HMCo #453s Vaquero II

"[1896-10-01] Thu 1: Hauled out 30-footers Puck [#465s], Vaquero [#444s] & Vaquero II [#453s]. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1896. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"#453
Frame spaces ?
In making moulds use ordinary rule for depths, with sheer raised 1 1/2". Breadth by 15" rule.
Allow for timbers 1 1/16 at head, tapering for 3" 9" to 1 5/8", then parallel sided 7/8"
Allow for planking 5/8" [crossed out] (or 9/16"? [question mark crossed out]), 1/4" prine[sp?] 5/16 making [?]
Keel 1 3/8"
Floor 2" deep sided 1 3/8"." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.090.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"... because lately there has been rather a revival of interest in fin keelers I will say something about one of the last of Captain Nat's boats of this type. She was 'Vaquero II,' built for Herman P. Duryea, one of our best amateur helmsmen in the eighteen-nineties, who took her to England and raced with fair success. 'Vaquero II' was built in 1895, was thirty-nine feet O.A., twenty-six W.L. In some ways she would appear very modern with her small sail area and forestay inboard. Mr. Duryea thought a lot of this 'Vaquero' and after her return from abroad she was stored at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company for about a quarter of a century." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "N. G. Herreshoff and Some of the Yachts He Designed." Rudder, April 1950, p. 30. Also in: 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. 197.)

"The 2 1/2 rater Vaquero, built for H. B. Duryea of New York, was launched at high water yesterday [June 6, 1895] morning from the Herreshoff works. She was rigged and given a trial trip in the harbor in the afternoon, Capt. Nat Herreshoff at the tiller. She showed good speed, and will race In English waters this season." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, June 7, 1895, p. 2.)

"Providence, R. I., June 7 [1895] --- The new two and a half rater Vanquero [sic, i.e. Vaquero], which was built for Herman Duryea of the New York Yacht club, was launched from Herreshoff's yard at Bristol yesterday [June 6, 1895] and was subsequently given a trial trip in which she behaved well. Vanqeoro resembles the 21 footers of last year, only she is larger. Her principal dimensions are 36 foot over all, 25 feet water line, 7 feet draught and 7 feet 4 inches beam. Vanquero will have a number of other trial spins and then will be shipped to Europe to be pitted against a Watson rater of the same class. She is nearly a reproduction of the boat of the same name [#444s Vaquero I] built for Mr. Duryea by the Herreshoffs a year ago. The hull is of mahogany and the roomy cockpit is of hard wood. Attached to the hull is a new type of fin of tobin bronze having a lead bulb of about 3.800 pounds weight fastened to its under side. The yacht will carry a mainsail and stay sail, the cloths running from the luff to the leach the same as on the Niagara [#451s] and Isolde [#450s]. The great speed shown in the trial spin encourages the builders to believe that she will give a better account of herself than has Niagara thus far. With the Vaquero, Niagara, Isolde and Dakotah [#440s] in European waters there will be quite a representative Herreshoff fleet participating in the English and continental races." (Source: Anon. "Vaquero Second Launched. Her Trial Trip Was Satisfactory. To Go to Europe." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 7, 1895, p. 11.)

"Bristol, June 8, [1895] --- ... The two and one-half-rater Vaquero, for Herman B. Duryea of New-York for use at Southampton, has been showing up well in her trials. She was started for New-York to-day in tow of the steamer yacht Viva [ex-Gov. Hamilton #102p]. John B. Herreshoff and his wife were passengers on the Viva. ..." (Source: Anon. "Peep at the Defender." New York Times, June 9, 1895, p. 6.)

"The Vaquero, two and a-half rater, is an American boat designed by Mr. Herreshoff, and was a distinguished racer in the Solent and neighbourhood under the old rating rule in the sailing-matches of 1895. It will be observed that this boat has a gaff main-sail, the chief peculiarity of which, as also of the fore-sail, is that both sails are made with the seams crosswise (an American style); the object being, probably, to ensure their standing flatter than if made the usual way; but it is very doubtful if any satisfactory advantage is thereby gained. [Judging from the accompanying photo this is a reference to Vaquero II.]" (Source: Folkard, Henry Coleman. The Sailing Boat. Sixth ed. London, 1906, p. 198.)

