HMCo #450s Isolde

"[1894-10-12] Fri 12: ... Have order for 20-rater [#450s Isolde].
[1894-11-09] Fri 9: Began making frames for 20-rater #450 [Isolde].
[1894-12-08] Sat 8: Began setting up 20-rater #450 [Isolde].
[1894-12-13] Thu 13: Began planking #450 [Isolde].
[1895-01-04] Fri 4: #450 [Isolde] about half planked. ...
[1895-01-12] Sat 12: ... #450 [Isolde] planked up.
[1895-01-17] Thu 17: Turned over #450 [Isolde]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1894 to 1895. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"Nov. 10 1894. #150 [sic, i.e. #450s Isolde] 20 rater for Baron Z.
#151 [sic, i.e. #451s Niagara] [20 rater for] H. Gould
Length w.l. 45ft [45ft 6in written below this number]. Beam 12ft. Depth of hull 5ft 4in. Exreme length 64ft. Draft 10ft 8in. Tobin bronz keel plate. Mahogany planking." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene. [Design booklet.] November 10, 1894.)

"In the winter of 1894 and '95 Captain Nat certainly was busy for, beside several small sail and power yachts, he was designing the two twenty-raters 'Niagara' and 'Isolde' for British waters, and the new cup defender 'Defender.' ... They were single masted with a topmast and three headsails, double planked with mahogany on the outside, finished bright as several of the smaller fin keelers had been. They were sixty-five feet O.A., forty-five feet W.L., twelve feet beam, and ten feet draft. After a trial spin at Bristol their fin keels were unbolted and they were shipped abroad on the decks of steamers. 'Niagara' was owned by Howard Gould, one of the brothers who had owned 'Vigilant' on her visit to England the previous year. 'Isolde' was owned by Baron von Zedtwitz who was to be killed the next year in the famous 'Meteor'-'Isolde' collision on the Solent. 'Isolde' and 'Niagara' were sister ships, but during the next few years one or the other of them was painted white at times." (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. 179-180.)

"... I credit part of the success of 'Niagara' to Captain John Barr for 'Niagara' 's sister ship, 'Isolde,' generally only finished about in the middle of the large twenty-rater class the first year, although 'Isolde' did very well in the next few years after Captain Barr returned to America. ... 'Niagara' and 'Isolde' were the largest fin keelers Captain Nat designed, and perhaps the most refined." (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. 181.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., Dec. 8 [1894]. --- The Herreshoffs are not so rushed with work that they could not take an order for a cup defender, yet there is a fair amount of work on hand and a prospect of more. There are two steamers [#181p and #182p] and three sailing yachts [#449s, #450s, #451] now on hand in the shops, and a moderate force of men at work, which could be largely increased should a rush of work come.
... The sailing yachts in hand are the twenty-rater for Howard Gould [#451s Niagara], for his British campaign of next season; a twenty-rater for parties in Germany [#450s Isolde], and the twenty-footer [sic, i.e. thirty-footer, #449s Anoatok] for George Owen, Jr., for use at Marblehead, which was announced a week ago. The twenty-raters are duplicates, and will be fin keels of about 45 feet water line and 60 feet or more over all.
The frames for these yachts are bent on the molds, and will be set up in the south shop ahead of the steamer. The firm gives no dimensions or particulars as to build, but the writer feels at liberty to say, after a look through the shops, that they promise no radical departure from previous Herreshoff fins, but are good, round-bodied boats, with easy lines and indications of power. ..." (Source: Anon. "Ready for Orders. The Herreshoffs Can Start Cup Defenders on Short Notice." New York Times, December 9, 1894, p. 23.)

"... BRISTOL, R. I., Jan. 12 [1895]. --- ... The twenty-rater [#450s Isolde] for Germany is nearly planked. The twenty-rater [#451s Niagara] for Howard Gould will be set up next week. She is a duplicate of the first boat. Nothing is known at the works as to who Mr. Gould will have for a skipper. ..." (Source: Anon. "Ready To Build Cup Defenders. Improvements in the Herreshoff Plant for Yacht Building." New York Times, January 13, 1895, p. 6.)

