HMCo #529s Mineola

"[1899-11-02] Thu 2: Turned over st[eame]r #203 [Scout (Tender for #529s Mineola)].
[1899-11-03] Fri 3: Cast lead for 70 footer #529 [Mineola] for Mr. Belmont.
[1899-11-10] Fri 10: Fresh W to NW [wind] & mild. Began setting up frames on #529 [Mineola]. ...
[1899-11-21] Tue 21: Began planking #529, 70 footer [Mineola].
[1899-12-22] Fri 22: Very warm [with] mod[erate] SE [wind]. Finish[ed] planking #529 [Mineola].
[1899-12-23] Sat 23: Very fine & mild. Floor laid and began putting in partitions in #529 [Mineola].
[1899-12-28] Thu 28: Fine & cool [with] l[igh]t NE [wind &] overcast. Began laying deck on #429 [sic, i.e. #529s Mineola].
[1900-01-16] Tue 16: Light variable [wind]. L[igh]t rain in AM. Fair & calm in PM. Launched Mr. Belmont’s 70 footer Mineola [#529s] & launch Scout [#203p, tender for Mineola] at 8:30 & 9:30. Mr. B[elmont] here with party in private car. Calm [in] PM & night.
[1900-03-08] Thu 8: Calm in PM & fine. Put #529 [Mineola] out at mooring and brought #532 [Rainbow] to wharf in #529’s place.
[1900-04-04] Wed 4: Very fine [with] mod[erate] NW [wind] & clear. ... hauled out 529 Mineola [#529s] at paint. ...
[1900-04-06] Fri 6: Very fine & warm. Fresh N [wind]. Clear. ... Floated Mineola [#529s] and hauled out Rainbow [#532] to paint. ...
[1900-04-14] Sat 14: Very fine. Fresh WSW [wind &] warm. Mineola’s [#529s] standing & running rigging [is] about all in place.
[1900-04-25] Wed 25: Clear [with] fresh NNW [wind]. Scout arrived in PM with part of Mineola [#529s] crew. ...
[1900-05-07] Mon 7: Cold morning [with] fresh NW [wind] & clear. Mr. Belmont, Willard & Perkins here. Also Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy. Made very satisfactory trial of Mineola [#529s] in PM.
[1900-05-12] Sat 12: Very fine & warm [with] mod[erate] S [wind]. Mineola left for NY. ...
[1900-06-05] Tue 5: Very fine & calm in AM. Mod[erate] SSW [wind in] PM. ... Mineola & Scout arrived.
[1900-06-06] Wed 6: Very fine [with] l[igh]t S [wind in] AM. Fresh SSW [wind in] PM. Went off in Mineola in PM to try sails. ...
[1900-06-08] Fri 8: Foggy all day. Rain in evening. Mineola & Scout left in PM.
[1900-06-30] Sat 30: Very strong WNW [wind] all day. Owners of 70 footers have a meeting here. ...
[1900-07-17] Tue 17: Very fine ... Yankee [#534s] won over Mineola [#529s], Virginia [#533s], Rainbow [#532] in[?] race[?] of Newport ...
[1900-07-19] Thu 19: Very fine[?] & warm[?]. L[igh]t[?] NW [wind]. 2nd (?) race won by Mineola with Yankee 2nd[?]. Went in Squib to see last part of race.
[1900-07-21] Sat 21: Yankee won 3rd Newport race by small margin. New mainsail[?] just[?] for Mineola (?).
[1900-07-23] Mon 23: Very fine [with] fresh SSW [wind]. Mineola won 4th Newport race.
[1900-07-25] Wed 25: H[eav]y rain with t[hunder] & l[ightning] between 5 & 9. Rain much needed as everything is drying up. 70’s at Newport had a bad shaking outside and Virginia [#533s] & Yankee [#534s] withdrew. Mineola [#529s] 1st but protested.
[1900-07-26] Thu 26: Heavy rain nearly all day. Very (?) wind. Have begun to fix up the 70s [which were displaying severe structural weaknesses and beginning to acquire a reputation as leakabouts]. Carpenters began on stable at [the] farm yesterday.
[1900-08-13] Mon 13: Cloudy with fresh SE [wind]. Went outside to see race for Astor Cups. Corona & Mineola won.
[1900-08-18] Sat 18: Very fine & hot. Went outside in Squib [#188p] in PM to see race of 70 footers.
[1901-10-10] Thu 10: Very fine & nearly calm. Clear & warm. Mr. Mac. Forbes & Bob Emmons here in PM. Mineola towed away." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1899 to 1901. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"... Yankee [Name], 534 [Building Number], 78 [Rating], 70.48 [Waterline], 70.8 [L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule], 18.47 [B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule], 14 [d = draft of water as for Universal Rule], 2,606 [D = displacement in cubic foot as for Universal Rule (= 166,784 lbs or 74.5 long tons)], 6945 [Sail Area], 9120 [Sail limit Present rule], -2175 [Diff.], 7260 [Sail limit Proposed rule], -315 [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.)

"Going back to 1899, while COLUMBIA was sailing, we built the seventy foot waterline centerboard sloop yacht ATHENE for William O. Gay of Boston. ... This craft prompted the building of the famous Seventy Foot Class.
...
The famous Seventy Foot Class of sloops came out in 1900: MINEOLA, RAINBOW, VIRGINIA, and YANKEE ..." (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. 67-68.)

"[The NY70s] had about forty tons of lead on their keel and carried a crew of fifteen besides the afterguard.
They were practically the size of the 'J' boat of the nineteen-thirties but of course were much shorter on the water line as they were built under the old rule where water-line length was the most important factor in the rating. However, their length from the end of the bowsprit to the end of the main boom must have been some twenty feet longer than the length overall of the 'J' 's. (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. 216.)

"The Seventies have been criticized by some writers of that time as being unsound, of poor design and inferior workmanship, because they sprung out of shape and leaked some, but the truth of the matter is that all yachts built under the old water-line and sail area rule that had long overhangs were difficult to hold in shape, and the Seventies were among the largest of the water-line rule boats that were planked with wood. Such later yachts as the cup boats 'Constitution,' 'Independence,' and 'Reliance' had complicated internal bracing to hold them in shape. But don't for a minute think the Seventies were of inferior workmanship for they were perhaps among the finest constructed yachts ever built and vastly superior to anything being built today. Their trouble was their long, flat ends. As a result of the structural trouble of the Seventies, which came from their model alone, the New York Yacht Club decided to formulate a new measurement rule which would allow longer water lines and discourage flat ends, so in a way the Seventies were the cause of the New York Yacht Club sponsoring the Universal Rule, which was got up by Captain Nat at their request.
Wire rope trusses were put in the Seventies when they were straightened out and strengthened in the winter of 1900-01. The two trusses were of seven eighths inch plow steel wire and attached to the stem, went under the mast step, then through holes in the floor plates, and finally swung up to attach to the rudder and stern posts. I believe these trusses held the bows of the Seventies down in place after this but they were only raced a few years after and then mostly on Long Island Sound and New York Yacht Club cruises." (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. 217.)

"The lead keel for the first of the new special sixty-five footer sloop yachts [#529 Mineola] to be constructed was run Saturday [November 4, 1899] at the Herreshoffs shops. The new steam yacht [#205p Eugenia III] for John B Herreshoff, being built in the south shop is nearly all planked." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, November 7, 1899, p. 2.)

"... The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company has engaged J J Wall & Co, building contractors, to do the planking and deck planking of the special 65-footers, and the work was begun yesterday. Three of the boats are now under way, and the rush at the Herreshoff shops is almost unprecedented at this season of the year. ... [Though not mentioned by name (and stating a wrong size), this is apparently a reference to #529s Mineola, #532s Rainbow, #533s Virginia and #534s Yankee, the class of four NY-70s then under construction.]" (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, December 12, 1899, p. 2.)