"... The season of 1892 will also be remembered by the success of the little Herreshoff boat, 'Wee Winn,' in the 1-rating class. ...
Although 'Gareth' [designed by Nicholson in 1892] was the best boat of the year [1893 in the 2 1/2-rater class], 'Meneen' [#438s] a Herreshoff production, made a great name as a light weather flier, and created quite as much sensation as did the Herreshoff 1-rater 'Wee Winn,' [#425s] in the previous season.
On the Clyde an interesting class of 2-raters continued in fashion, but 'Wenonah' [#415s] the American crack, still held the sway.
The Herreshoff boats about this period played an important part in British waters, for Miss Sutton's 'Morwena' [#431s] more than held her own against the Solent fleet of 1-raters, of which the Payne-designed 'Sacharissa,' and the Sibbick-designed 'Tartar' were the most conspicuous. The little American fliers were very light displacement craft, and their success to a great extent precipitated the introduction of the 'pram' bow in our waters, as this was a prominent feature in all the Herreshoff designs. ...
In [1894 in] the 2 1/2- and 1-rating classes it is curious to note that British designers, having made a study of light displacement craft, turned out some boats that could completely outsail the representatives from Mr. Herreshoff's board, 'Vaquero' [#453s] 2 1/2-rater. and 'Lagopa,' [#454s] 1-rater, that were shipped across the Atlantic to compete in Solent waters. The Sibbick 2 1/2-rater 'Lorette,' which, as an all-round performer, was about on a par with 'Gareth,' and Mr. Nicholson's 1895 production [p. 415] 'Corolla,' met 'Vaquero,' the Herreshoff boat, five times, defeated her on four occasions, and was some distance ahead when she took the ground during the fifth match. ..." (Source: Henry Charles Howard Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire (ed.). The Encyclopaedia of Sport & Games - Volume 4. London, 1911, p. 414-415.)