"PROVIDENCE, Feb. 14 [1895]. --- The south shop is still encumbered with the Gould 20-rater [sic: Howard Gould's #451s Niagara was built in the north shop, Baron von Zedtwitz' #450s Isolde in the south shop. The writer confuses the two sister ships and is in fact speaking about #450s Isolde], which is now blocked up on even keel in the east end of the shop, nearly finished. Her hull below the water line has been partly painted a dark green color, and as she is now resting in the shop somewhat in the position that the cup defender will be built, it will be necessary to move her; but launching her at such a season of the year, with such a barrier of ice as there is at present in the harbor, could not be thought of, as the fine workmanship on her hull would be in danger ot being marred. There is a space in the north shop that has been cleared away just forward of the new Hostetter steam yacht [#181p Duquesne], where she will probably rest until she is launched, about six weeks from now.
The 10-rater [#449s Anoatok] that has been building in the north shop for George Owens [sic, i.e. Owen] of Boston is nearing completion, and was moved from her orignal position the first of the week [February 11, 1895] in the east part of the shop to the west end, alongside of the new Hostetter steam yacht [#181p Duquesne], in order to make room for the setting up in frame of the German 20-rater [sic. This would have been #450s Isolde but the writer confuses her with #451s Niagara. See note above], which work is now being done. The latter will be built off the same moulds as the Gould 20-rater [#451s Niagara]." (Source: Anon. "Work on the New Defender. Preparations Made to Run the New Yacht's Lead Keel." New York Sun, February 15, 1895, p. 5.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., March 30 [1895] --- An attempt was made today to launch the 20-rater built for the German baron, who resides near Kiel, but owing to some trouble with the ways it was unsuccessful.
At 10 o'clock the new boat was started from her position in the south shop, and moved down the ways to a short distance outside the shops. There she stuck and would not bulge a great deal from her position, although the steamer Archer of Fall River tried to pull her off. The tide was fast falling, and it was deemed best to wait until tonight.
Isolde is the name of the new boat, and she is 65 feet over all, 45 feet water line, 12 feet beam, and about 10 feet draft. She is a handsome fin keel, and is expected to be the fastest of any fin keel yet put afloat.
She is already entered for a number of races across the ocean, and it is particularly intended to race her against a new 20-rater designed by Watson.
Her planking is double, the outside planks being of mahogany, which is highly polished, and shone in the sun as she lay hetween the piers today. The decks are of white pine. She has two bulkheads. The hatchways are of mahogany. She has sleeping accommodations for 12 persons. The fin is of tobin bronze, as is also the balance rudder. The bulb of lead at the bottom or the fin is several tons in weight and capable of sustaining the big amount of canvas which she will carry. She will be full sloop rigged.
Capt Nat Herreshoff was around the works today, and was as lively as ever, having full charge of putting over the 20-rater.
...
The spars for the 20-rater are on the wharf, and she will be rigged and given a trial trip in Bristol harbor by Capt Parker and mate Diaper, who are here for that purpose. She will be towed to New York and her fin unhung, and boat and fin shipped aboard an ocean steamer to Germany. [Note: A few weeks later, on June 29, 1895, #452s Defender also got stuck during her launching, due to a protruding bolt.]" (Source: Anon. "German 20-Rater Didn't Slide. Launch Postponed at Bristol --- Latest Gossip of the Herreshoff Works." Boston Globe, March 31, 1895, p. 15.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., April 8 [1895]. --- A successful trial of the twenty-rater Isolde, built by the Herreshoffs for Prince Leopold, of Germany, was had to-day under the personal supervision of Designer 'Nat' Herreshoff, who has sufficiently recovered to go sailing. Capt. Ben Parker, the yacht's skipper, and Mate 'Tom' Draper, who have waiting here for some days for the trials were on board, also Sailmaker Hathaway of the concern. The yacht was expected to make a trip yesterday, but the weather was too calm and foggy. She was ready last week, and was only waiting for good weather. It came to-day in a fresh southerly breeze, and every one was happy. The yacht's mainsail was hoisted about 9 o'clock, and the jib sent up in stops. Then, for the first time, it was seen that the cloths of the mainsail ran across the sail at right angles to the leach instead of up and down the sail, parallel with the leach, as is customary. A better fitting sail is believed to be the result. The style is the result of 'Nat' Herreshoffs experiments last Summer, with his 33-foot fin-keel Alerion, and he will give the cup defender a similar mainsail.
The boat is not over handsome to look at, as she has but very little sheer and an ugly bow, but she is undoubtedly fast. She is about the same waterline length as the forty-six-footer Wasp, but has a much smaller sail plan. Her main boom is about even with the taff-rail, and her bowsprit is only nine or ten feet out board. She has a short topmast.
Shortly before 11 o'clock the moorings were dropped, and under three lower sails the yacht stood across the harbor on the port tack, headed for Papoosesquaw [sic]. The stiff breeze brought her down to her bearings soon after she swung out from the buoy, but she carried her big canvas without any trouble. Occasionally she would ship some water, but this was to be expected. She ran out by Papoosesquaw Point, and showed that her work to windward was excellent.
Off the point she went about and demonstrated that she was quick in stays. She went on the starboard tack down back of Hog Island, where the wind increased. When about midway across the bay she went about again and stood over towards Prudence Island on the port tack. When near the island she was headed up the bay between the islands and came up almost free with the wind abeam. She ran into Bristol harbor and at 11:45 came into her moorings.
All who were on board during the trip were greatly pleased with the work of the boat, and there is every indication that the excellent record made for the Herreshoffs by the ten-rater Dakotah last season will be upheld by this boat. She will be given another trial trip before she is taken to New-York, to be shipped to Southampton, England, by one of the Atlantic liners. Her fin will be unshipped here, and, with spars, sails, &c, will be taken to New-York on the deck of the steamer Archer, while the hull of the boat will be towed behind.
Howard Gould's twenty-rater Niagara is a duplicate of the Isolde. She will be launched and given a trial within a fortnight. ..." (Source: Anon. "Isolde Sails Well. Trial Trip of the Herreshoff Twenty-Rater for Prince Leopold." New York Times, April 9, 1895, p. 10.)