"BRISTOL, R.I., Jan. 16 [1900] --- The new racer built at the Herreshoff works for August Belmont, the New York banker, was launched to-day. Mr. Belmont and party, including Miss Natalie Schenck, Mrs. Tiffany, Miss Tiffany, Mr. Belmont's eight-year-old son, and A. Van Rensselaer Kennedy, arrived here in Mr. Belmont's private car this morning. After breakfast the party were driven to the shipyard, and the launching was successfully accomplished soon after their arrival.
Miss Schenck acted as sponsor, naming the yacht Mineola, after the forty-six-footer which was built in Boston in 1886 for Mr. Belmont. The new boat is 105 feet over all, 70 feet on the water line, 20 feet beam, and 15 feet draught. There are 40 tons of lead in the keel. The frames are the same as those of the cup racer Columbia. The spars are being made in Boston.
The Mineola is the pioneer in the class which promises to create the greatest interest in yachting circles in 1900. The contract for her was let to the Herreshoffs in August last, and almost immediately was followed by orders for others from E. D. Morgan, Harry Payne Whitney, and W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., that of Mr. Morgan being now the next furthest advanced. The new yacht, while of course of lower power than the great international Cup defenders, is of the Herreshoffs' best as to model, construction, and appointments.
On the tide succeeding that on which the Mineola was launched an elaborate steam launch [#203p Scout], eighty feet in length and of high pressure, also built for Mr. Belmont, was sent from the ways. She will be used principally as a tender for the Mineola, accompanying her on the cruise and carrying spare sails, spars, &c. Master Morgan Belmont christened her, naming her the Scout. Mr. Belmont would not discuss the plans for the Mineola's season, and said the launching had been strictly informal." (Source: Anon. "August Belmont's New Yacht. The Mineola Successfully Launched at Bristol, R.I. " New York Times, January 17, 1900, p. 10.)

"... By the launching of August Belmont's new racing cutter Mineola and her tender Scout attention has been drawn largely to the Herreshoff yards at Bristol. There are more than 130 carpenters in the boat shops there, and the force is being increased each week. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." New York Times, January 21, 1900, p. 28.)

"Mineola, sloop No. 529, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
74.36 gross tons, 66.35 net tons; 81.6 ft. x 19.4 ft. x 14.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, February 22, 1900." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Mineola.)

"The schooner Mary Augusta arrived at the Herreshoff dock from Boston Tuesday [March 27, 1900] afternoon, loaded with spars for the four 70 footers [#529s Mineola, #532s Rainbow, #533s Virginia, and #534s Yankee] and the two 46 footers [#531s Shark and #539s Altair]. The spars are all of Oregon pine, and are smoothed up ready for use. They consist of lower masts, topmasts, booms, gaffs, bowsprits, spinnaker poles, clubs and yards. [The spars had been made by the East Boston Spar Company.]" (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, March 30, 1900, p. 2.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 636:]
Mineola, sloop yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1900.
74.36 gross tons, 66.35 net tons; 81.6 ft. x 19.4 ft. x 14.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging figure-head.
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] [as] (yacht) Apr. 25, 1900. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] June 1, 1900 at New York. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Mineola.)

"The first of the new seventy-footer sloop yachts being built at Herreshoff's --- the Mineola owned by August Belmont of New York --- was given her initial sail trial yesterday [May 7, 1900] afternoon. She left her moorings off the Herreshoff dock at 1.30 under mainsail, forestaysail and jib. On board, besides her skipper, Capt. 'Bob' Wringe and Mate Rowe and a crew of nine men, were Mr Belmont, J. V. R. Kennedy and wife, B. A. Willard and Capt. Nat. G. Herreshoff, the latter at the wheel. A stiff northwest breeze was blowing at the start and the Mineola held close to it, going at a good rate of speed, with her nose pointed toward the southern extremity of Pappoosesquaw. She beat up the Providence river for awhile, having her working topsail set on the way. Then she ran down toward Newport and came back on the east side of Hog Island. When near the Ferry she was put in stays several times and proved to be remarkably quick in going about. She arrived at her moorings again shortly after 4 o'clock. Capt. 'Bob' Wringe, who was one of the sklppers of the Shamrock, said last night that he was much pleased with the Mineola. He thought she was an 'improved Coumbia'. 'Everything worked well,' said he, 'and she is all that we expected her to be --- a fast and clever boat.- We were short-handed today, with only nine men, and even had to put in the steward to help hoist the mainsail. We will probably not have another trial this week, and before we go again we will have a crew of 15 men. Did you notice the fit of the sails? They were certainly beauties." It was easy to see that the English skipper was more favorably Impressed with the American built yacht than he cared to express." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, May 8, 1900, p. 2.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 12, [1900] --- The topmast of the Mineola, the first of the seventy-footers that had her initial trial spin in a light breeze in the bay last Monday [May 7, 1900], was housed next day for the purpose of making some improvements in the rigging. The carpenters have yet some work to do on the interior, which may keep her here a week longer. It is expected that the owner, Mr. Belmont, will give her a trial in the bay before long. If there Is a good breeze then it is expected that she will show up in wonderful form. With a full crew to handle sails, she will prove to be a fast boat. ..."(Source: Anon. "In The Bristol Yards. Work on the Seventy-Footers Progressing Rapidly. New Small Craft." New York Times, May 13, 1900, p. ?)

"NEWPORT, July 31 [1900]. --- The fleet of [New York] seventies will be repaired and overhauled and made ready for the cruise of the New York Yacht Club, despite reports to the contrary, and the remainder of the series for the cup offered by the Newport Yacht Racing Association will be sailed as soon as the former function has concluded.
The seventies will be temporarily repaired, and in the Fall they will be placed out of commission and practically rebuilt by the Herreshoffs." (Source: Anon. "Yacht News of Newport. The Seventy-Foot Yachts Will Be Made Ready for the N. Y. Y. C. Cruise." New York Times, August 1, 1900, p. 5.)

"In several of its aspects the yacht racing season of 1900 has been a notable one. With no great international yachting event to distract attention from local affairs, interest has been concentrated upon the development of promising racing classes at home, and in the results success and failure have been so closely joined that the year is likely to be long remembered by yachtsmen as unique among the rather colorless seasons that usually intervene between the all-absorbing contests for the America's Cup. ... The development of practical interest in the larger classes of racing sloops and cutters has been unprecedented in previous years, and the most closely observed boats of the season have been the four one-design [New York] 'seventies' which Herreshoff built to measure within the newly created eighty-foot racing length class. The seventies have, indeed, given the feature to the yachting season of 1900, which may distinguish it from a score of 'off' years past and to come. This feature lies in the mixed success and failure of the quartet. Undoubtedly the fastest yachts ever built, their unseaworthiness has sounded the imperative note of warning against further advance in the way of light construction that designers have been fearing to hear in the last half dozen years. The same fault of unseaworthiness due to excessive lightness in construction has marked the two fifty-one footers Altair [#539s] and Shark [#531s], and in a lesser degree the thirty-sixes Countess [#538s] and Effort [#541s], which were launched from the Herreshoff yards this year. When the danger-mark, toward which designers have been hastening of late, has thus been reached by the foremost member of their profession, it is only natural to look for a reaction toward more safely constructed racing craft, and the season of 1900 may mark the beginning of an era in the sport wherein even the mere racing machines will obtain speed by some trick of design other than the sacrifice of rational substantiality. Necessity is the clearly proved mother of invention, and when the ingenious brains of designers forsake the absorbing search for speed by means of the minimum weight in construction they may draw nearer the lines of least resistance in the model of sailing craft. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notable Yachting Season. Development of the Larger Racing Classes Unprecedented. Herreshoff Reaches Limit. Unseaworthiness of Seventies Warns Against Further Sacrifice of Substantial Construction to Speed." New York Times, September 9, 1900, p. 22.)

"NEWPORT, Oct. 3 [1900]. --- Surprise was expressed to-day in yachting circles at the departure of the seventy-footer Mineola for New York to be practically rebuilt there instead of at the Herreshoff works, in Bristol.
Some time ago it was believed that the damages sustained by the boats during the storm last August in the races for the trophy of the Newport Yacht Racing Association would be repaired by the Herreshoffs at their personal expense. The departure of the Mineola for New York has given rise to a report that the Herreshoffs have refused to accept responsibility on the ground that they built the boats according to the wishes of their owners. Common report has it that the hulls were much lighter than the Herreshoffs had wished to construct.
Just where the Rainbow and Virginia will be repaired is not known here definitely tonight." (Source: Anon. "Mineola to be Rebuilt Here." New York Times, October 4, 1900, p. 8.)

"[Race results.]" (Source: Aldridge, A. F. "The Seventy-Footers." Rudder, December 1900, p. 449-450.)

"The 70 footer, sloop yacht Mineola, which came here to receive a new suit of sails at Herreshoffs, sailed Wednesday morning after the new mainsail was bent." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Bristol Phoenix, June 13, 1902, p. 3.)

