HMCo #465s Puck

"[1896-06-01] Mon 1: Mr. [E.D.] Morgan here [apparently to inspect #465s Puck]
[1896-06-23] Tue 23: ... Launched #465 (Puck).
[1896-06-28] Sun 28: Went to Newport in Puck [#465s] & towed Sally [#462s Half-rater].
[1896-07-18] Sat 18: ... Went to see race of 30-footers in Alerion [#446s].
[1896-08-15] Sat 15: Race of 30-footers at Van Wickles.
[1896-08-22] Sat 22: Race of [Newport] 30-footers at Potters Cove. ...
[1896-09-07] Mon 7: Scrub race of [Newport] 30-footers in harbor; Vaquero [#468s] best.
[1896-09-08] Tue 8: Race of 30-footers in harbor; Asahi [#463s] best.
[1896-09-23] Wed 23: Hauled out Augusta [#146p?]. Mr. & Mrs. Morgan here & left Puck [#465s].
[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.)

"... Newport 30 [Name], 463+ [Building Number], 30.3 [Rating], 29.6 [Waterline], 28.7 [L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule], 7.8 [B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule], 7.2 [d = draft of water as for Universal Rule], 165 [D = displacement in cubic foot as for Universal Rule (= 10,528 lbs or 4.7 long tons)], 1017.5 [Sail Area], 1500 [Sail limit Present rule], -482.5 [Diff.], 1015 [Sail limit Proposed rule], 2.5 [Diff.], [Notes] ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

"Coconut Grove, Fla. N. G. Herreshoff Bristol, R. I. May 7, 1928. {1928/05/07} Dear Francis, ... The Newport 30 footers (fin keels.) had over 1000 (square)' sail, on hulls near 40' x 7'. As I recollect their hulls weighed 2000 lbs. They were raced very hard for about 10 years and many were around after 25 years." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 4: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"Nathanael G. Herreshoff Coconut Grove Miami, Florida Nov 23, 1930. {1930/11/23} Dear Francis, ... In the old days of the Newport 30', there was very keen racing by [p4] class of men of intelligence and fine sporting abilities. They very soon found that no reefs were wanted, for the fellow that carried all sail in a 2 or 3 reef breeze w'ld be sure to win. Those boats were with plate & bulb keels, and of course of quite moderate displacment, and had a sail area of 1050 sqft. After getting into intense racing, it was soon discovered, new sails just put on would win. This made great business for our sail-loft. It was also found that heavy canvass always beat the lighter standard weights, so from 9 oz duck they went up #9 and I think #8 = 13 oz. and that in those light weight craft! The races were all in afternoons, after the sea-breeze had struck in, so only very few races were in light airs. They found it paid to carry double head stays and halyards, - for regular and baloon jibs. ... Your affect - Father." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 6: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"Nathanael G. Herreshoff Coconut Grove Miami, Florida Dec 7 - 1930. {1930/12/07} Dear Francis, ... Refering to your letter of Nov. 26. {1930/11/26} about the Newport 30s sails [p2] I think the original were of 9 oz. duck - and they were much lower, or less distance between boom and gaff than are the R class boats boom to mast and to compare, the R sails should be at least 10 oz or #9. One puzzling thing was, - the new sails, wrinkled and not smoothed out did not prevent them winning. ... Your affect - Father." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 6: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"Coconut Grove, Fla - March 26 1931 {1931/03/26} Dear Francis ... I think the Newport 30s got thru their racing before the N.Y.Y.C 30s were built. I cannot recollect of their sailing togather. My impression is the Newports' might have been a little faster to windward & reaching in moderate to fresh breezes, and possibly in strong winds, for they soon found reefed boats were beaten by those with all sail, even in 2 or 3 reef breezes. In drifting airs & down wind the plate & bulb Keelers never appeared to be very fast. I have not their dimensions with me, but as well as I can recollect, they were 42' oa. 30' w.l. 7' beam. Wgt of hull about 1800. Keel 5000. Rig & equip 900 and about 136 cuft displ.. ... [p2] The Newports had about 1000 sqft sail and the N.Y.Y.Cs 1085. The racing of the Newports was very keen and sporty. It was a remarkable sight to see 12 or 15 around the starting line, after the owners got used to them, - They w'ld get bunched up very close and weave in & out with seldom a foul. Having short plate keels and balanced rudders that w'ld swing to athwartships they w'ld turn in a very small space. $1000. does seem big price for the Development boats. But it appears to be so on all classes of boats soon as there is competition. The wealthy ones will pay most any price to win. ... Your affect - Father." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 7: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"Then the notable Newport Thirty Foot Class of fin keels was built this year and many others. The next year (1897), there were several built for this class and for the Buzzards Bay Twenty-One Foot Centerboard Class." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Some of the Boats I Have Sailed In." Written 1934. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 68.)

