HMCo #468s Vaquero III

"[1896-05-07] Thu 7: Launched #468 Vaquero III. ...
[1896-05-11] Mon 11: Mr. Duryea here and took #468 Vaquero. ...
[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.
[1897-05-05] Wed 5: Launched Item [#183p] & Vaquero III [#468s] at cove. ...
[1897-05-22] Sat 22: Fly [#485s] delivered & sailed for Marblehead. Vaquero III [#468s] & Wawa [#469s] also sailed.
[1897-09-27] Mon 27: Puck [#465s] here to be laid up. Wawa [#469s] & Vaquero III [#468s] already here.
[1898-05-13] Fri 13: ... Mr Duryea [the owner of #468s Vaquero III] here.
[1898-05-14] Sat 14: Very fine. L[igh]t NW [wind in] a.m. Mod[erate] SW to SE [in] p.m. Tried and delivered Wanda [#490s]. Off trying Onward [#487s] & Vaquero III [#468s]. ...
[1898-05-15] Sun 15: Calm early. Mod[erate] S [wind]. Rain in p.m, wind backing to E. Went to Newport in Onward [#487s] in company of Vaquero III [#468s]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1896 to 1898. 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.)

"BRISTOL, R I, May 17 [1896] --- The work of getting the 30-footers at the Herreshoffs ready for their owners is being pushed with all possible speed, and thus far six of them have had the fins bolted to the hulls and rigged. Two of them have left Bristol for New York waters, and three or four will leave during the coming week.
The 30-footer owned by Herman B Duryea left early in the week [between May 11 and May 13, 1896]. She is named Vaquero III, and her skipper is Capt Ellis, who has been in the former Vaqueros of Mr Duryea. ... During the week these boats have been given short spins in the harbor by Nat Herreshoff and the skippers who have been here waiting for their boats to be ready to take away. In the shops there are three more of the 30-footers that are about completed, making 13 [sic, i.e. 12] in all. ...
Each of the 30-footers is supplied with two suits of sails, one of which is the crosscut style, and the other the cloths running from boom to gaff. ..." (Source: Anon. "From Bristol Shops. New York 30-Footers Being Delivered to Their Owners." Boston Globe, May 18, 1896, p. 7.)

"... 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 30-footer Vaquero III, owned by Herman B. Duryea of New York, arrived there Tuesday and was hoisted out on the end of the Herreshoff wharf to have a patch put on her port bow, she having had a hole stove in her hull Monday, while racing at Newport." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, July 30, 1896, p. 2.)

"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.)

"VAQUERO III
IS the champion of the special New York 30-foot class. Our illustrations show her appearance under sail, and her under-water body taken as she stood on the dock at Bristol, ready to be lifted over into the water by the shore legs back of her. Some thirteen or more of these boats were built by Herreschoff [sic] from the same moulds.
The Rosemarie was brought from England, Wm. Gardner designed the Departure, and H. C. Wintringham the Argonaut. The Herreschoff boats proved the best, and Vaquero III, by the clever handling of Mr. H. B. Duryea, came out the winner at the end of the year." (Source: Rudder, December 1896, p. 358.)

"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.)

"... Herman B. Duryea's Vaquero, one of the famous fin keel 30-footers, built at Herreshoff's 21 years ago, was sold last week to Evans McPherson of Providence. The Vaquero was the only one of the fin keel 30s remaining at Herreshoff's. Although she has not been overboard for 16 years, an examination of the hull showed her sound in every particular, and her new owner will fit her out next Spring. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, September 23, 1917, p. 54.)

"... It is stated at Herreshoff's that the old fin keel 30-foot sloop Vaquero, built by the firm in 1896, is to be moved from the Herreshoff yard at Walker's Cove, where she has been laid up for a number of years. The Vaquero, built for Herman B. Duryea of Glen Cove, was considered a very fast boat in her day and won many trophies in Narragansett Bay and on Long Island Sound. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, July 14, 1918, p. 35.)