"Mr. August Belmont, N.Y.Y.C., has sold his seventy footer, the Mineola, to Mr. William Ross Proctor, of the same club, through the agency of Mr. Frank Bowne Jones, of this city. Mr. Proctor will race the Mineola in her class next season.
Mr. Belmont has parted with a favorite racing craft. She was the first of the famous 'seventies' contracted for by their builders, the Herreshoffs, and it was through Mr. Belmont's suggestion and influence that the class was formed. He had a valuable and influential aid in Mr. Herman B. Duryea, who subsequently sold the Yankee, in which he was interested, to her present owner.
The year of the construction of the seventy footers, 1900. the Mineola was in charge of Captain 'Bob' Wringe, the British skipper, who has since been, first, the associate skipper, and afterward in full charge of Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrocks in the races for the America's Cup.
Captain Charles Barr has also had command of the Mineola, racing her throughout the season of 1902 with much success. She has not been in commission since the fall of that year. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Mineola Sold By August Belmont. Famous Seventy Footer Now The Property of Mr. William Ross Proctor, N.Y.Y.C." New York Times, October 28, 1904, p. ?.)

"The 70 foot racing sloop Mineola, owned by W. Ross Proctor, of Philadelphia, which has been in the harbor for the past week, sailed for Newport Wednesday [August 23, 1905], having had a new mast stepped and refitted with sails at the Herreshoff boat shops." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, August 25, 1905, p. 2.)

"Yankee a Houseboat. The 70-footer Yankee, one of the class of four yachts built by Herreshoff in 1900, has been sold by Harry L. Maxwell to a firm who makes a business of buying yachts for their lead and fixtures. Yankee will have her lead removed, but will not be broken up but fitted as a house boat. ... Yankee was raced by [Maxwell] until Queen [#657s] was built, when he gave the sloop to his son. Mineola [#529s] was sold to W. Ross Proctor, and is still owned by that yachtsman. Virginia [#533s] was sold to a Philadelphia yachtsman, who turned her into a houseboat, and Rainbow [#532s] was transferred to Herreshoff when Aurora [#667s] was built, and is now rigged as a schooner. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yankee a Houseboat." Forest and Stream, October 30, 1909, p. 703.)

"(From the New York Herald.] Mr. Henry L. Maxwell, New York Yacht Club, who purchased the sloop yacht Avenger [#666s] from Mr. Alexander S. Cochran, has sold his 70-foot sloop the Yankee [#534s] to Edward S. Reiss & Co., and the racing days of the famous yacht are over. The new owners have disposed of the fittings of the vessel and are now removing her lead. The hull will not he broken up, as was at first decided upon, but will likely do service as a houseboat in the future.
This disposition of the Yankee leaves only the Mineola [#529s] of the quartet of famous 70-footers intact. The Rainbow [#532s] was turned over to the Herreshoffs when Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt ordered the sloop Aurora [#667s] from them in the latter part of 1906, since which time little has been done with her save the reduction of her draft last year. The Virginia [#533s] was sold by Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., in 1908, and after her lead was removed the hull was purchased by Mr. Robert Barrie, of the Corinthian Yacht Club, of Philadelphia, who has since used her as a houseboat. The Mineola is at City Island, and has not been in commission for several seasons.
The class was built in 1900 by the Herreshoffs, and the four vessels were owned by the following members of the New York Yacht Club: The Rainbow, Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt; the Mineola, Mr. August Belmont; the Virginia, Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., and the Yankee, Mr. H. P. Whitney and Mr. Herman B. Duryea. The class became famous, and, notwithstanding the many criticisms of their construction, their speed and seaworthy qualities, the record at this late day is that for pure racing sport through a series of years the class was most interesting and creditable alike to their designer, Capt. N. G. Herreshoff, their owners, and the New York Yacht Club.
The first of the quartet to change hands was the Yankee. Mr. J. Rogers Maxwell purchased her in 1902 and raced her for four years, until 1905, when he ordered the now-famous schooner yacht the Queen [#657s].
Then he gave the Yankee to his son, Mr. Harry L. Maxwell, who persistently raced her that year with the Rainbow.
In 1903 the Yankee won the Astor cup for sloops. The Astor cups were not sailed for during the cruise of the New York Yacht Club that year, owing to a bad storm and heavy sea off Newport, but were sailed for on September 13, a month later. Harry Maxwell had charge of the Yankee and sailed her during the race.
So far as the Yankee is concerned, Mr. J. Rogers Maxwell, since the construction of the schooner the Queen, has said to friends:
'I had more real racing pleasure with the Yankee than with any other yacht I ever owned.' "
Greater praise of a vessel could not be had, as Mr. Maxwell stands, and has stood for very many years, in the front rank of experienced yachtracing owners, and his greatest pleasure has been in sailing his many vessels." (Source: Anon. "Passing of Fast Yacht. Racing Days of the Yankee are over Forever." The New York Sun, November 6, 1909, p. 12.)

"Seymour J. Hyde, of the New York Y. C. has purchased the 70 footer Rainbow [#532s] through the Hollis Burgess Agency. The yacht is at Herreshoff's, and is to be rigged as a yawl and equipped with an auxiliary gasolene motor. Rainbow was built for Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1900. She was one of four of one-design, and is the last to be changed. Mineola [#529s] and Yankee [#534s] have been broken up, and Virginia [#533s] is now a houseboat. These four made a remarkably fine class and furnished many sensational races'." (Source: Anon. "S. J. Hyde Buys Rainbow." Forest and Stream, June 4, 1910, p. 903.)

"The four boats of this, Herreshoffs largest one-design class, went at it tooth and nail in their first season, driving their long-ended hulls way beyond their structural limitations and earning for them the nickname 'Leakabouts.' Mineola [#529s], Rainbow [#532s], Virginia [#533s], and Yankee [#534s] were their names, and the fact that the owners, afterguard, and crews had, for the most part, been groomed aboard the intensely competitive Newport 30-footers established their hard-driving attitude toward sailing these far bigger craft.
There was some ethnic rivalry between the professional crews as well: two of the boats were manned entirely by Englishmen, while the other two had Scandinavian crews and American skippers.
Herreshoff's reputation suffered as much as the 'Leakabouts' themselves did, with numerous jibes coming from the yachting press and considerable owner dissatisfaction. Internal metal trusses were added during their second season which cut down on the leaking, but these scowlike monsters continued to demonstrate the ills of the prevailing Length-and-Sail-Area rating rule.
(The New York 70s also demonstrated that racing craft this big should be plated with metal rather than planked with wood.) Owners and observers alike became convinced that the New York Yacht Club and other leading clubs should consider a new rule that favored less-extreme hull shapes. Within two or three years, the Universal Rule was adopted." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 100.)

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] Wooden template annotated in pencil 'Crown of deck for #520 [#520s ATHENE] 70 foot Cutter. Also for 70ft w.l. class (#529 - 532 - 33 - 34) [New York 70s #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]
6 1/2in vise[?] in 19ft-2in'. On verso 'Rod[?] 88 19/16[?]'." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.130. Artifact (Wooden Template). Oversize Folder, Folder Models and Diagrams. No date (1899 ?).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] I hardly had time to thoroughly digest the specifications of both my boats [#529s MINEOLA and #203p SCOUT] when I saw a few things which will materially change the plans, ventilation, electric bells, starboard gangway not varnished, I do not like #510s PETREL's cutter, was out on PETREL yesterday + she creaks as bad as ever, try to avoid this with butternut in the interior, prefer hatches of butternut like #499s COLUMBIA, 26th Sept is a good date to try & close the class up, how quickly could you build the steam launch [SCOUT]?, this autumn?" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39320. Correspondence, Folder 80, formerly 70. 1899-09-03.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] received the blue print of my new [#529s] MINEOLA, prefer saloon forward of state rooms, will you discuss my plan with your brother John [JBH] who is ingenious about these matters & also talk to Mr. Morgan?, #510s PETREL's storm locker, detachable frame with glass for charts on deck, doors, desk in saloon, glass locker, saloon table, is pantry big enough?, when can I have a drawing of the lines of the boat?, when can you give me plans of the new steam launch [#203p SCOUT]?" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39340. Correspondence, Folder 80, formerly 70. 1899-09-05.)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Description:] Penciled midship section sketch titled "#529 [New York 70 class: #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE] 65ft w.l. With a few calculations noting 'Girth[?]'. (Is this an original sketch to facilitate making the model?) Undated (a first set of pantograph hull section was drawn on September 8, 1899)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09080. Folder [no #]. No date (1899-09-08 or earlier ?).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled '529 [New York 70 Class: #529s, #532s, #533s, #534s]. 1st trial. Sept[ember] 8, [18]99'. No further notes or calculations. " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04600. Folder [no #]. 1899-09-08.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections and pantograph lead sections titled '2nd trial. Final. #529. 65ft Class [New York 70s: #529s, #532s, #533s, #534s]. Sept[ember] 11, 1899'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 2372.4cuft = 152620lbs = 68 tons gross and a group of calculations for 'Keel. 3ft 0in deep from bottom line'. " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04580. Folder [no #]. 1899-09-11.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] have not yet had time to digest rules for One Design Class of 65 feet water line [sic, the New York 70 design started out at 65ft LWL and was changed to 70ft LWL in October 1899], have gone over the plan for steam yacht, which I propose to call the [#203p] SCOUT, re #529s MINEOLA galley is too small, need gaspipe bunk in sail-room for steward, 'Another matter that was overlooked entirely in both boats are electric bells. That, now-a-days, is an indispensable matter; please note this', want port holes, please discuss with [E.D.] Morgan, need loose board of white pine as designing board in chart-room" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39380. Correspondence, Folder 80, formerly 70. 1899-09-13.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled '#529s [New York 70 class: #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE] Lead. 65ft w.l. Sept[ember] 17, 1899'. With calculations arriving at 72750lbs of lead at 58.1% of w.l." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09020. Folder [no #]. 1899-09-17.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] have studied fresh cabin plan of #529s MINEOLA, dislike very much to give up so much of the saloon, better reduce state-room, sideboards pretty small, has Mr. Robinson signed his contract?, floor plan of #203p SCOUT is not very clear to me" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39400. Correspondence, Folder 80, formerly 70. 1899-09-20.)
①

