to bring her through the season with practically a clean record, but the superior speed of the boat is unquestionable. ...
The Herreshoff fins 'Vanessa' and 'Reaper' sailed well, but were no match for 'Alpha.' In sailing in smooth water these fins were not quite equal to the best of the wide centreboard 'splashers,' but they surpassed them in a sea. ..." (Source: Peabody, Henry G. Representative American Yachts. Boston, 1893, p. 22."

"As it is questionable whether any other boat has made such a record as Alpha, it seems proper to give full particulars relative to this yacht. Alpha is a centerboard jib and mainsail yacht, and is the property (1893) of E. J. Phelps of the Minnetonka Yacht Club. When she made her great record she was owned by the well known Corinthian yachtsmen, J. F. Brown, J. L. Deering and A. P. Hunt, of the Hull and other yacht clubs. She was designed by N. G. Herreshoff, and built by the Herreshoff M'f'g Co. in 1892. Her dimensions are:
Length over all, 28 feet 5 inches.
Length load waterline, 19 feet 4 inches.
Depth, 1 foot 4 inches.
Draft, 2 feet 10 inches.
Beam, 8 feet.
RECORD FOR 1892.
South Boston Yacht Club: --- Alpha won in the Open Regatta of May 30th, beating Exile.
Eastern Yacht Club: --- Alpha won the prize in a Special Race, sailed July 28th, and also the Medal of the Club. In this race she beat Catspaw, Vanessa, Freak, Reaper, Koorali, etc.
Massachusetts Yacht Club: --- Alpha won in her class in the Club Race of June 15th. In the Annual Open Race sailed June 17th, she was again the winner, this time with eleven starters.
Quincy Yacht Club: --- Alpha beat Moondyne in the race sailed May 28th. In the Invitation Race, sailed on the 13th of August, she won again, beating Vanessa.
Hull Yacht Club: --- Beat Catspaw in a Club Race, held June 16th. She also won June 25th, in a Special Open Sweepstakes. A Club Race was sailed July 2nd, in which Alpha won from Catspaw. Beat Catspaw again in a Club Race, August 12th.
Open Subscription Race, August 31st, Alpha winning and receiving a prize of $50. Corinthian Yacht Club of Marblehead: --- June 18th, Fifty-ninth Regatta, Alpha won, beating eight other entries. Hull Corinthian Yacht Club: --- Alpha was a winner in the Club Regatta, sailed July 23rd. September 3rd, Open Race, she won again. During the yachting season of 1893, Alpha had her Waterloo on Lake Minnetonka, at the hands of the fleet Onawa. This yacht was built to defeat Alpha, and was designed by Arthur Dyer.
Up to the time of racing with Onawa, Alpha had never been fairly beaten in a race --- in one instance she was ruled out for a technical violation of the rules. Next to Alpha in 1892 stood Freak, designed by her owner, John B. Paine. Reaper and Vanessa, the two Herreshoff fins, stood third and fourth and then came the beamy centerboards, Catspaw, Exile and Thrush." (Source: Mott, Henry Augustus. Yachts and Yachtsmen of America. New York, 1894, p. 72 (also 348-349).)