"BRISTOL, R. I. April 11 [1895]. --- The twenty-rater | Isolde was apparently not much injured by going aground on her trial trip last Monday [April 8, 1895, for she had another trial to-day, and showed even better speed than before. She touched a shoal or rock near Lawler's pier, next to the Herreshoffs', in rounding up to her moorings after Monday's trial, but speedily swung off. It is not believed that her fin or its lead was much injured, but a careful examination will be made when it is unshipped for shipment to New-York.
To-day's trip was to try the Isolde's topsail, which was not set Monday. The wind was fresh from the northwest. Nat Herreshoff had the tiller during the trip, and the work of the boat pleased both him and Capt. Parker. The Isolde left her moorings a few minutes before 11 o'clock, with her mainsail, topsail, and forestaysail set. She had a small boat in tow, and soon after she headed across the harbor the jib was run up. The wind was abeam, but she had sheets off and stood up straight as she went by Castle Island beacon.
When between the island and Papoose Squaw her course was altered, and she was headed down the bay between Hog and Prudence Islands. Here she struck a good breeze and sped down the bay for some distance, and then stood in toward Providence. She went about when inshore, and came up along the Providence shore to windward. This was the first time on the trip that she had got down to her bearings, and with the stiff breeze that blew down Narragansett Bay she increased her speed and made the water fly as she went up the Providence shore toward the north end of the island. When near the north point up the bay she came about, and with a free wind, rounded Papoose Squaw Point and came into Bristol Harbor. She arrived at her moorings a few minutes before 12 o'clock, the trip occupying an hour." (Source: Anon. "Isolde's Second Sail. The Work of the New Yacht Pleases Nat Herreshoff." New York Times, April 12, 1895, p. 6.)