"[Item Description:] have sent first check for [#203p SCOUT and #529s MINEOLA] to your firm, #188p SQUIB had forward of galley a little eating saloon and then forecastle, would like same on SCOUT" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39410. Correspondence, Folder 80, formerly 70. 1899-09-25.)
①

"[Item Description:] Penciled calculations titled 'Memo[randum]. Sept[ember] 29 [1899]'. With calculations dividing 28000 'C Price' by 64 'Tons D' = 437.50 'Portion[?] D' and multiplying this with 74 1.2 'per[??] D' = $32,593.75. With note 'Gross price for Sloop 32,593.75'. 4 boats usin[?] ordered, deduct discount of 4000 making price net per sloop = $28,593.75'. (These are price calculations for #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA and #534s YANKEE of the New York 70 class, whose LWL had been increased fom 65ft to 70ft and which were contracted for on October 11, 1899 for $32,593.75 each)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (??) (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03290. Folder [no #]. 1899-09-29.)
①

"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary specifications and class rule beginning with 'Rules for One Designed Class of 65ft w.l. General approximate dimensions. W.L. 65ft. Overall 99ft. Beam 19 1/4ft. Draft 13ft. Disp[lacement] 2240cuft [= 143360lbs]. Sail by NYYC rule 5625sqft. Outfit to include 16ft cutter, 12 foot dinghy, complete rig & gear for cruising & racing, including 20 life preservers, 2 life rings, 2 anchors & chain cables, 1 kedge anchor & warp. Total sleeping accomodation 17. Galley capable to feed 17. Water tanks of 425gals. Ice box of 950lbs capacity. In One Design Class Races ... ' and continuing with 'Mem[orandum] of sails which may be used in One Design Class Races', 'Spars to be of wood ...', 'Docking for cleaning, painting bottomes to be done only between 1st & 7th of each months unless by special permit ...'. [Filed with material relating to the NY70s of 1899/1900 (#529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE) and a preliminary, smaller, design for this class]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Specifications and Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_02750. Folder [no #]. No date (1899-10 ???).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Typewritten class rule titled 'Rules for One Design Class of 65 [corrected in pencil to 70] feet water line [New York 70 class of 1899/1900 #529s: MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]'. With sections beginning with 'General aproximate dimensions', 'Outfit', 'Memo of sails which may be used', 'Spars to be of ...', 'Interior. One of three plans submitted, in either pine painted or butternut shellace finished or policked', 'Decocking for cleaning to be done only' and, in pencil, 'One ton of inside ballast is placed on board by the builders and this is not to be added to or taken out ...'. With numerous penciled changes reflecting the increase of waterline length from 65ft to 70ft which the New York 70s design underwent in October 1899." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE12_00460. Folder [no #]. No date (1899-10 ?).)
① ② ③

"[Item Description:] will try to arrange visit with [E.D.] Morgan in Bristol [to see #203p SCOUT and #529s MINEOLA], the duck you had made in Lowell, are we all to have this duck on our boats, or is it something special which we will have to order outside of the general contract?" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39420. Correspondence, Folder 80, formerly 70. 1899-10-31.)
①

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) table titled 'Block List # 529 - 532 - 533 -534 [New York 70s #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]. Marked in red pencil 'see 91-68' [HMCo Plan HH.5.07340 (091-068) Block list for 70' w.l. class from December 21, 1899]. With penciled note 'Changes made in Main Throat Hal[yard] [and] Jib halyard'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_01510. Folder [no #]. No date (before 1899-12-21).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] would be very glad if your workman, McNaught, will make the model yacht, the dimensions to be 30in w.l. and 42in overall, of-course I would like very much to have it as nearly as possible like the new [#529s] MINEOLA, consistent with your habit of not allowing your models to be copied." (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39430. Correspondence, Folder 80, formerly 70. 1899-12-07.)
①

"[Item Transcription:] Yours of the 8th re[ceive]d this evening.
I saw Mr Belmont a few days since & he liked my Spanish cedar very much.
My seemly[?] was to have a butternut interior [for #207p MIRAGE] so arranged that I could put stuff in the panels surrounded by a gilt[?] rounding[?], you will remember the panels work[?] to be long[?] & a plan[?] of the panelling was to be submitted to me that mis[?] ch[?] & I could change it if necessary before it was started. It has been my intention after seeing the plan to ask you for how much extra you would substitute Spanish cedar for the butternut. Will you kindly send the paneling plan as soon as convenient, also the price of difference bet[ween] butternut & Spanish cedar in steamer & '70' [#532s RAINBOW]. I am hoping to go up soon but as I may be further delayed I trust[?] your word count on it. I have not been to ky[?] yet. The reducing[?] length of cockpit 20in will be a distinct improvement.
In after stateroom I want my washstand at forward end between steerage[?] & back[?] room doors & the place as[?] afen[?] and made vacant to be occupied by a 2nd bureau w[hic]h[?] w[oul]d[?] be[?] necessary for a room to be occupied by 2 people. I also want the bureaus in 2 staterooms adjoining saloon after[?] 4 feet long and placed under sky light as per blue print w[ic]h I am returning & which I see includes some of Mr. Belmont's plan [for #529s MINEOLA]. I see[?] the door[?] comes in nearly[?] in[?]this plan. You are[?] to give me some facts about heavy silon[?] slate or which metals, differences of price, etc.
Electric bell on both boats [#207p MIRAGE and #532s RAINBOW] in 2 rooms adjoining saloon. I want to have the 'closet' and drawer's arrangement same as that in after stateroom all the little things that are so necessary for ones comfort on a boat unless it be on the ground so that I hope I may be able to get on very soon, if not before the Holidays, immediately after.
The saloon settees seem a nice width, 2ft 4in? is it not. I've[?] had a long day in town & am pretty well tired out." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37710. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1899-12-11.)
① ② ③

"[Item Description:] One page with penciled calculations and formulas on recto, apparently related to a rating or measurement formula (L * sq-rt(S)) / (4 * cube-rt(wl ox)) which is calculated for #452s DEFENDER, #499s COLUMBIA, #529s MINEOLA, #510s PETREL, #411s GLORIANA, #414s WASP, #539s ALTAIR, #545s PLEASURE, #538s COUNTESS, #530s ELECTRA and Newport 30 Class. Another formula L * sq-rt(S)) / (7 1/2 * sq-rt([W.L.]ox) which is calculated for PETREL, GLORIANA, ALTAIR, ELECTRA and Newport 30 Class [Undated. 1900 or later given the building numbers]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72140. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F08, formerly MRDE15. No date (1900 or later).)
①

"[Item Description:] the folding basins which you propose to put in the yacht [apparently for #529s MINEOLA], like those that are on steamships where there is no plumbing, had all better be made of spanish cedar" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39450. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-01-20.)
①