"Perhaps the most notable of the late fin keelers were the so-called Newport one-design Thirties. They came out in 1896 and were forty-two feet O.A., twenty-nine feet six inches W.L., eight feet four inches beam, and seven feet one inch draft. They cost $2,850 complete, including one suit of sails and this was considered expensive then, but it is doubtful if any builder could duplicate one of them today for $25,000. They were beautifully built, double planked with mahogany over cedar, and each frame was steamed over a separate mold so that many consider them the first really one-design class with perhaps little or no variation in their speeds, weights, or dimensions. ... It was in the Newport Thirties that some of our best sailors, both amateur and professional, got their training, and some of both afterward graduated into the New York Yacht Club Seventy-foot Class." (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. 197-198.)

"While the Newport Thirties raced some on the Sound, and occasionally in the ocean, most of their racing was in Narragan-sett Bay near Newport where there are many ledges and islands, together with some flow of tide, so that to a great extent working the tides by tacking close inshore was necessary. While this no doubt added much to the excitement of the racing, the Thirties often struck bottom very hard, but their hulls were so light and scientifically built with the weight mostly in the lead that the concussion was absorbed in the denting of the lead at the bottom of their fins.
The Thirties could turn very quickly and were wonderful boats to maneuver so they could approach dangers more closely, and sail in closer formation, than most any other class of yachts either before or since." (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. 199.)

"... perhaps Captain Nat's fin keelers of the eighteen-nineties were the quickest turning of any sail boats that had moderate displacement. The reasons for this were that they had short keels nearly amidships, together with very rounding sections forward and aft, and because they had good-sized balanced rudders which could be put hard over instantly with little effort." (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. 200.)

"A carload of spars for the Herreshoff company, arrived here Saturday [December 7, 1895] morning from the Boston Spar Company. They will be used for the 30-footers to be built at the shops and were selected by Charles F. Herreshoff last week." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, December 10, 1895, p. 2.)

"Capt. Nat Herreshoff says the reports printed in the Providence papers from Bristol correspondents that the 30-footers are to be raced in the harbor, thereby bringing a large number of prominent yachtsmen here, is all nonsense. The new boats are being taken away as fast as their owners call for them. Some of them have already gone and the others will be launched and turned over to their owners whenever orders are received to do so.
The 30-footers built at Herreshoffs are exactly alike, and each one has been given a number, known only to the builders. Each owner of a boat has drawn a number, and when his number is presented, the boat bearing the corresponding number is turned over to him. None of the men sent here to take away any of the 30-footers know just which one is theirs until it is pointed out to them." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Bristol Phoenix, May 12, 1896, p. 1.)

"... Special 30-Foot Class
No Time Allowance
Racing Number
W 1 Vaquero III [#468s]
W 2 Wawa [#469s]
W 3 Musme [#467s]
W 4 Departure [sic, designed by William Gardner]
W 5 Hera [#471s]
W 6 Mai [#464s]
W 7 Asahi [#463s]
W 8 Esperanza [#475s]
W 9 Carolina [#476s]
W 10 Argonaut [designed by H.C. Wintringham]
W 12 Dorothy II [#466s]
W 14 Racoon [#477s] . ..." (Source: Larchmont Yacht Club. "Seventeenth Annual Regatta. July Fourth. 1896." (Booklet with Race Instructions, Sail Numbers, etc.) Larchmont, 1896.)