"... It was not until the advent of the 21-footers that 'Nat' Herreshoff was fully brought back to the sailing racing craft. For years previous to the building up of this class, Designer Herreshoff had hardly been in the racing sailing boat arena, as his time was given up to fast steam yachts. ... The 21-footers formed a great class, and the best racing data obtained for years was gained from these little flyers. Such old-timers as the True Blue, Idler, Eureka, Auk, Tom Cat, Coyote, and a few others were held to be almost up to the limit, and many doubted if the new boats would be able to beat them. ...
A syndicate of clever Boston yachtsmen conceived the idea of having Designer Herreshoff build them a boat to race in the 21-foot class. ... In building this boat, the first of the secrecy business began at Bristol, and it extended Hub ways. First, those building the boat kept themselves in secret, and this was followed up by the Alpha [#416s], the Vanessa [#423s] and the Reaper [#420s] being built behind closed doors.
A few months before launching time the head man of the Alpha syndicate became known to the writer, and he proved to be the crack amateur yachtsman, Mr. John F. Brown of Boston [who in 1915 would order the grand Herreshoff schooner #772s Mariette].
On her trial trip, the Alpha, by fouling with lines or something else, capsized just off the Bristol works, and Designer Herreshoff went overboard, with Capt. Charlie Barr and others. That he was disappointed in the Alpha cannot be doubted, for he then spoke of her in rather unfavorable terms, going so far as to recommend the cutting down of her sail plan. For this statement Mr. Brown is my authority. Those owning the Alpha did not act on her designer's advice, but had her shipped on the cars to Savin Hill, Mass., where, a few days afterward, she was rolled down the beach and into the waters of Dorchester bay.
It is doubtful if any 21-footer had such a splendid racing crew. Each man was a crack helmsman himself, and beside this, every one of them had intelligence. Mr. E. C. Bockus, Fred Dunn, Barclay Tilton, Arthur P. Hunt and Fred Brown made up the crew, and when I say they, to a great degree, made the record for the Alpha outside the advice of her designer, I am only doing those who raced the Alpha simple justice. The Alpha beat all comers, made a good record, with only one defeat, and this against the fastest fleet of boats up to that time ever built on their length.
When I say the Alpha met and defeated all comers, the ballast fin boat, the Freak, should be excepted. The latter, with equal handling, is just as fast, and in a breeze, in my opinion, would beat the Bristol boat. There are many who will differ from me in this statement, and who believe the Alpha to be the faster boat.
It is now a matter of almost common knowledge in yachting circles that, at the time the order was placed with the Bristol firm for the Alpha, the Brown-Dunn syndicate were in a measure almost dissuaded from building the centreboard type of boat, because Designer Herreshoff told them very plainly that the ballast fin type of boat would beat the centreboard. This showed the workings of the mind of the Bristol man at that time, for out of three orders for 21-footers, two were ballast fins, and it was not for the want of advice or urging that the three were not of that type. Because the Alpha beat the Vanessa and Reaper, does not settle the question. Few, I think, will disagree with me in the opinion that, had Brown et al. sailed the Vanessa and the latter's crew sailed the Alpha, the record would have been different. ..." (Source: McVey, A. G. "Are World Famous. The Herreshoffs and Their Speedy Boats. Review of the Work of the Noted Builders." Boston Herald, ca. July 1895, no page [undated newspaper article from a yachting scrapbook compiled by A. S. Thayer, Claas van der Linde collection].)

"[Alpha (Sail, C B) owned by E. J. Phelps, Port: Minneapolis, Minn.; LOA 28.4ft; LWL 19.4ft; Beam 8ft; Draft 1.2ft; designed by N. G. Herreshoff and built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co in 1892.]" (Source: Stebbins 1896 Yachtsmen's Album, p. 37)