"[Item Description:] will go over to Mott Iron Works and find out if they can make me a wash stand of Spanish cedar [apparently for #529s MINEOLA], footboard should be varnished Spanish cedar, butternut for the [#203p] SCOUT, idea of bureau in MINEOLA's after state-room is satisfactory, you state that Spanish cedar would not stand as well as mahogany but I cannot conceive it would wear out very rapidly, don't mind that you were unable to meet when we were in Bristol [apparently on launching day January 16, 1900 when Belmont had come by private railroad car], sending photo of MINEOLA [apparently Belmont's old Burgess-designed 46-footer]" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39460. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-01-23.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Yours re[ceive]d this evening. I am glad to hear you are so well on with the 70 [#532s RAINBOW] as that probably means you will have them all out early & prove[?] me a true prophet.
I cannot telly you the name yet but possibly can before launching. We have not yet decided upon it. As soon as you decide upon a date for launching please let me know & if I can go on for it I will.
I did not hear about the mercerized sails yet for Mr. Belmont [#529s MINEOLA] but expect to see him in a day or two. I was quite pleased to learn of your plan of stowing the st[eame]r [#207p MIRAGE] for the winter. I am thinking of finishing my interior Spanish cedar with wax directly on the bare wood but I think I wrote this before. Sorry about the white metal. I have been trying to think what the matter is. I do not want a sailing master. We had a boy born yesterday 3 A.M. with[?] very well so far & I am greatly relieved. Please tell Mrs Herreshoff, she always expresses such kind interest in the children & give her our kindest regards." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37770. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1900-01-29.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Typewritten (carbon copy) table with penciled additions listing boats built 1899/1900 with columns labeled 'Design [in pencil]', 'Shop. No.', 'Length', 'Planking', 'Delivery', 'Owner' followed by penciled data for Boat Name and Actual Delivery Date. Relevant contents:
#529s Design Oct. 11 [1899] [Length:] 70ft W.L. [Planking:] Y[ellow] P[ine] [Delivery:] May 1 [1900] [Owner:] A. Belmont [Act. Delivery:] May 12 [1900] (MINEOLA)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator) and Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01290. Folder [no #]. No date (1900-02).)
①

"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.05837 (079-026). Blueprint rig detail plan titled '#529 [New York 70] Class. Bowsprit & topmast end Cones. Feb[ruary] 3, 1900'. (Other boats referenced on this plan are #532s, #533s, #534s, #590s, #657s, #719s, and #772s)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_01220. Folder [no #]. 1900-02-03.)
①

"[Item Description:] Re shellacing and waxing, please send me a small piece of wood of the Spanish cedar, waxed, and I can then compare it with the piece you have already sent me which I believe is shellaced or vice versa [apparently for #529s MINEOLA or #203p SCOUT]." (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39490. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-02-06.)
①

"[Item Description:] have received your letter of the 21st. inst [apparently with NY70 class rules], already had a talk with Mr. Whitney [owner of #534s YANKEE] and no doubt we can adopt rules for the class, Mr. Whitney's idea was that they should all be on the same footing, every restrictive measure suits him fully and the sails also suit him, I gave him a sample of the Lowell duck and it is his fault if he does not order it, I told him two or three times about it, please send dimensions of signals for [#529s] MINEOLA and also the ensign and likewise for the [#203p] SCOUT" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39510. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-02-23.)
①

"[Item Description:] how far advanced is Mr. [E. D.] Morgan's boat [#532s RAINBOW]?, are the partitions in?, my own stateroom [on #529s MINEOLA] on starboard could be improved by having a narrow transom running along just below the berth, it will be nice to sit on and will give a little more room for the drawers underneath, please send little sketch showing how much space there will be between desk and such a transom" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39500. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-02-27.)
①

"[Item Description:] Mr. Belmont has been talking enthusiastically about his seventy-footer [#529s MINEOLA], result is I am keen about the boats and thinking of trip to Bristol with Mrs Whitney to see how my boat [#534s YANKEE] is coming on, he also informed me that I must order sails such as he is having made out of a special duck of which, I understand you have a sufficient quantity for all the boats, I fear I made a mistake in not ordering a launch similar Mr Belmont's [#203p] SCOUT, I don't suppose that you have any boat of about that character for sale or could build me one to be ready at the time the seventy-footer is ready?" (Source: Whitney, Harry Payne. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39520. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-04-03.)
①

"[Item Description:] I send yon finished draft of rules for One Design Class of 70 ft. Water Line, please fill out blank spaces, read over the rules carefully and give me your opinion, I hope you will push the completion of the boats, let me know when you step the [#529s] MINEOLA's mast" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39530. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-04-04.)
①

"[Item Description:] Handwritten in ink specifications and class rule marked 'Copy' and titled 'Rules for One Designed Class of 70ft Water Line'. With penciled note 'Apr[il] 7, 1900. Design by N.G. Herreshoff for no. 529 and class [#529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]. Fall of 1899'. Text begins with 'General approximate dimensions w.l. 70ft, o.a. 106ft, Beam 19 1/2ft. Draft 14ft. Displacement 2564cuft [= 164096lbs]. Sail area by NYYC rule 6980sqft. Outfit to include 16ft cutter, 14 foot dinghy, complete rig & gear for cruising & racing, including 20 life preservers, 2 life rings, 2 anchors & chain cables, 1 kedge anchor & warp. Total sleeping accomodation 17. Galley capable to feed 17 and stove to weigh not less than 295lbs. Water tanks of 535gals. Ice box of 950lbs capacity. In One Design Class Races ... ' and continuing specifications for spars, sail areas and materials, hull construction, interior, docking for cleaning, marking of waterline, demanding remeasurements, yacht club rules in conflict with these reulations, etc." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Specifications and Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_02770. Folder [no #]. 1900-04-07.)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Description:] Penciled racing rule notes with two sections titled 'Championship' and 'Protests'. Otherwise untitled and undated. [These two sections were new in the final version of the specifications and class rule titled 'Rules for 70ft One Design Class (Design of N.G. Herreshoff for #529 and class [#529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE])']." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03350. Folder [no #]. No date (1900-04-08 or later).)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten (carbon copy) note:] Suggestion for extra spars for 70 footers [New York 70 class: #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]. To be owned jointly by the four owners and available for either vessel in case of accident. If two, or more, vessels want one spar, it is to be drawn for by owners of crippled vessels.
1 - Mast.
1 - Boom.
1 - Spinnaker boom.
2 - Bowsprits.
2 - Gaff's.
2 - # 2 Topsail spars.
4 - Topmasts.
1 Pair spreaders.
N. G. H." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03370. Folder [no #]. No date (1900-04-08 or later).)
①

"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten (carbon copy) note:] Suggestion for extra spars for 70 footers [New York 70 class: #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]. To be owned jointly by the four owners and available for either vessel in case of accident. If two, or more, vessels want one spar, it is to be drawn for by owners of crippled vessels.
1 - Mast.
1 - Boom.
1 - Spinnaker boom.
2 - Bowsprits.
2 - Gaff's.
2 - # 2 Topsail spars.
4 - Topmasts.
1 Pair spreaders.
N. G. H." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03380. Folder [no #]. No date (1900-04-08 or later).)
①

"[Item Description:] Handwritten in ink specifications and class rule titled 'Rules for One Designed Class of 70ft Water Line [#529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]'. Text begins with 'General dimensions: Overall 106ft. waterline 70ft 3in, Beam 19ft 4in, Draft 14ft 0in Sail area by NYYC rule about 6980sqft. ...' With further sections specifying 'Construction', 'Outfit', 'Inside Ballast', 'Changes', 'Docking', 'Ice, Water & Provisions', 'Special Races', 'General Races', 'Championship', 'Merit of Amateur Helmsman', 'Time Keeper', 'Amendment of Rules' and 'New Rules'. Undated (this appears to be a new version of a subsequent draft dated April 7, 1900)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Specifications and Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_02810. Folder [no #]. No date (1900-04-08 or later).)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤

"[Item Description:] Typewritten mimeographed specifications and class rule titled 'Rules for 70ft One Design Class (Design of N.G. Herreshoff for #529 and class [#529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE])'. Text begins with 'General dimensions: Length Overall 106 feet 0 inches. Length on waterline 70 feet 3 inches. Beam 19 feett 4 inches. Draft 14 feet 0 inches. Sail area by New York Yacht Club Rule about 6980sqft. ...' With further sections specifying 'Construction', 'Outfit', 'Inside Ballast', 'Changes', 'Docking', 'Ice, Water & Provisions', 'Special Races', 'General Races', 'Championship', 'Merit of Amateur Helmsman', 'Time Keeper', 'Protests', 'Amendment of Rules' and 'New Rules'. Undated (this appears to be a new version of a subsequent draft dated April 7, 1900)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Specifications and Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_02860. Folder [no #]. No date (1900-04-08 or later).)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Description:] am surprised and pained to hear of the dissatisfaction you have expressed [about #203p SCOUT] for I have been feeling pleased with the boats as to speed, handiness and good accomodations, speed at trial has never been exceeded by any small vessel using anthracitic coal and having an open fire room, boats are heavier due to owner's demands, never encouraged Mr. Morgan to use her for service to New York, never guaranteed any such performance which would be technically impossible with anthracitic coal, surprised engineer used jet without assistance of a fireman, speed of 15 miles in such rough weather is very fast and may well be a record, 'we want to do all that is possible to the boats to make them successful but I cannot do and you must not expect impossibilities', Taylor is a good engine driver but not a marine engineer, his fire was dirty but he did not state it, #529s MINEOLA is now rigged, copy of letter" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to August Belmont. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39640. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-04-16.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧

"[Item Description:] [on #529s MINEOLA stationery, dated 'Monday':] I am minus an engineer, can you help me to one, I have promised the [#203p] SCOUT for the Committee boat on Wednesday [apparently Wednesday May 30, 1900, Memorial Day], I seem to be in and of something which you can help me about, I hope you will have the MINEOLA first + get her out of the way, we won today" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39800. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. No date (1900-05-28 ?).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] please let me know if any of the 70-footers are having hollow spars made, the agreement [Class Rules] calls for solid spare but has not yet been signed, although they all profess a desire to do so, I therefore see no necessity, as far as the 70-footers are concerned, in departing from our original purpose about them, for when the Astor Cup comes, it certainly will be at their mercy without having to make any changes, this is the only race in which they are liable to meet the larger boats, [#529s] MINEOLA is doing well, as you will have seen, she is rather lucky and I suppose has the advantage of being a little better tuned up, am sorry about the [#437s] VIGILANT having gone ashore the other day, for I think, boat for boat, I can beat her on the wind, reaching and running, of course, she makes a lot up on me" (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39830. Correspondence, Folder 81, formerly 70. 1900-06-20.)
①

"[Item Transcription:] I have been so busy all this winter that I have been unable to get on to Bristol, as I intended, but hope very soon to arrange my affairs so as to pay you a visit.
I want to consult you about the CONSTITUTION [#551s]. I also feel that it would be an excellent thing for us to have the duck [canvas] for next year['s America's Cup] woven now and delivered this Summer and keep it, as seasoned duck I am sure is very much better than when fresh from the mills.
I am going to start putting the MINEOLA [#529s] in commission the middle of next month, and would like to know whether you have suitable duck for the lower sails; I do not want a mercerized mainsail. I would like to hear from you on the subject, and what your recommendation is. [Charlie] Barr, whom I have engaged, tells me that some of my wire rigging is in bad shape, but I presume this is something I can manage myself. I should like to begin very soon on the mainsail, and I want to try the experiment this year, of a foresail without roping the leach.
I hope you are well and hearty and have passed a good Winter. Remember me kindly to Mrs. Herreshoff, and believe me
Yours very sincerely, ..." (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39880. Correspondence, Folder 82, formerly 64. 1902-03-14.)
①