"THE thirty-foot class sprung suddenly into existence at the opening of this season as the result of a well-directed plan conceived by certain members of the Larchmont Yacht Club to develop competitions between one-design yachts; to eliminate as far as possible the factor of boat differences and to excite emulation among helmsmen competing on equal terms. ...
These boats are simply large, decked canoes, without bulkheads, open from end to end, with no interior fittings save a couple of seats. There is not sufficient head-room to stand erect. One would never stay in such a cabin except to keep out of the wet. But in these boats the skipper is never out of the wet when the win blows. It is safe to say that they are about the wettest boats afloat. To windward or to leeward, in a sea, the wash from under the bows breaks over both decks; the back-stays plowing through the sea send a shower of spray into the cockpit and over the unhappy helmsman. One who has served successfully as the skipper of one of these boats has admitted that at times he has scarcely been able to see the cabin-house, eight feet ahead of him, through the drenching sheet of spray. In view of these facts, the cordial suggestion of the rules that 'a lady, however, may also be carried' is very comforting.
Added to these drawbacks the Herreshoff thirties --- I know some of them and believe all of them --- were turned out with a lee helm. Every sailor-man knows what a source of annoyance this condition affords. It is decidedly unpleasant for one to drop his tiller for a moment in an emergency, and have his boat fly off the wind and jibe on its own account. Old-fashioned writers used to say that this would be all wrong and positively dangerous; that such a boat was out of trim, or her centers incorrectly figured. The Herreshoff boats which have entered the races in Long Island Sound and their owners are as follows: Asahi [#463s], Bayard Thayer; Mai [#464s], O. G. Jennings; Musme [#467s], J. M. Macdonough; Hera [#471s], Ralph N. Ellis; Esperansa [#475s], A. S. Van Wickle; Carolina [#476s], Pembroke Jones; Wawa [#469s], James Stillman; Vaquero III [#468s], Herman B. Duryea; Raccoon [#477s], Th. R. Hostetter, and Dorothy II [#466s], H. P. Whitney. ... The Herreshoff boats, which constitute a majority of the class, are of a type which would anywhere attract notice. It cannot be claimed that they are beautiful boats, though their mahogany top sides and clean, natural-wood decks give them an up-to-date appearance. ..." (Source: Burchard, R. B. "The Thirty-Foot Class." Outing, September 1896, p. 412-419.)

"Edwin D. Morgan's 30-footer Puck was brought up from Newport Tuesday [August 19, 1898]. The Puck is to be laid up until next season at Herreshoff's." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, August 19, 1898, p. 2.)

"The thirty-footer Puck, owned by Commodore E. D. Morgan, is hauled out on the north pier at Herreshoffs'. The Puck has lately been painted a light green-color; and the painters are engaged in putting a white band around her topsides." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, August 25, 1899, p. 2.)

"BRISTOL, R.I. Aug. 5 [1900]. --- ... The thirty-footer Puck, the boat raced in the one-design class for years by E. D. Morgan, is being overhauled to be soon placed in commission. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht News of Bristol." New York Times, August 6, 1900, p. 3.)

"The 30 footer Puck, owned by Ex-Commodore Edwin D. Morgan, manager of the Colombia, has been hauled oat at the Walker's Cove yards for the winter." (Source: Anon. "Yachting." Bristol Phoenix, September 13, 1901, p. 3.)

"The 'Newport thirties' mentioned under one-design classes, were originally started as a restricted class, but the Herreshoff boats which were all alike proved so much superior to the others that the latter soon dropped out and it became to all intents and purposes simply a one-design class; the same thing applies to the 'Larchmont twenty-ones,' originally a very large class built a few years before the thirties, and four Herreshoff members of which are still racing, but for about the last ten years as one-design boats." (Source: Hoyt, C. Sherman. "The Professional and the Amateur in Yacht Racing." Outing Magazine, September 1907, p. 755.)

"NEWPORT. R. I., June 4 [1909]. --- For three seasons the Newport fleet of thirty-footers has been resting in the Newport shipyard. To-night William G. Roelker, Jr.. appealed to the owners to bring the boats out this Summer and resume the sport, in which a number of the women of the Summer colony have taken active part, including Mrs. Royal Phelps Carroll, Mrs. Elsie French Vanderbilt, who owns the Caprice [NY30 #647s ex Anemone II], and Mrs. John R. Drexel, whose husband owns the Raccoon [#477s].
Col. C. L. F. Robinson is ready to bring out the Wawa [#469s], owned by Reginald Brooks. Pembroke Jones, owner of the Carolina [#476s], the largest winner of the fleet, and the Breeze [#???s], owned by Mr. Roelker, will be brought out if the others are put in commission. Mrs. Vanderbilt will be home from Europe in July, and may order her boat to be fitted out. H. Havemeyer, Jr., is soon to arrive, and his Esperanza [#475s]would be a welcome addition to the fleet.
There are at the Newport shipyard Vaquero III [#468s], owned by Payne Whitney; Barbara [#???s], owned by Winthrop Rutherford; Puck [#465s], belonging to E. D. Morgan, and Eleanor [#463s ex Asahi], owned by Joseph E. Widener. As matters stand now, there will be a concerted attempt to revive thirty-root racing in Newport waters this season." (Source: Anon. "Yachting At Newport. W. G. Roelker, Jr., Starts Effort to Bring Out Thirty-Footers for Racing." New York Times, June 5, 1909, p. 7.)