"Isolde Being Towed to This City. BRISTOL. R. I., April 17 [1895]. --- The steamer Archer of Fall River, Capt. Terry, left Bristol this forenoon with the twenty-rater Isolde for New-York, where the boat will be shipped on a steamer for Southampton, England. The spars, rigging, sails, fin, and bulb are aboard the steamer, and the hull was taken in tow. Capt. Ben Parker and Mate Draper, who are to sail the Isolde in the races the coming season, went with the boat. It is expected that it will arrive in New-York Thursday afternoon, and will be shipped Saturday. Upon arrival at Southampton the Isolde will be fitted up and will sail to Kiel. ... " (Source: Anon. "Isolde Being Towed to This City." New York Times, April 18, 1895, p. 6.)

"The twenty-rater Isolde, built by the Herreshoffs for Prince Leopold of Germany, arrived at the Hamburg-American Steamship Company's docks at Hoboken yesterday morning in tow of the steamer Archer. Everything was ready for her reception at the docks, and it was not long before she was hoisted out of the water and set in the cradle built for her on the deck of the steamship Russia. The boat was then firmly lashed to the deck and covered with canvas and tarpaulins.
The big spars, including the mast, boom, topmast, and spinnaker boom, were all carefully wrapped in canvas and lashed on the deck, and the smaller spars, the fin, bulb, sails, and rigging, were stowed away in the hold. The Russia will sail this morning for Hamburg, where the Isolde will be put in racing trim. Capt. 'Ben' Parker and Mate 'Tom' Draper, Jr., have taken passage on the Russia. They came across to take the yacht back.
The Isolde looks like a big canoe without her fin. Her dimensions are 65 feet over all, 45 feet on the water line. 12 feet beam, and 11 feet draught." (Source: Anon. "Isolde To Leave To-Day. Hoisted on the Deck of the Russia and Set in a Cradle." New York Times, April 20, 1895, p. 3.)

"The new 20-rater Isolde, built for Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern left the Herreshoff works, at Bristol, on April 18 [1895], in tow of the steamer Archer, on which were her fin, bulb, spars and sails. A small and roughly-made rudder of iron was fitted temporarily to steer by while in tow. On board the yacht were Captain Parker and Mate Diaper, the latter, by the way, no relative of Captain Tommy Diaper, though both hail from the Itchen. The tow reached New York on Friday morning, passing the Battery at about 7.30, and a little after the yacht was alongside the steamer Russia, of the Hamburg line, at her pier in Hoboken. The chocks were soon arranged on the after deck of the steamer, and two stout rope slings were passed under the yacht, and the light hull swung in air and dropped on to them after being safely landed, she was lashed fast to ring-bolts in the deck. The lead half-bulbs and fin were hoisted into the hold, and the spars were lashed on deck beside the hull.
The yacht is merely a big canoe, 15ft over all, 45 to 46ft. lwl the total overhang being divided into about 8ft forward and 18ft aft, beam 12ft., depth of hold about 5ft; total draft, 11ft. The sweep of the keel is naturally quite flat, bringing the lower part of the stem and the horn timber close to the water, but the end of the stem is snubbed in rather shortly into a blunt nose. The transom is curved, giving a better appearance than when sawed off straight, as in El Chico [#418s], Wenonah [#415s] and Dacotah [#440s]. The outer skin is of mahogany, with the usual oak gunwale of the Bristol boats; the planksheer is also of oak, the transom of mahogany, and the deck of a single thickness of white pine. The fin is built of Tobin bronze plates, and is double, each side made of several plates separated by liners; the sides come together at the lower edge, but at the top they are about 18in. apart, the upper ends of the plates being flanged to give a wide bearing on the hull. The Herreshoff form of balance rudder is used, of course with a tiller.
The space below, with about 5ft of headroom, is divided by two light bulkheads, there being a very long forecastle, a main saloon about 7ft long, and a long after cabin, including the whole run of the boat out to the transom. The forward part of this after cabin, just abreast of the companion ladder, is fitted with two low sofas, back of of which are folding canvas berths, similar sofas and berths being fitted in the main cabin. There are also, just abaft the ladder and under the deck, two wooden bunks. In the forecastle are four hammock cots. The w. c. occupies one corner of the forecastle, and opposite there is a pantry and naphtha stove.
On her trial trip, on April 7, as she came to her moorings off the works, she struck on a ledge of rocks, injuring one side of the lead bulb. She was hauled out on the new railway of the Herreshoff Company and the damage repaired." (Source: Anon. "Isolde and Niagara." Forest and Stream, April 27, 1895, p. 333.)