"[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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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Lead for #453 [VAQUERO II]. Scale 1in per ft. W[ei]g[h]t 2750[lbs]. Pattern to be made with shrink rule 3/8 per ft. to bring w[ei]g[h]t up to 2890[lbs]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_00550. Folder [no #]. 1895.)
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"[Item Description:] I enclose two books, one of photographs of the various boats, the other describing #453s VAQUERO's races, also send two photos of boat herself, re boat classes next year what are proper limits of a class like the 2 1/2 raters incl price if five or more boats were built?, personally would prefer boat of five rater size, am awfully sorry about final result of [America's Cup] races and wish the Committee had used a little more tact, Dunraven, little diplomacy would have saved the issue" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18920. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1895-09-15.)
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"[Item Description:] photos of #453s VAQUERO II, COROLLA, thank you for data on small boat class [which apparently will be the NP30 class], will do my best to get a class together for next summer, personally would prefer the 30-footers [NP30], afraid of ordering early and then be confronted with even faster boat, could we not arrange for all boats built on same moulds to ensure close racing, Duncan, Ellis, Whitney, Gould, Morgan and myself are interested, I also want to buy, build, or hire a small steamer about 65ft waterline" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18950. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1895-09-22.)
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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 Description:] received your sailplan which I think as pretty as it could be, also the sheer plan of the boats [NP30], am convinced that the type & size are about as near perfection, wish you would make me two extra gaffs [for #468s VAQUERO III] as I had trouble with them in England [on #453s VAQUERO II], please make one 1/2in more in diameter and the second one 1in more, please send dimensions and price of tenders you speak of, please send bill for second deposit [for #468s VAQUERO III]" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19030. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1896-01-14.)
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"[Item Description:] am awfully disappointed not having a new boat to work on, shall have to work on the old one [#453s VAQUERO II], everybody wants to find out who your new 46 [footer is for], have you any new canvas about the weight of #466s DOROTHY's last sail?, I must have a new suit to fool with and wish you would build me what you think would go best, Ralph Ellis visited Ratsey, it makes me disgusted now, when I think of the sport we might have had if the new class had gone through, would like to get #453s VAQUERO II out and try her with your new thirty [NP30]" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19010. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1896-03-16.)
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"[Item Description:] can you make me a little winch to put on the deck aft for the mainsheet [for #468s VAQUERO III]?, boats seem to give universal satisfaction, Duncan tells me he beat the #464s MAI boat for boat with #453s VAQUERO II in a strong breeze to windward but it seems to me there must have been something wrong, not sure if roach on the head of mainsail is right" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19130. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1896-06-08.)
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"[Item Description:] I send you some photographs of the 30 footers [NP30s], the sails are interesting to me, especially the jib on #468s VAQUERO III that Ratsey sent me, I had one with low clew on #453s VAQUERO II in England, have made up my mind your jibs are better although they certainly don't look it, even if you can't get Mr. Morgan's boat [#465s PUCK], I would like you to come down & try all the sails, [Havemeyer's Half-Rater for the 1896 Seawanhaka Cup] IDEAL is not a good boat, was much disappointed in your little boat [#472s GNOME], undated but penciled NGH note 'ans[wered] July 9'" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19090. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-07-08 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] you said #468s VAQUERO III's fin was badly sprung and bent, can it be straightened, I wish somebody would build a COCK ROBIN to fit in the class but don't want to do it myself, am going to build another boat next fall to race in England, how long would it take to build boat and could I trade with your firm the two boats I have now at your place [#453s VAQUERO II and #468s VAQUERO III], I could race VAQUERO III in the spring races and try the other in Newport, times are as hard, I can't build this year, anyway I want VAQUERO III put in best possible shape for coming season, I think also it would be best to cover her deck with canvas" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19290. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1897-04-02.)
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"[Item Description:] I hope I may be able to sell the boats [#453s VAQUERO II and #468s VAQUERO III], please put VAQUERO III in perfect shape, fin straightened, top sides scraped and varnished, please make rudder stiffer, if you think deck is better with canvas please do so, make extra gaff" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19310. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1897-05-03.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook. This booklet had two lives: In 1907-1908, 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 it was used for winter storage records, listing name of boat, owner, storage location, billed amount, and dates of storage. Listed were for the winter of 1907/1908: #235p MIST, ORIANA, #571s LARIKIN, EAGLET, #453s VAQUERO II, #580s TRIVIA, #663s ISTALENA, COSSACK, #666s AVENGER, #220p ATALA (for sale), #207p MIRAGE, #224p EUGENIA, #146p AUGUSTA, #247p SEA URCHIN, #105p COSETTE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA, #481s SPALPEEN, DUCHESS, #669s ELEANOR, #460s KILDEE, #647s CAPRICE, #408s PELICAN, #243p SWIFTSURE, #617s COCK ROBIN, #177p VANISH, #446s ALERION, and #591s IROLITA I, for the winter of 1908/1909: #666s AVENGER, #663s ISTALENA, #481s SPALPEEN, #580s TRIVIA, #617s COCK ROBIN, COSSACK, #177p VANISH, #242p #242, #243p SWIFTSURE, SKIP, #446s ALERION, CHEWINK II, DUCHESS, #571s LARIKIN, #460s KILDEE, #679s PEPITA, EAGLET, #408s PELICAN, #453s VAQUERO, #146p AUGUSTA, #224p EUGENIA, COYOTE, #264p SARAH WEBB, #207p MIRAGE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA I, CASSANDRA 27ft Launch, and #263p CASSANDRA 34ft Launch, and for the winter of 1909/1910: #252p WANECHE (no further boats were listed). At some later time, the same book was turned upside down and inscribed with a new title in ink '200Ft Submarine Destroyer [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser]. Data + Calculation Book. Herreshoff Mfg Co.' on its now-new front cover (formerly its back cover), followed by weight data estimates and calculations for this submarine destroyer." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.087. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Submarine Destroyer 200-Footer. 1907-1908, 1908-1909, 1909-1910, 1918-06.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #453s Vaquero II even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Vaquero II (HMCo-made index card)
• Vaquero II (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: Vaquero II
Type: Cutter
Length: 26'
Owner: Duryea, H. B.

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

Month: Apr
Day: 6
Year: 1895
E/P/S: S
No.: 0453
Name: Vaquero II
LW: 26'
B: 7' 8"
D: 6' 8"
Rig: Cutter
K: FK
Ballast: Lead
Notes Constr. Record: 1-rater; new moulds reduced from 453?
Last Name: Duryea
First Name: H. B.

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

"Built in 61 days (contract to launch; equivalent to 106 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Displacement 6480lbs = 101cuft from untitled rating-rule-related table penciled by N. G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDE03_04230, Folder [no #]. Undated (1895 or later)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 25, 2021.)

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