"NEWPORT, R. I., Aug. 14 [1909]. --- The first race of the thirties of the Newport fleet was held between the Carolina, Esperanza, Puck, and Racoon, starting from Bretons Cove to a bouy off Coddington Cove, Jamestown, and thence to the starting point, a distance of twelve miles.
Pembroke Jones, Jr., sailed his father's Carolina [#476s], and finished first, handling the craft splendidly, followed by the Esperanza [#475s], sailed by H. O. Havemeyer, Jr., a minute behind the Carolina. Then followed closely the Puck [#465s], sailed by Commodore Edwin D. Morgan and the Racoon [#477s], sailed by John R. Drexel.
This is the first race of the Newport thirties in three years, and the owners propose to sail races three times a week." (Source: Anon. "Carolina 'Thirty' Wins Race." New York Times, August 15, 1909, p. S3.)

"The sacrifice of yachts to war uses still goes on and the end is not in sight. ... Among the smaller yachts recently junked for their lead are ... the sloops Pelican [#408s] and Puck [#465s], so long owned by Mr. E. D. Morgan. Pelican, built in 1890, is an interesting vessel, the understanding being that she was the initial experiment of Mr. Herreshoff in a new type, leading to the production of Gloriana in the following year. Puck is one of the survivors of the 30-foot one-design class of fin-keel racing sloops turned out by the Herreshoffs in 1896, perhaps the most successful of all monotype classes. ..." (Source: Anon. "Peace and the Yacht Fleet." Rudder, September 1917, p. 631.)