"[Item Description:] Page (on the back of Brooklyn Warehouse and Dry Dock Company' invitation to a stockholders meeting on June 10, 1902) with densely penciled table and calculations marked by NGH in right margin 'sent in letter to Mr Cormack, June 16, 1902'. The table shows rating numbers and intermediate numbers for exisiting and proposed rating rules for HMCo-built boats (#499s COLUMBIA, #452s DEFENDER, #529s MINEOLA Class, #510s PETREL (yawl), #411s GLORIANA, #414s WASP, #539s ALTAIR, #545s PLEASURE, #538s COUNTESS, #530s ELECTRA, Newport 30 Class, Buzzards Bay 30 Class, #578s AZOR)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Correspondence (table) to Cormack, George A. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72260. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F08, formerly MRDE15. 1902-06-16.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Since writing you last I have received a letter from Mr. A. Cary Smith, a copy of which, I enclose to you herewith.
I have also had a talk with Mr. Gardner and he has acquiesced in the recommendation of M.Q.B.L. for L with LWL eliminated from the rule.
I have prepared a measurement rule in harmony as far as possible with your own views and the views of Mr. Smith and Mr. Gardner and enclose to you herewith a copy of the same.
The classification suggested, reduces the number of the present classes and seems to me to fit the measurements as far as practicable of the present racing boats.
I have appended a few examples giving the approximate ratings of the racing boats which though not strictly accurate are near enough for our purposes.
I would esteem it a very great favor if you would furnish me the exact measurements under the rule, of the MINEOLA [#529s], HUMMA [#553s] OR ALTAIR [#539s], EFFORT [#552s], LEDA [#541s] or COUNTESS [#538s].
The measurement of sail as you know by the present system reduces the ratings of all the boats to lower figures than if the sail were measured by the English method, and as I desire to make up a correct table under the rule suggested I would like to have the accurate measurement of these boats under the suggested rule as figured by you.
I would also like to know if the suggested rule comes near enough to your ideas to be recommended by you for adoption.
I regret the necessity of troubling you further in this matter but I am very anxious that whatever is recommended by our Committee shall go before the Club with your approval. [Incl NGH draft reply:] I have yours of 16th inst and am glad to know that you as well as Mr Smith and Mr Gardner have looked into the 'MQBL' again and approve of it as I recommended it.
As to the matter of measuring sails, I cannot agree with Mr Smith, that it cannot be improved upon. I certainly think it can be and be improved, but the bad results of the present method are not so important as other things under consideration are. Yawls are very unfairly measured under the present method. In the English method they are correctly measured and in the English method there is no occasion to monkey with throat or peak halyard blocks to give all possible sail spread for the measurement. They (the Englishman) can put in as long or short mast head as they please and have all the drift they want on the throat halyards, or as much doubling to the masts as is necessary to hold them, without affecting the measurement of the sails. There is one thing, however, I think your committee should do if they do not think it wise to change the present method of measuring sails, and that is to add the excess of area of club topsails over the maximum size of the working topsail and not rule club topsails out when racing.
In using 5. as a constant in the formula (L*sq-rt(S)) / (5*cube-rt(D)), the resulting racing length is larger than we are accustomed to, and I would suggest using instead 5.5 for the present measurement, or 5.5 (possibly 6) for the Y.R.A. measurement or the NYYC with clubtopsail added as an illustration I present the following calculations for some of our one-stickers: [Table with data for DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], MINEOLA [#529s], (NEOLA), ALTAIR [#539s], WASP [#414s], GLORIANA [#411s], EFFORT [#552s], COUNTESS [#538s], Newport 30s, Buzzards Bay 30s follows.]
In closing I hope your committee will not overlook the importance of changing the time allowance tables to the full theoretical amount as I have already suggested. You[?] it is very important that the present idea that the largest boat in the class is the best one should be exploded." (Source: Lawton, N.D. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71670. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F07, formerly MRDE15. 1902-09-16.)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Transcription:] [Four-page typed letter on HMCo stationery:] I have yours of the 16th, and am glad to know that you as well as Mr. Smith and Mr. Gardiner[sic, i.e. Gardner], have looked into the M. Q. B. L. again and approve of it as I recommend it.
As to the method of measuring sails I cannot agree with Mr. Smith that it cannot be improved upon. I certainly think it can be and should be improved, but the bad results of the present method are not so important as other things under consideration are. Yawls are very unfairly measured under the present method. In the English method they are correctly measured, and in the English method there is no occasion to monkey with the throat and peak halyard blocks to get all possible sail spread for the measurement. They (the Englishman) can put in as long or short mast head as they please and have all the drift they want on the throat halyards, or as much doubling to the masts as is necessary to hold them, without affecting the measurement of the sails. There is one thing, however, I think your committee should do if they do not think it wise to change the present method of measuring sails, and that is to add the excess of area of club topsails over the maximum size of the working topsails and not rule club topsails out when racing.
In using 5. as a constant in the formula (L*sq-rt(S)) / (5*cube-rt(D)) the resulting racing length is larger than we are accustomed to and I would suggest using instead 5.5 for the present measurement or 5.75 (possibly 6) for Y.R.A. measurement or the N.Y.Y.C. with club topsail added. As an illustration I present the following calculations from some of our one-stickers.
[Table with data for DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], MINEOLA [#529s], (NEOLA), ALTAIR [#539s], WASP [#414s], GLORIANA [#411s], EFFORT [#552s], COUNTESS [#538s], Newport 30s, Buzzards Bay 30s follows.]
It would be a mistake to limit sail area to 5% excess of racing length instead of by M.Q.B.L. The object of limiting it at all is to prevent rigging small hulls with big sails which would be suitable for light weather racing only and worthless for cruising.
As an example suppose we take the formula (M.Q.B.L.)*sq-rt(S) / (5.5 * cube-rt(D)) and substitute for sq-rt(S) its equivalent 1.05 R[acing]L[ength] as per your recommendation, then RL / (1.05*RL) = MQBL/(5.5*cube-rt(D))
Now suppose RL is fixed, then M.Q.B.L. can be made as large or small as you please as long as D is changed so that cube-rt(D)is always a certain ratio of M.Q.B.L. Or in other words, having racing length and sail area fixed you are at liberty to choose any size hull you think best suited to the weather conditions.
The possible limit of speed of any vessel having no great propelling force than can be obtained from the wind by the sail she can carry, is governed by the speed of the wave she can generate and this is never longer than her body. The speed of a wave is depended on its length in the well known law S=sq-rt(L). Now the length of vessel for generating the wave is measured very fairly by M.Q.R.L., and this factor is the ruling one in the formula, which perhaps would be better understood if written RL=(MQBL)* (sq-rt(S)/(5.5*cube-rt(D)). In this way you may consider that sq-rt(S) / (5.5*cube-rt(D)) is only a correction of M.Q.B.L. for the amount of sail carried in relation to the displacement. It is very obvious that sq-rt(S) should be limited to the (M.Q.B.L.) and also that the classification should be by M.Q.B.L. and not by RL. as has been the popular way for the last few years.
I am still of the conviction that it would be wiser; better for the present generation and the coming one to make the class limits in ratio 5 to 4 (nearly) as I proposed in scale 100-80-64-50-40, both for schooners and sloops and based on W.Q.B.L.
In closing I hope your committee will not overlook the importance of changing the time allowance tables to the full theoretical amount, as I have already suggested. It is very important that the present idea that the largest boat in the class is the best one should be exploded." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Lawton, N.D. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71530. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F07, formerly MRDE15. 1902-09-19.)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Transcription:] There has been a good deal of discussion lately with respect to the new measurement rule adopted by the New York Yacht Club last year and it seems to be the general impression that too high a premium has been put upon displacement and that possibly it was a mistake to have departed from the old sizes in the measurement and the rating of boats in figures so much larger than heretofore.
If it is not too much trouble for you I would like to know what you think of the following formula:
((L * sq-rt(SA)) / (3 * cube-rt(D))) * .5
With a classification of 80, 64, 52, 43 & 30, I figure that under this formula we could get the following approximate ratings:
MINEOLA [#529s], 75
NEOLA, 61
ALTAIRE [#539s], 51
ASPIRANT, 42
I would like very much to know what your views are with respect to a suggestion made to modify the present rule in the way mentioned.
[Incl NGH reply dated October 10, 1903:] If convenient it might be of interest to you to look up a letter to Mr. Cormack I wrote the latter part of October last year [see NGH response to Cormack letter dated October 21, 1902], criticizing the rules as then amended by your committee. I think you will remember that in an earlier correspondence I pointed out that the coefficient 1/5 should be changed in case the English plan of measuring sails was adapted and should be 1/6, or very near to it.
The formula in the form you presented ((L * sq-rt(SA)) / (3 * cube-rt(D))) * .5 is perhaps a little misleading to you. If the constant part is transposed, it would appear [as] (.5 * L * sq-rt(SA)) / (3 & cube-rt(D)) or 1/6 * (L * sq-rt(SA)) / cube-rt(D)) which is exactly what I had suggested in case of using the English plan of measuring sails.
I cannot agree with you that too high premium is put on displacement, and I am very sure it is not so.
Vested interests should not be consulted in this matter. I know and have seen with a good deal of satisfaction that heavier displacement and really better allround boats have done very finely indeed under the new rule. I am very sure the kick[?] is not for[?] the owner of Q[uen?] Mab[?] or any other imported[?] 60 rating or for the owner of the boat built under the new rules to beat Effort. Let the cube-rt(D) stand as it is but change the coefficient 1/5 to 1/6 so to bring the boats in the classes that they always have been, and while you are making a change, you will do well to clip the wings a little and make the limit of square root sail area 130% of L instead of 135%. I would like to say 125% but I will compromise on 130%.
Before closing I would like to extend my congratulations to the Regatta Committee for their very efficient work throughout the season, and particularly for the fin judgment in starting the final [America's] Cup race." (Source: Lawton, N.D. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69930. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F03, formerly MRDE15. 1903-10-08.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] If you can do so without too much trouble will you kindly send me as soon as practicable the measurements of the MINEOLA [#529s], HUMMA [#553s], EFFORT [#552s?], COUNTESS [#538s] and INGOMAR [#590s] under the formula (L * sq-rt(SA)) / (5.5 * cube-rt(D)) or any of the other[?] boats of these named in the place of the ones mentioned, also the area of the working topsail and of the largest clubtopsail.
I only want approximate figures as nearly accurate as possible.
The Measurement Com. of the NYY Club and the Com. on Rules require these figures to determine the questions of classification and rules to be recommended to the club for adoption at the next meeting.
I am particularly anxious to get the MINEOLA & HUMMA classes and the INGOMAR and if I could have these it would be that I would require although I would be glad to get the others as well. I am... [Incl penciled NGH reply / notes:] [Penciled table with data for MINEOLA, ALTAIR [#539s], EFFORT, COUNTESS, INGOMAR showing quarter beam length, sail area, displacement in cubic feet, and measurement using above quoted formula.]" (Source: Lawton, N.D. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69740. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F03, formerly MRDE15. 1904-01-26.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§12: Work Order '[For] # s 529 - 532 - 533 - 534 [New York 70s #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]. [When wanted] Soon. Galv. Plow Steel Rope. Very best quality. Well galvanized with good zinc coating. 7 wires per strand …' (1899-11-04)
§13: Work Order '[For] # s 529 - 532 - 533 - 534 [New York 70s #529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA, #534s YANKEE]. Change in order of Nov[ember] 4 [1899]. … [With crossed out] Note. We can probably use about 140ft of 9/16 dia [steel rope] in No 531 [#531s SHARK]. ...' (1899-11-27)
§14: Work Order '[For] Yachts building. Chain Cables. [When wanted] # 529 - 532 - 533 - 534 [#529s, #532s, #533s, #534s] - #204 [#204p] - 205 [#205p] Ap[ril] 1 [1900]. #531 - 207 [#207p] Ap[ril] 20 [1900]. #204 [#204p] - 205 [#205p] May 1st [1900]. 533 [#533s] - 534 [#534s] May 26 or earlier. All cables of BBB galvanized ...' (1899-12-04)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_01320. Folder [no #]. 1897-01 to 1905.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵

"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Transcription:] I can see that some steps are to be taken towards correcting the method of measuring sails and displacement according to the rule, but I do not think there will be any tampering with the rule itself.
The first suggestion that has been made is in the measuring of the fore-triangle, so that the raising of the boom would not reduce the sail area. It seems to me that the proper thing to do is to measure the perpendicular of the fore-triangle to the deck, and then taking a certain percentage, 85 instead of 90, or whatever size might be found advisable.
Another objection is in the measuring of foresails of schooners. But this is very easily corrected. The base line should be the distance between the masts.
Can you suggest any better method of measuring displacement? No two measurers in this particular part of the world have ever been able to get displacement the same. In case of small boats, I should advise that they be weighed, that is, boats up to 30 feet water line.
This could be very easily done and would be very satisfactory. But with the big boats you can readily see the trouble. Incl. NGH reply dated Oct 23:
However weighing is more accurate when it can be done, which is quite practicable in the 27' rating class only. The larger ones will have to be measured either from the designers' plans or take off sections and calculate from them. I feel quite sure it is practicable [to] do that and within the personal error. I find in measuring from the model, also I could arrange apparatus to take off the lines of a large yacht in drydock in 3 hours time or less.
In regard to hollow lines, I think 1/2 the excess of wl over 115 per cent will protect going to extreme in that direction. I now regret L had not been taken at 1/5 breadth of wl instead of 1/4 . It would have given all types a fair chance in racing, and there would not have been any need of the 115% limit. The present rule has been a harder knock to the scow type than I had any idea it would be. However since the boats under the new rule have been so satisfactory and the scows, or I should say, boats of an unseaworthy type, are now practically out of it from now on it will make little difference if L is taken at 1/4 or 1/5 breadth.
You say nothing about making a change in the sail limit. To future racing, I think that is more important than any other subject you have brought up, and shall be attended to. You will never have good racing until every competitor is rigged properly for cruising and up to a correct standard of cruising [remainder of sentence crossed out:] as exemplified in the NYYC 30s [#626s New York 30 Class], also the [New York] 70s [#529s Class]. That plan of limit sail area of which I gave you b[lue] p[rint] last summer requires no other measurements than are already taken for rating, and works out in a very satisfactory manner. You better look into it. I developed it last summer when there was talk of another challenge, but I donot think that will interfere with any changes in sailing rules now." (Source: Cormack, George A. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69330. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F02, formerly MRDE15. 1907-10-19.)
① ②