"... The London Field says: ... Great things are expected of Baron von Zedwitz's new twenty-rater Isolde, designed and built by Herreshoff, at Bristol, R. I. The vessel, which belongs to the fin-cum-bulb type, was launched in the beginning of April, and will, as soon as completed, be shipped to Germany on the deck of a steamer. ... " (Source: Anon. "Bits Of Yachting News." New York Times, May 7, 1895, p. 6.)

"Detailed one page description, including dimensions and approximate sheer plan and section." (Source: Anon. "Niagara and Isolde." Forest and Stream, May 11, 1895, p. 378.)

"... The Isolde [#450s], a sister boat to the Niagara [#451s], built by Herreshoff for Baron von Zedwitz, a wealthy German yachtsman, out of twenty starts in British waters managed to get over the finish line first only three times, and for the rest had to content herself with seven second prizes and one third. Her poor showing, in comparison with that of Niagara, built on identical lines and similarly constructed, merely indicates that German sailors have not yet had sufficient practice to enable them to sail boats as well as they are sailed by British sailors, who make a profession of yacht racing. ... " (Source: Anon. "Our Yachts Lead The World. This Year's Record Shows How They Won in All Classes. Beat Englishmen in England. Here Are Some American-Built Yachts Even More Remarkable For Speed Than Defender." New York World, November 17, 1895, p. 28.)

"... 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 Nordeutcher 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. ..." (Source: Anon. "Meteor on the Clyde." New York Times, July 6, 1896, p. 9.)

"The Meteor Crashes into the Isolde, Fairly Wrecking the Little Yacht --- Baron von Zedtwitz, the Owner, Thrown into the Water and Killed --- The Crew Knocked Overboard, but All Safely Rescued --- The Races Postponed.
LONDON, Aug. 18 [1896]. --- The races of the Royal Albert Regatta, at Southsea, were interrupted to-day by an accident, which caused the death of Baron von Zedtwitz, the owner of the twenty-rater Isolde, and endangered the lives of the Captain and crew of that vessel, all of whom were knocked overboard.
The large raters started at 10 o'clock this morning to sail over the forty-six-mile course sailed over yesterday, and the small raters started at 11 o'clock to sail over the same course, but only once round --- wenty-three miles --- the prizes being Pds50 and Pds25 for the big boats and Pds15 to the winner of the race for small raters. The starters in the big race were the Ailsa, Britannia, Meteor, and Satanita, and in the small rater race The Saint, Niagara, Samphire, Audrey, Penitent, and Isolde.
The big yachts had finished the first round of the course and were just starting the second, when suddenly the boats of both classes seemed to have become jammed together. The Isolde, which was sandwiched between two yachts of the larger class, received a severe blow from the Meteor, causing her mast to snap in two and fall overboard. The shock was a heavy one, causing the Isolde to careen, and as she did so all on board of her were spilled into the sea.
When the Meteor struck the small yacht there was a great crash, and blocks, fragments of the broken mast, and other parts of the Isolde were sent flying in every direction. As soon as the collision took place the other yachts stopped and put out boats to rescue the men struggling in the water. Baron von Zedtwitz, who was on board of his yacht, was struck on the head by a block or a piece of the broken mast, and knocked overboard. He was taken out of the water as soon as possible and conveyed on board a steam yacht to the clubhouse of Ryde. The Baron was unconscious when picked up. He received every possible medical attention at Ryde, but he did not regain consciousness and died soon after reaching the clubhouse.
A strong wind was blowing at the time of the accident kicking up a bad sea, and it was raining very hard. The Isolde was badly damaged and was towed to Portsmouth. The bowsprit of the Meteor swept her deck and carried away all of her gear.
Several members of the Isolde's crew were picked up in an exhausted condition.
The crew experienced some very narrow escapes, but fortunately all of them were rescued. A sailor belonging to the British gunboat Ant, which was lying at anchor near the scene of the collision, rescued one of the Isolde's men in a drowning condition. He could not have survived thirty seconds longer. The accident cast a gloom over everything, and the races were abandoned for the day.
Capt. Gomes, the skipper of the Meteor, ascribed the collision of the Meteor and the Isolde to the fact that the Britannia did not make way for the Meteor to pass the Isolde.
All of the clubhouses at Spithead and Ryde are flying flags at half-mast in consequence of the death of the Baron.
As a yachtsman, Baron von Zedtwitz was a good sportsman, and he was well liked in all of the English sporting centres. His wife, Baroness von Zedtwitz, was a daughter of the late Mr. Charles Roosevelt, of New-York.
To-morrow's yacht races and the fireworks, with which it was intended to signalize the ending of the Royal Albert Yacht Club Regatta at Southsea, have been postponed until after the funeral.
The Isolde is a twenty-rater yacht, constructed by the Herreshoffs at Bristol, R. I., in 1895, for Prince Leopold of Germany, who sold the boat to Baron von Zedtwitz.
The Meteor, which is owned by the German Emperor, is a steel cutter of 230 tons and was built in the Henderson yards on the Clyde, in the early part of this year.
Baron von Zedtwitz was thirty-eight years old. He was a personal friend of Emperor William, and it is remarked upon as strange and sad that he should have been killed in a collision with his Majesty's yacht. The Baron had been in the German diplomatic service, but he was little known publicly. It is stated that his wife and only child, an infant, are visiting in Switzerland." (Source: Anon. "Baron Zedtwitz Killed. Royal Albert Regatta Interrupted By a Fatal Accident." New York Times, August 19, 1896, frontpage.)