"It was in the summer of 1893 that the first of the new-style models appeared, and they were well represented. In that year Edmund J. Phelps bought the famous Herreshoff sloop Alpha [#416s], a boat that had beaten everything in her class the year before on the Eastern coast, and Messrs. Peet and Dunwoody had ordered the Kite [#434s] from the same designer. When these boats were launched at Minnetonka few dared to doubt that one or the other would win the season’s championship, but here a local builder jumped into the breach as Peterson has done in the present season. Arthur Dyer, of the Deephaven yard, turned out for Mr. Ward C. Burton, the famous Onawa, better known as 'The Wraith of Deephaven.' The history of this boat for the season was one continuous line of victories. She won five straight races, defeating Kite and Alpha in hollow style, the two latter fighting it out for second place. Onawa won her races by anywhere from seven to sixteen minutes, though it should be stated here that the boat was built to take every advantage of the rules for that year, and she received nearly ten minutes’ time allowance over Kite and Alpha.
In the following year the rules were so modified as to greatly reduce time allowance in all classes, as a result of which most new boats were built up to the limit, and the change proved thoroughly satisfactory all around. At this the Onawa withdrew from racing, and in 1894 the Alpha and Kite contested for first honors. Kite won the championship with four races to her credit, while Alpha captured the cup by winning three. ..." (Source: Pegler, Arthur James. "Western Yachts and Designers." Outing Magazine, April 1897, p. 10-11.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan titled 'EUREKA. 1891. o.a. 25ft 2in. w.l. 20ft 6in. Beam 10ft 5in.' Sail areas shown as 245sqft jib and 638sqft mainsail. EUREKA was a famous centerboard sloop designed by Jefferson Borden, Jr. and built in 1888 for E. B. Rogers. In her first season she was fastest boat in her class. This sketch was apparently made for use as a base-line for the design of #416s ALPHA, the dimensions having been sent by ALPHA's co-owner Jacob F. Brown on October 10, 1891. See also sketch of TRUE BLUE made at the same time and in the same style. On verso of printed leaflet titled 'A New Era in Yachting. The Patent Catamaran, or Double Huleed Boat' from may 1st, 1877." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_05220. Folder [no #]. 1891.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan titled 'BIRD. 1891. o.a. 18ft 6in. w.l. 16ft 6in. Beam 9ft 4in.' Sail areas shown as 137sqft jib and 318sqft mainsail. #407s BIRD had been built in 1890. This sketch was apparently made for use as a base-line for the design of #416s ALPHA, the dimensions having been sent by ALPHA's co-owner Jacob F. Brown on October 10, 1891. See also sketch of TRUE BLUE made at the same time and in the same style. On verso of printed leaflet titled 'A New Era in Yachting. The Patent Catamaran, or Double Huleed Boat' from may 1st, 1877." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_05240. Folder [no #]. 1891.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan titled 'TRUE BLUE. 1891. Scale 1/8in per ft. 18ft w.l. 20ft 6in overall. 11ft beam. Sail areas shown as 218sqft jib and 600sqft mainsail. TRUE BLUE was a famous 21-footer from Boston. This sketch was apparently made for use as a base-line for the design of #416s ALPHA which was intended to beat her, the dimensions having been sent by ALPHA's co-owner Jacob F. Brown on October 10, 1891. On verso of printed leaflet titled 'A New Era in Yachting. The Patent Catamaran, or Double Huleed Boat' from may 1st, 1877." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_05260. Folder [no #]. 1891.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Jacob F. Brown. Wool Commission Merchant. 158 Federal St. Boston' stationery:] Gentlemen:-
Herewith are dimensions of TRUE BLUE and EUREKA:
TRUE BLUE Over all 20.6. W.L. 18, Beam 11. Mast extreme above deck 31.6.
Mainsail:- Luff 22. Head 19.6. Foot 27. Leach 38.9, angle of peak 68 degrees.
Jib:- Luff 50, Foot 17.6. Leach 25.
EUREKA Over all 25.2. W.L. 20.6. Beam 10. Mast extreme above deck 31.
Mainsail:- Luff 22. Head 19. Foot 29. Leach 39.8, angle of peak 62 degrees.
Jib:- Luff 31.3. Foot 20.6. Leach 24.
I send you with this Hull Club Book and samples of the best 'Duck' Wilson & Silsby have for boats sails each sample is marked. We have found that sails roped with Cotton rope do not give as good satisfaction as where Hemp is used. But this and everything else we wish to leave to your good judgement. I would suggest that it might be well to get out the spars as soon as possible, so that they would dry out all they could before being used.
I enclose a letter just received from my brother relative to the BIRD [#407s] also send a Photo, of the BIRD that you might like to see. The Memo on the back is from Mr. Peet. I would like you to return the Photo, when you are through with it. From this it seems that the only races they are pushed are in moderate [p. 2] weather and the only races they lost are when they broke down. We do not want to lose any this way if it can be helped.
If there is any information I can help you to, at this end, shall be always glad to hear from you. Truly, ... [This was apparently sent in preparation to the design of #416s ALPHA whose contract had been recorded a day before this letter was written]." (Source: Brown, Jacob F. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01830. Folder [no #]. (1891)-10-10.)
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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:] Printed page (apparently torn out from the Hull Yacht Club Book sent by Jacob F. Brown with his letter from October 10, 1891 to prepare for the design of #416s ALPHA) tited 'Sailing Measurement' describing how to measure water-line length, sail area, etc." (Source: Hull Yacht Club (creator). Printed Yacht Club Circular. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_03180. Folder [no #]. 1892-02-25.)
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"[Item Description:] Note with penciled list of photos on verso and recto of Amerian and British yachts including #411s GLORIANA (Rounding SW spit on Goelet Cup day), #416s ALPHA, #423s VANESSA, #417s DRUSILLA, #414s WASP, HARPOON, ELFIN, LUZETTE, YSEULT, DORA, VALKYRIE II, AILSA, BRITANNIA, #450s ISOLDE, #453s VAQUERO, VALKYRIE III, together with image and frame sizes. Undated (August 1892 and later)." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_080. Note. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. No date (1892-08 and later).)
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"[Item Description:] Half-page newspaper clipping by W. E. Robinson from the Boston Daily Globe [September 11, 1892, p. 9] titled 'ALPHA [#416s] The Leader. She Wins Championship of 21-Foot Class. FREAK is Second. Review of Season's Racing wih Each Boat's Record.' with detailed account of ALPHA's races in the season of 1892. Other Herreshoff boats mentioned in the article are REAPER (#420s, 3rd in season) and VANESSA (#423s, 4th in season). With woodcut of ALPHA based on Peabody's photo neg. no. 552 of July 28, 1892. Another article on that clipping is titled 'Herreshoff's to build a 90-Foot Steel Schooner' and informs about the pending order of #429s NAVAHOE (which originally was intended to be a schooner)." (Source: Boston Globe (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_06800. Folder [no #]. No date (1892-09-11).)
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"[Item Description:] Table titled 'Examples of the Application of Proposed Measurement Rule for the the New York Yacht Club' providing data for Rig, Type under Water, Load waterline, Draft, Displacement, Sail area, Racing length and others for #435s COLONIA, #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, JUBILEE, QUEEN MAB, HURON, #414s WASP, #451s NIAGARA, UVIRA, #422s HANDSEL, #449s ANOATOK, #409s GANNET, #408s PELICAN, #446s ALERION, #416s ALPHA, #406s IRIS, and #461s COCK ROBIN. With note 'Blueprint 2. Sept 20, 1895.'" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_70900. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. 1895-09-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Untitled table providing data for Rig, Kind of c.b. or keel, Waterline, Draft, Displacement, Sail area, Racing length and others for #435s COLONIA, #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, JUBILEE, QUEEN MAB, HURON, #414s WASP, #451s NIAGARA, UVIRA, #422s HANDSEL, #449s ANOATOK, #409s GANNET, #408s PELICAN, #446s ALERION, #416s ALPHA, and #406s IRIS. Much appears to be the same data as that provided in the table titled 'Examples of the Application of Proposed Measurement Rule for the the New York Yacht Club' and dated September 20, 1895, suggesting this to be the draft also dated similar. With envelope labeled in pencil 'Original N.G.H.'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_70920. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. No date (ca1895-09-20).)
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"[Item Transcription:] As the prospective Captain of the new boat you are building for the [Lucius] Ordway syndicate [#473s ALFRIDA], I take the liberty of writing you a line.
I have been over in Minneapolis this week & find the boys there are much excited over our getting a new Herreshoff.
Mr. Park[?] has stirred them up with the observation that if you are thoroughly posted on the conditions of of our lake sailing and take the time to model & construct a boat special for those conditions, rules etc, the chances are much in favor of our getting a winner.
When Ordway left to see you I have him all the points I could in the matter and I presume he has given you all the ideas he could get together.
The other boats are built particularly on the theory that 'winning' ability counts for most than splferiouly[?] --- in other respects --- on our triangular courses --- its boats are low-found'[?] and a top of the water & race without lifting their bows excessively. They do not stand on[?] end when a heavy puff hits them, but keep accelerating their speed. Their sail spread is not large, so that boats of greater power & larger sail area sometimes beat them in light winds.
The[?] does[?] not build on strictly scientific principles.
He gets a fine wuliance[?] easy lines and flat bottoms well carried out astern & chops her off.
It is my opinion that [#434s] KITE and [#416s] ALPHA can beat any boat he eche[?] turned out on a reach[?] though to windward & straight return course or the triangular the odds are the other way --- and the more it blows the easier his boat can beat them.
I suppose you have perhaps started our craft but I couldn't resist putting in my[?] oar[?] a little & letting you know that there is great interest n the coming boat.
We want a good alround boat and will do our best to sail her worthily --- light construction is a great thing.
They are building 5 first class sloops at Minnetonka this winter & we are building 2 here at White Bear.
In hope yours will be queen of them all, yours ..." (Source: Griggs, C. Milton. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71350. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. 1896-03-20.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #416s Alpha even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Alpha (HMCo-made index card)
• Alpha and #416p YMs19 (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: Alpha
Type: J & M
Length: 21'
Owner: Brown, J. F. and F. L. Dunne