"... After many years, and a season of being laid up, Edwin and I got the old Puck out, rigged her up, and were going extremely well on the windward leg of a race when she began to make water and would not seem to steer. Of course we were out of the race, but we managed one way and another to get home. From the way she handled I felt probably she had broken a rib or two, so took her up to Herreshoff's and asked Nat if he would not look into her and if there were any broken ribs to put new ones in; he telephoned me saying that I was right about the ribs, but added, 'How many should you think she had broken?' I did not know, and he said, 'Thirty-seven'; so it is not particularly wonderful that she did not hold her shape very well. Edwin and I both had a chance to look through the bottom in one place while we were sailing. Incidentally, Edwin once went on a cruise in the Puck with Archer, and, having done the Sound, went to Beverly, and, having done Beverly, he returned alone to Newport, through the [Cape Cod] Canal to be sure, but when you consider that the helm of the Puck could never be left for a moment I believe it a great feat, although to be quite truthful I was annoyed at the time of his arrival, realizing the terrible risks he had run. ..." (Source: Morgan, Edwin Denison. Recollections For My Family. New York, 1938, p. 204.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled table titled 'Galv[anized] Wire Rope for 30 footers [Newport 30s #463s, #464s, #465s, #466s, #467s, #468s, #469s, #470s, #471s, #475s, #476s, #477s]. Dec[ember] 19 [18]95'. Listing lengths, diameters, type (p.s. = plow steel, c.s. = crucible steel) and breaking strengths." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Penciled Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04510. Folder [no #]. 1895-12-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Please send me at 54 Exchange Place, N.Y., the addresses of the nine boat [Newport 30 class] owners and oblige. [Incl. partial draft reply by NGH on verso listing names and addresses of the following persons:] H. P. Whitney [#466s DOROTHY]
H. B. Duryea [#468s VAQUERO III]
J. M. Macdonough [#467s MUSME]
E. D. Morgan [#465s PUCK]
Bayard Thayer [#463s ASAHI]
G. Kirtuyers[?] transferred to James Stillman [#469s WAWA]
H. L. Lippitt [sic, i.e. #464s MAI for Oliver Jennings]
C. Vanderbilt Jr. [#470s VEDA]
R. N. Ellis [#471s HERA] [Part of group of letters in envelope marked 'Letters from E.D. Morgan'.]." (Source: Morgan, E.D. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37330. Correspondence, Folder 73, formerly 77. 1896-04-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled list of Newport 30 class building numbers, owner names, boat names and delivery dates, probably made on the occasion of the lottery which assigned boats to their owners. Untitled, undated, probably late April or early May 1896:]
No. [Boat owner.] Name. Deliver May.
471 [#471s]. Ellis. HERA. 5 or 6
463 [#463s]. Thayer. ASAHI. 7 or 8
468 [#468s]. Duryea. VAQUERO III. 11 or 12
469 [#469s]. Stillman. WAWA. 13 or 14
464 [#464s]. Jennings. MAI. 15
467 [#467s]. J.M. MacDonough. MUSME. 18
475 [#475s]. Van Wickle. ESPERANZA. 21
476 [#476s]. Pembroke Jones. CAROLINA. ?
466 [#466s]. H.P. Whitney. DOROTHY II. 25 or 26
477 [#477s]. Hostetter. RACCOON. Jun 20
464 [#465s]. E.D. Morgan. PUCK. July 1
470 [#470s]. Vanderbilt. [blank, VEDA]. [blank]
Ramie Sails[:]
1) Vanderbilt
2) MacDonough
3) Stillman
4) B. T. Thayer
5) Jennings
6) H.P. Whitney
Small boats[:]
Ellis
Whitney
Gaffs[:]
1) Duryea (2)
2) Ellis" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04110. Folder [no #]. No date (1896-04 or 1896-05 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I have been asked by clubs to hand in name and data of thirty ft'er [Newport 30s] for the books, and to do so without delay. I have decided to call mine 'PUCK' [#465s] (believing in fairy names), will you kindly send me other data referring to some[?] club boats[?] as soon as convenient?
I am hoping daily to see my way to a day in Bristol so you may have me dropping in on you before long.
I need a sniff of salt air badly. [Part of group of letters in envelope marked 'Letters from E.D. Morgan'.]" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37350. Correspondence, Folder 73, formerly 77. 1896-05-02.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled diagram titled 'Diagram of spring of keels. 30 footers [Newport 30 class: #463s, #464s, #465s, #466s, #467s, #468s, #469s, #470s, #471s, #475s, #476s, #477s]'. With calculations. Undated (May 9, 1896 as per note in design book)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Diagram. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_05970. Folder [no #]. 1896-05-09.)
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"[Item Description:] I duly rec[eive]d your letter and sketch for which I am much obliged. After consideration I have come to the conclusion that I will not attempt the two blues at present so please paint her [#465s PUCK] as true Prussian blue from 'water lines' (as at present made) to under side of oak streak & try and get the bottom paint a French gray, like bottom paint on DAISY [#133p ex-HENRIETTA]. What a delightful sail we had [apparently on June 1 when visiting Bristol]. I told Mrs Morgan about it & made her envious. I also told her I thought you would have returned in about 2 hrs w[or]k[?] proud[? proved?] to be a pretty good pace, with kind regards to the family & hopes for another sail soon, I am ... [P.S.] I rec[eive]d the dimensions, thank you. [Part of group of letters in envelope marked 'Letters from E.D. Morgan'.]" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37390. Correspondence, Folder 73, formerly 77. 1896-06-06.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Y[ou]rs of 10th re[ceive]d. About the ramie[?] duck I will make no decision until I see you. It seems pretty late now to import & with uncern[?] yanes[?] I should hardly think there was sufficient advantage over first class cotton [apparently for sails for the Newport 30 class].
Roughly speaking the 26th would be the time of our arrival in Newport R.I[?].