"Shrouded with dingy tarpaulins, that almost conceal her lines from the inquisitive, Isolde, Daniel Bacon's imported yacht, lies in her stocks at the foot of West Houston Street. After more than six years' absence from her native land she is home again for keeps, and in a few days' time will be taken to one of the yards, where her fin keel will be attached, and after a general overhauling Mr. Bacon will put her in commission under the flag of the Seawanhaka-Corinthian Yacht Club, and sail her in all the races open to her class. It will take about two weeks' time to refit her.
Early yesterday morning one of the wrecking company's boats went alongside the steamer Manitou, upon whose deck Isolde was brought over, and in a short time had the yacht high and dry on the street. Isolde lay on Manitou's deck blocked up in an immense crate, in which she made the voyage.
Isolde, which was recently purchased by Mr. Bacon from the Baroness von Zedtwitz, was built by the Herreshoffs, at Bristol, in 1895, for Prince Leopold of Belgium, who afterward sold her to Baron von Zedtwitz, at that time a close friend of Emperor William of Germany.
By a strange coincidence, Emperor William was the indirect cause of his friend's death, by his 236-ton yacht Meteor colliding with Isolde in the second day's racing of the Royal Albert Regatta at Southsea, England, on Aug. 18, 1893.
... Since the accident Isolde has been laid up at Southampton, and recently the Baroness thought of putting her into commission once more. So the boat was thoroughly overhauled, a new suit of sails ordered from Ratsey, who supplied Shamrock II., and in all a considerable sum of money was expended on the craft. Then as the time drew near to use the craft, old associations proved too strong for the Baroness, and the yacht was offered for sale, and bought by Mr. Bacon's agent." (Source: Anon. "Cutter Isolde Set Ashore. Yacht Which Cost Baron von Zedtwitz His Life Lifted from Manitou's Deck Yesterday." New York Times, June 12, 1901, p. 7.)