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

• Alpha
• 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: Alpha
Type: 21' sloop
Owner: John F. Brown
Year: 1892
Row No.: 26

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: Oct
Day: 9
Year: 1891
E/P/S: S
No.: 0416
Name: Alpha
LW: 25' 0"[?]
B: 8' 1"
D: 2' 0"
Rig: J & M
CB: y
Ballast: By CB Lead in [sic, i.e. 193 (sp?) CB Lead in]
Amount: $1260.00
Notes Bray: Note two names in "Built For" boxes. Check these names for Initials against fulllist [sic, i.e, Dunne & Brown, F. L. & John F.]
Last Name: Dunne Brown
First Name: F. L. J. F.

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.

"One of Alpha's co-owner, Jacob Fred Brown, would order in 1915 the Herreshoff schooner Mariette #772s. Another co-owner, F. L. Dunne, would order in 1913 the highspeed launch Fad #292p." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 8, 2009.)

"A Marconi-rig sailplan (HH.5.10513 130-191 Revised Sail Plan Alpha dated 1936-01-24) shows that Alpha was still in existence in 1936." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 18, 2019.)

"Built in 189 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $7/day, 8 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Mainsail 542[sqft]. Jib 206[sqft]. [Total] 748[sqft]. 2nd reef mainsai 406. 2nd jib 105. 511[sqft]. 4th reef mainsail 200. 2nd reef 2nd jib 42. 242[sqft]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Penciled Note on Sail Plan HH.5.10307 (130-005) dated 1892-02-15. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection at the MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"Displacement 1436lbs calculated from notes in NGH design booklet entry dated April 11, 1892." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 17, 2014.)

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