"The fin keelers reached their zenith in the so-called Newport thirties. Members of the fashionable Newport colony had a one design class of these boats built from mahogany, thirty feet long on the waterline, in 1896 by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. and for many years after this class gave excellent racing. The Vaquero III [#468s] owned and sailed by Herman Duryea was the champion in this class.
The year before, in 1895 [sic, i.e. 1894], members of the Larchmont Yacht Club had a class of 21 footers, that were the prototype of [the Newport 30] class, built by the Herreshoffs.
These boats were 21 feet long on the water, 30 feet on deck, 6ft 6ins wide and drew 5ft 3 inches [and] were named Vaquero [#444s], Celia [#447s], Houri [#442s] and Adelaide [#443s]." (Source: Davis, Charles G. "Recollections of Boats and Boatbuilders about New York. 1884 to 1914." Handwritten manuscript in the Collection of Mystic Seaport Museum. No date (1920s), p. 40.)

"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 Description:] want you to send complete sail plan for the new 30 footers [NP30, Duryea had ordered #468s VAQUERO III], let me know how the boats are coming on + if you have any new orders, undated but penciled NGH note 'ans[wered] Jan 5'." (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19610. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-01-04 ?).)
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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 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 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 tried the new boat [#468s VAQUERO III] a couple of days ago in a strong N.E. breeze + big sea + am convinced that they are quite stiff enough for racing here in any ordinary weather, was very much pleased as I anticipated that they might be a bit tender from what I gathered from Watson, have never seen any boat half so nicely in a breeze + sea, Mr. Ellis is most enthusiastic about his [#471s HERA], wish new Racing Union would formulate rules, undated but penciled NGH note 'ans[wered] May 25'" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19590. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-05-24 ??).)
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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:] 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 Description:] #468s VAQUERO III's fin always had a slight bend to port, think it came from the hard bump she had on the rocks off Stamford, her rudder was bent & straightened several times, please straighten fin, think clubs here make a botch of rules & classifications they are all jealous of you" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19070. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] don't hurry about your estimate for fin [for #468s VAQUERO III?] as nothing can be done before next spring, confidential: my idea was to get #452s DEFENDER, if it can be managed, take her abroad & race in England, seems a shame to do nothing with her, don't know if Vanderbilt would let her go, before doing anything want to get your ideas, get Watson as skipper, need to be secret to prevent competitors from building new boat, METEOR would be competitor, [aluminum] topsides would have to be taken off and replaced with bronze, how expensive?, only a vague scheme at present, could she go over safely and stand a hard season there?, personally I know nothing about the boat, undated but penciled NGH note 'ans[wered] Oct 7'" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19150. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-10 ?).)
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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:] chances for new class [#189702es Unbuilt 46ft Class of 1898] seem awfully slim, Mr. Whitney will be as much disappointed as I am, we seem to be one year to soon, following men say they will surely build boats of that size: Ellis, Duncan, W. K. Vanderbilt, Van Wickle, do not know what to do for next year's sport, may build a 20 rater for England or stick to #468s VAQUERO III, suppose it would be asking too much to request your firm to stick to the present rules for boats to be built in [18]99, one-design idea seems to have taken, awful shame this class didn't go, I am very sorry now that we said anything to [E.D.] Morgan about it as his stopping seems to have influenced a lot of men" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19210. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1897-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] sending book of English photos of last year's boats, sail cuts, send also a photo of VAQ [apparently #468s VAQUERO III] with her winning flags, have pretty well made up my mind to build another VAQ and go to England with her" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19370. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1898-04-18.)
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"[Item Description:] have sent the men on to get [#468s] VAQUERO out, I will come on whenever you are ready for the trial, don't know what say about sails, #466s DOROTHY II and #469s WAWA were greatly improved by their heavier sails, but my lighter Ratsey sail is better" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19530. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1898-05-03.)
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"[Item Description:] make me a jib out of the 8oz stuff [apparently for #468s VAQUERO III], I also wish, if this new [America's Cup] challenge goes through, that you would keep room enough to build a boat for me, I think I can get up a syndicate in fact I am pretty sure of it and I suppose you would build another boat, drop me a line if you will be short for room to build one" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19550. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1898-08-04.)
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"[Item Description:] make me a suit of sails (mainsail + jib) for #468s VAQUERO III, ready by June 15" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19620. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1899-04-12.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #468s Vaquero III 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.

• Vaquero III (HMCo-made index card)
• Vaquero III (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.

• Vaquero III
• 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: Vaquero III
Type: 29' 6" fin keeler
Owner: H. B. Duryea
Year: 1896
Row No.: 712

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.: 0468
Name: Vaquero III
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: 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.

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

"Built in 159 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $18/day, 66 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.