"The season in New York waters is now so well advanced that all of the new boats have sailed races enough to give a good idea of their speed as compared to the older boats, and in most cases the new productions are proving well able to come home as winners in the majority of the races. ... [No mention of #450s Isolde. But:]
In the so-called imported class the English-built cutters Hester, Isolde, and Eelin have met several times and shown what fine able ships they are, even if they have not the speed of the American-built craft. [Were two Isolde's imported to America in 1901? But note that the 1902 Lloyds Register of American Yachts reported #450s Isolde to be in America (and having not raced).] " (Source: Anon. "In New York Waters." Rudder, August 1901, p. 326-330.)

"...When Isolde was put up to auction in London some years ago, a gentleman who had seen that a sailing yacht of some 30 tons was to be sold, and who had a general idea that a 30-ton cutter would be a nice cruising yacht for his requirements, purchased her. In the best of spirits he set out to view his purchase as she lay, dismantled and perched up on her stilts. That gentleman never cruised in Isolde, and is always willing to tell the anxious inquirer that a 30-ton yacht is an insufficient specification. ..." (Source: Anon ('M.I.N.A.'). "The Fifty-Two Foot Class in 1905. ... Sonya." The Yachtsman (U.K.), September 7, 1905, p. 158-159.)

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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:] Penciled note comparing scantlings of #440s DAKOTAH and #450s ISOLDE. Undated, ISOLDE was designed and built in the winter of 1893 / 1894." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Penciled Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04380. Folder [no #]. No date (1893 / 1894 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'Model for 20 rater. Sept 14 [18]94. 45[ft] w.l. 3.375in spaces on 3/4in scale. #450 [ISOLDE] [and, quite certainly, also #451s NIAGARA]. (End Oct 14)'. With very elaborate calculations to determine moments and stability, surface areas (separate for deck and rest of boat), and displacement (549.2cuft = 35500lbs = 17.7tons)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_00550. Folder [no #]. 1894-09-14.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections and calculations titled 'Lead #450 & 451' [ISOLDE and #451 NIAGARA]. Undated, model had been carved September 14, 1894." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_00570. Folder [no #]. No date (1894-09-14 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of annotated displacement curves, untitled. Some of the annotations from the first set read 'Above lead 89ft w.l.', '89ft w.l. keel total', '89ft w.l. Body part', 'Lead #450 [ISOLDE]', and '#450'. Some of the annotations from the second set read '90ft (body)', '34.3[ft] w.l. made Dec[ember] [18]93', '#450', '# 339 [???]', '#412 [DILEMMA]', '#440 [DAKOTAH]', and 'Torpedo boat'. Undated (the latest boat mentioned, ISOLDE, was contracted for November 12, 1894)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Displacement Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09540. Folder [no #]. No date (1894-11 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled material requirements list titled '#450 & 451 [#450s ISOLDE and #451s NIAGARA]' with sail sizes in sqft, cloth weights in oz and cloth required for 2 sails each in yards for mainsail, club topsail, working topsail, staysail, baloon staysail, jib, no 2 jib, jib topsail, no 2 jib topsail, bloon jib topsais, spinnaker, and trysail. On verso more unidentified calculations. Undated; the two boats were designed in November and December of 1894." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04200. Folder [no #]. No date (1894-12 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled technical sketch of a large windlass titled 'Not used for #450, 451' [#450s ISOLDE and #451s NIAGARA]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE11_02190. Folder [no #]. No date (1894-12 ?).)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] would like to make photos of #450s ISOLDE and #451s NIAGARA for the New York Times; was in Bristol with Com. Converse during building of #152p CUSHING" (Source: Child, Frank H. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_02700. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 231. 1895-04-10.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'The Nichols Chemical Company, Laurel Hill Works' stationery:]
My dear bro. John,
Your letter with check for $75 was rec[eive]d. I inclosed you the analyses of alloys you gave me when in Bristol.
From the reputation and high sounding name of the alloy 'Manganese Bronze' one would infer from this that its composition was mainly copper and manganese, but we find not manganese in it. It is mainly the composition of Muntz Metal, but having Iron 1.33%, Aluminum 0.398% and Tin 0.41%.