Les[?] I would like a jib with club [apparently for #465s PUCK]. [Part of group of letters in envelope marked 'Letters from E.D. Morgan'.]" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37410. Correspondence, Folder 73, formerly 77. 1896-06-17.)
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"[Item Description:] don't think I will try ramie[?] sails, think your sails are pretty good, I got a suit from England made the old was but not a success, am using the one you made instead, first part of racing has been close, you made mistake in the gaffs you sent me, I ordered one 1/2in and one 3/4in large that the gaff you put on the boat, I would like very much when we get to Newport to go off for a day with you if you can get Mr. Morgan's boat [#465s PUCK] and quietly experiment with the different sails, undated but penciled NGH note 'ans[wered] Jun 23'" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19110. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-06-20 ??).)
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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:] thing that puzzles me about the 30 footers [NP30s] is the fin, I would rater take my chances with the [#465s] PUCK's fin, she is undoubtedly better in strong breezes, I heeled my boat [#468s VAQUERO III] over & measured the bend [of the fin?] & was perfectly surprised to find that it was something like 18 inches, we could have found out [about the advantages or disadvantages] if either you or Watson had sailed the PUCK but now it is all guess work, how much would a fin like the PUCK's cost?, if it wouldn't be too expensive I would like to try it next year" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19050. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-10 ???).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Yours of 23rd rec[eive]d. It will be quite an interesting experiment in the matter of fins & I am very keen to see what will happen in the first race. I am sure I won't[?] have as good a boat for general utility[?], but I got her to race, I cannot go against your judgement in the mater so will have the deck covered with canvas & painted a putty color, as to the use of the work I will let you know a little later --- I was in Newport for 5 hrs a short time since & spent some of it looking at, I think, the COCKATOO [#483s] w[hic]h was tied to the NYYC dock. I thought she was very nice indeed. On account of Mr. Moran's illness and death our plans have been indefinite all winter so I have done nothing about any won[?] of a boat there[?] the PUCK [#465s] & I am not at all sure I shall, notwithstanding my longing[?] for almost any kind of a salt water spree. We have had a most beautiful season so far despite its lateness the country new[?] to me, looked so fine & with generally good health as am Enjoying it very much. We will probably go to Newport later part of June & I am looking forward most of all to some of our chats & a walk thru' the shop & the model room. Mr. Iselin thinks some of taking out the DEFENDER [#452s] but had not, a few days since, definitely decided. I am sending you a circular w[hic]h you have probably seen, but I should think[?] it would pay you to get the right to use these boilers (oil fuel) in some of y[ou]r launches or larger boats. I have seen several & they seem drier[?] boats with inferior models quite fast.
No 6 [#184p PORTER] seems to have been very successful & generally admired. I hope I may get [a] ride or a sail or a steamer on the Sislu[?] boat. I am most anxious to hear result of trials of some of the new torpedo boats or rival builders. I believe they will be interesting, in a way. When I have a little time I can waste it always for myself the pleasure of dreaming about the 145ft WL schooner w[hich] would be so unpracticable[?] but delightful. Mrs Morgan joins me in kindest remembrances to all the family, ... [Part of group of letters in envelope marked 'Letters from E.D. Morgan' which is included with this item.]" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37500. Correspondence, Folder 73, formerly 77. 1897-05-25.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Y[ou]rs of 19th rec[eive]d & I was very glad to get a line from you.
Y[ou]r suggestion re. PELICAN [#408s] is a very good one & I w[oul]d like to have you go ahead and give her the coat of (easily removed) paint bottom, topsides & deck. I do mean the new composite duck for PUCK's [#465s] mainsail. I envy you these trial races altho[ugh] we almost might have had them on Wheatly Hill there has been so much rain[?]. I so am[?] utterly despected[?] that you are not hard at work on a lot of new torpedo boats, well its too bad. The MORRIS [#190p] took my fancy more than any of your creations in that line & I was much pleased she was such a great success. By the way I will try the new bottom paint on PUCK if you think it advisable. What w[oul]d you lent[?] the new launch[?] (one with extended stern[?]) for for[sic] the summer. [This is possibly a reference to #195p, a launch for the new steam yacht DOROTHY whose owner died before the yacht's completion.] I w[oul]d consider price confidential whether I consider it or not. I have been very busy indeed and it does not seem to prevent my scaling 187 lbs. I hope you will follow my good example. Got up smoking and get fat. Kind regards to all, ..." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37560. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1898-05-23.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I am naturally disappointed ab[ou]t the sails but of course there is nothing for me to do but wait two or three weeks until the duck [apparently for #465s PUCK's mainsail] is ready. I suppose we will go to Newport just before[?] or just after the '4th' & I will be very glad to be afloat again.
I had hoped to get some sailing on a larger scale this Summer but this war has changed my plans as well as those of nearly everyone.