The aluminum Bronze is light[?] in Copper 7.94% that I thought it would be it, it is a splendid metal and you will notice about 7% lighter in weight than Manganese or Tobin bronze. With its tensile strain of 100 000 to 75 000 of the Manganese Bronze you will see you could reduce from [p. 2] the manganese when using Aluminum Bronze easily 15% in thickness and add to this the gain of 7% lower weight shown by Specific Gravity, and you have a gain in weight of say 21% when both are practically of same strength. This refers to their use as plating. I am sorry you could not have obtained Aluminum Bronze. The aluminum with copper is higher in Copper 5.78% than I suppose, but it is away ahead of any other substance above water and may be under water if plates are well painted. Steel corrodes under water and must be painted. Who has shown than aluminum treated in the same way will not work. I am glad to learn the Cup defender [#452s] is progressing rapidly and that the ISOLDE's [#450s] trial was a marked success. I hope Nat is gaining constantly in strength.
Your affect[ionate] bro. [Francis]" (Source: Herreshoff, John Brown Francis (Nichols Chemical Co.). Letter to Herreshoff, J.B. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02190. Folder [no #]. 1895-04-10.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table listing w.l., Displacement in lbs and cuft, cube-root of displacement in cuft, w.l. divided by cube-root of displacement in cuft, % of displacement in keel & rudder and sqrt(SA) / cube-root(Disp in cuft) for #463s [Newport 30] class, #412s DILEMMA, #440s DAKOTAH, #446s ALERION, #450s NIAGARA and #453s VAQUERO II. On verso rating and design-related notes and calculations titled '[Newport] 30ft class'. Undated; the Newport 30 class was designed in December 1895 and January 1896." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04230. Folder [no #]. No date (1895 or later).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Here I have some facts and news that I think will be of special interest to you.
In Southampton I got the particulars of the German Emperor's METEOR, possible challenger for the America's Cup in '97.
Length L.Y.L. 88.95 ft
Beam 24.28 ft
Draught 18.10 ft
S.A. (Y.R.A.) 12340 sqft
Here in Havre, I visited the Normand yard, where I saw M. N. in person speaking with him about various questions relating to the water pressure and resistance of ships.
He seemed to take quite an interest in me, showing me all over the yard and giving me at my departure a copy of his last paper entitled 'Le Probleme de la Vitesse,' or The Problem of Speed, and read at the last session of the French Association of Naval Architects.
From this paper I quote the following particulars of the FORBAN, his most famous boat. ...
I don't know her dimensions but that L/B = 9 1/4 about FORBAN is therefore a rather broad torpedo boat.
The 20-Rater ISOLDE [#450s] did splendidly in the Kiel Races this year, not only beating her own classmates hollow, but actually outsailing the big 40-Raters LAIS, VARUNA, MUECKE, in a strong breeze, coming home close to METEOR and THISTLE.
The Germans seemed quite stupefied over such never before heard of performance.
Kindly please give my thanks to Mr. Young for returning my letter.
Please remember me to Mr. H. B. Herreshoff and others.
If you some time would write me a few lines about the boats etc., you would very much oblige ..." (Source: Liljegren, Charles O. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_33990. Subject Files, Folder 41, formerly 28-30. 1896-07-08.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #450s Isolde even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Isolde (HMCo-made index card)
• Isolde (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: Iroldi [sic, i.e. Isolde]
Type: Cutter
Length: 45'
Owner: Von Zedwitz

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

• Isolde
• Isolde
• Sylvia ex-Isolde
• 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: Isolde
Type: 45' fin keel cutter
Owner: Baron von Zedwitz
Row No.: 309

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: 12
Year: 1894
E/P/S: S
No.: 0450
Name: Isolde
LW: 45'
B: 12'
D: 10' 8"
Rig: Cutter
K: FK
Ballast: Lead
Amount: $12500.00
Last Name: Von Zedwitz

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 Germany." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"The Rudder of August 1901, p. 325 shows a photo by James Burton, N.Y. titled 'Isolde' which may well be #450s Isolde, although this cannot be confirmed and the private signal on the photo does not appear to be that of Daniel Bacon, then owner of Isolde." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 15, 2021.)

"Built in 138 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $91/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

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