I went yesterday at at[sic] the request of & with a very old fried to look at the 'Secor' boat w[hic]h is to be driven by oil gas exploded directly against the water. What use[?] has the value of the idea. It appears to me to be very crudely applied in this case." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37590. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1898-06-22.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I have written Mike[?] to go to Bristol and get the 'PUCK' [#465s] in commission. I am glad to be able to give him something to do. Please supply him with paint, varnish etc necessary.
I will leave the PELICAN [#408s] just as she is for the present.
Let me know when you have decided on the date of launching the COLUMBIA [#499s]. I would like very much to see it if I c[oul]d get away." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37650. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1899-05-29.)
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"[Item Description:] Yours of June 1st received. Sometime when at Bristol I will explain one or two of the positions of the yachts in the book. Yes, it was only the underwater part of the 'PUCK' [#465s] and 'PELICAN' [#408s] to be painted. I was sorry the other day that we were going out to dinner, a very unusual thing for us, otherwise I should have made a very strong bid to get you to spend the night at Wheatly." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38020. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1902-06-03.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I am sending you herewith a copy of a letter which I have received from the Secretary of the Eastern Yacht Club.
If not too much trouble, could you give me the dimensions, etc. asked concerning the 'PUCK' [#465s], 'VANISH' [#177p], and also the 'GOSSIP' [#630s]?
I certainly expected to have been to Bristol before this, but there seems to have been no end of circumstances to prevent.
Going to town has been one very important factor, as I have not been fortunate enough to escape even one week so far this summer. I hope, however, to get up to Bristol before leaving Newport. The summer would seem quite unnatural without such a trip." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38560. Correspondence, Folder 76, formerly 62. 1908-09-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Yours of the 9th has been received, since which time, however, I have been away.
I am not quite certain whether I gave a definite order for new mainsails for the thirty footer [#465s PUCK or #630s GOSSIP ex-PINTAIL] and the two fifteen footers [#587s WHISPER and #588s ECHO] or not. If not, will you kindly put the order in for me, using your judgment about the weight of duck, also please renew the awnings with the blue canvas.
I am glad that the weakness of the timbers [in #465s PUCK] was found out as repairing now will prevent its going any further.
I am very sorry indeed to hear of the illness of Miss deWolf, and hope ere this she is much better and that you no longer feel anxious about her.
I think we will go to Newport about the 8th or 9th of July, and I shall look forward with much pleasure to seeing you again." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38620. Correspondence, Folder 76, formerly 62. 1909-06-18.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled note with calculations, comparing ratings and time allowances for PUCK [#465s] and 29 foot Newport Class [#727s, #728s, #737s]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_03570. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten signed letter on '149 Broadway, New York' stationery regarding [my] 15-footer is a shade [too] small, please prepare #465s PUCK for my summer afternoon sailing, there ought to be some good NY70 racing this summer, please invite me again for spectating." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38690. Correspondence, Folder 77, formerly 62. 1915-06-14.)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten signed letter on '149 Broadway, New York' stationery regarding recutting #465s PUCK's second best mainsail and jib for a cruising rig." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38710. Correspondence, Folder 77, formerly 62. 1915-06-18.)
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"[Item Description:] thanks for #465s PUCK dimensions which I assume are for her cruising rig, have enjoyed sailing her this summer, saw young Vanderbilt's boat in Newport on the way and liked it very much and was reminded of the little boat [#710s Oleander] that you brought one time and raced against one of my 15-footers and then took to Bermuda" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38720. Correspondence, Folder 77, formerly 62. 1915-08-24.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #465s Puck even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Burchard, R. B. "The Thirty-Foot Class." Outing, September 1896, p. 412-419. (1,098 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No. Very detailed description of the class which consisting of the Herreshoff Newport 30s and one boat each by Gardner and Wintringham. Photos. Sketch.

• Puck (HMCo-made index card)
• Puck (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: Puck
Type: J & M
Length: 30'
Owner: Morgan, E. D.

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

• Puck
• 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: Puck
Type: 29' 5" sloop
Owner: E. D. Morgan
Year: 1896
Row No.: 550

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: 30
Year: 1895
E/P/S: S
No.: 0465
Name: Puck
LW: 30'
B: 8' 4"
D: 7' 2"
Rig: J & M
K: FK
Ballast: Lead
Amount: $2850.00
Notes Constr. Record: Newport 30 fin
Last Name: Morgan
First Name: E. E.

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.

"Sail No. 7 in 1899." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"Built in 206 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $14/day, 51 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area info.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

"[Displacement (164.5 cubic feet = 10,528bs).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

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