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] I have taken up the question of having the draft rule amended as soon as possible, but of course it will mean calling another conference which we will try to get through early in October.
As far as I can learn the opinions of the yachting men I think the following changes will be brought up for discussion.
1. Amend the draft rule.
2. Make every yacht built after Jan. 1st 1908 rate at the top of her class in class racing.
3. Go back to the 60% time allowance scale.
4. Straighten out the measuring of sail area. The present method of measuring spars alone does not give satisfaction. One suggestion is to measure the diagonal from throat to clue instead of calculating it as we now do. The Club topsail as at present measured can be easily beaten by making your working topsail tack very low.
5. Allow the 33 foot class to carry Clubtopsails.
There is also some talk of bringing in the W.L. into the formula as you suggested to me the other day. I hardly think this will materialize though as I am afraid to touch the rule itself as it would mean an entire change of classification which we do not want.
Why would a 70 foot schooner cost so much more than the old [New York] 70s. That matter is still in the air but I hope to pull it off if I can get some one other boat built in the class. Incl. NGH reply: I hope you will be able to put the changes thru. It is very important to future building. It would be a shame to be obliged to build all the larger boats with centre boards if you wished to race them successfully. I[?]wrote[?] [George] Cormack about it a few days ago, that is about draft restriction and sail restrictions. I didn't mention the proportion of modifying the L by taking mean of quarter[?] beam[?] length and waterline for it might seem as if I was asking too much. I am however of the opinion that it would put our measurement in more perfect form and cause the rating to be index[?] of the racing speed of a yacht. The fact that there would have to be no new measurement taken than the measurer has at present is very much in its favor, and as for classification that would be very easy fixed by allowing all craft now built to remain in their present classes, but to give time allowance as by their new measurement.
I cannot agree with in abolishing time allowance in classes. It would be a big mistake, and has always proven so. Build your one design classes when it can be carried out, but to ask every one to build to the class limit will never hold for any length of time. Take the Ram bu the horns and straighten our the time allowance rules so the little end of the class will have as nearly as possible only[?]an equal chance of wining as the big end. Just because there happened to be two or three exceptionally fast boats that got in at the bottom of the classes this year and sweeped many of the prizes is no reason to abandon time allowance altogether. The little boats merited part of their winning --- not all. Part is due to the fact that the new boats are much larger than their rating, while the new allowance tables have been based on the performance of the older type which were much smaller than their rating. The time allowance table wants adjusting, which is an easy matter. But in making adjustments don't forget the fat that AVENGER [#666s], DORELLO, SENECA [#670s] all have features that gave them an advantage over their larger rivals. The smaller craft were allowed all the draft they need. The larger were not. The smaller were the latest productions and having hollow spars & c. Is it wise to allow hollow spars? I am about ready to say yes, having in mind the fact that it is getting more and more difficult to procure timber for solid ones and the day will soon arrive when all spars will be built up and then it will be just as easy to have them hollow as solid.
At first I was opposed to the spar measure and ruled for calculating the maximum area. I have come to like it excepting the fact of swinging the end of swinging the end of mainboom too long for open water sailing. Measuring the actual diagonal will help this, but you cannot measure it alike two different days. Perhaps you could establish a minimum height for the mainboom to swing, say when resting on a crotch take the measure there and then hoist sail and let the measurer see that it is not lower when correctly set. The topsail trouble can be easily got over by assuming the area of the working topsail the difference between [formula] and [formula], or say any club topsail < [formula]. The coefficient 15 may not be correct but I think nearly so.
I know no reason why the 33ft class or 27ft class should not carry club topsails if the rig is measured to topsails, using P instead of H in the formula for after sails. I believe in it if one wants to pull the little strings, as it educates the younger set for handling larger craft.
About the cost of the [New York] 70s [#529s MINEOLA, #532s RAINBOW, #533s VIRGINIA and #534s YANKEE]: They were built at $32600 about --- a set of four in one design. There was little profit at that price. A single one would cost thus at least $36000. Today labor and material are about 10% higher which would bring it to 39600. Then if schooner rigged add 5% which would bring one of the 70s built today & schooner rigged at $41580. The proposed 64 rating schooner would have a little less over all length and breadth, but would have from 5 to 15% more displacement and consequently more lead." (Source: Duncan, W. Butler (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_68850. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F02, formerly MRDE15. 1908-08-21.)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Description:] Penciled table listing OA, LWL, QBL, %, L = LWL + 1/2(QBL-.93LWL), and Mian[?] for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s], KILDEE [#460s], DELIGHT [#679s], NYYC 30 [#626s], SENECA [#670s], SPASAM [#538s], NEITH [#665s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s] class, MINEOLA [#529s] class, INGOMAR [#590s] and QUEEN [#657s]. With three formulas for L, one by 'NGH proposed', the other by Louis M. Clark and the third by NGH [apparently the old one]. On verso of printed receipt card by Callender, McAuslan & Troup Co. Undated, the latest of these boats is from 1908 suggesting this to have been prepared for the Universal Rule revision of 1908." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01780. Folder [no #]. No date (1908).)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] I went to the meeting in New York, and the entire evening was occupied in the discussion of amending the rule on length. Louis Clark, unfortunately, could not leave at the last moment, and I was the only member from Boston. I told the other three that Clark and I had agreed if a change from the rule was necessary, and all the New York men and others favored it that we were not prepared to object, and would favor amending to A as suggested by you. This does not seem to satisfy Poor and the New York men. Their formula which they desire adopted is 'The L in the formula shall be load water line length, but if the quarter beam length shall exceed 93% of the L W L, 2/3 of such excess shall be added to the L W L'.
The Committee have very strong letters from young Maxwell and others, owning some of the older type of boats, and while I do not want to suggest that they are influenced, it seems to me they are very anxious to have the change in order to make the old boats more nearly equal, while I do not care to appear to be favoring the other side on account of 'Avenger' [#666s], as I intend to sell her, and would in the course of time probably build another boat.
The New Yorkers are very anxious now to come to Boston this week and meet Charlie Adams, Howard, Clark and one or two others and myself, representing the Eastern Club here, with the idea of trying to convince us of the advisability of the change. This would then, be suggested by joint Committee as a change that was going to be adopted by the New York and Eastern Clubs regardless of the Conference.
I would like very much your opinion on the above change in the rule, and if you really think it is better to make a change now or leave the rule as it is. I would be pleased to have you come to the meeting if you could get away, which will probably be Friday night at the Somerset Club. Incl NGH reply: I have your very interesting letter of 2nd. It has been my endeavour to have a yacht measured for what is valuable to give her speed for racing --- putting a limitation on nothing but the proportion of sail area to size of hull so that any yacht so limited will be fit for cruising any where in summer weather. I donot believe in laying down rules that will define the proportion or form of a yacht in any way, but to take account of each measurement taken in such a way. That will give for example a HUMMA [#553s] the same chance as an AVENGER [#666s] for winning, when rigged so that each could carry sail equally well in outside sailing.
I realize that our present rule had developed yachts which prove too fast for the older type, but are splendid craft in every way. I see no reason for putting a limitation on ratio of QBL to LWL. Of course, if L is limited to 93% of LWL, with penalty to over reaching, every new boat designed will be stereotyped by having QBL = 93% of LWL and boats now built with ratios lower will be outclassed.
There are these[?] highly scientific men on the New York end of the Committee, and it is strange that they would propose a limitation rule instead of searching for the correct value of the relationship[?] of QBL to LWL and appetry[?] it in the rule so that a design is not tied down to any pro potion.
It appears to me that proportion[?] of making L = (QBL + LWL) / 2 will in the end prove very much more satisfactory[?] then making L = LWL + (2(QBL - .93 * LWL))/3, minus value neglected, and is certainly much simpler.
I have made a study of these things for many years and have spent a good deal of time trying to introduce my ideas to the yachting rule committees, but with little use & really feel it is time for the younger ones to try a hand at it. I thank you most kindly for your invitation to meet the committee but decline.
I am sending you the dimensions of a few yachts of our build, so you can see how the proposed changes in the rules will work. I have not the figures for Mr. [Charles Lane] Poor's yacht [MIRA, a Class M sloop designed by William Gardner and built by B. F. Wood in 1899], but think my number[?] of QBL & LWL will work a little more favorable to her than the 93% limit does --- as is the case with HUMMA and MINEOLA [#529s].
[Incomplete table listing SENECA, New York 30s, Newport 30s, SPASM, GLORIANA, ALTAIR, HUMMA, AVENGER, DORIS, WINSOME, MINEOLA, QUEEN, INGOMAR, but not providing data for them.]" (Source: Emmons, Robert W. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69290. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F02, formerly MRDE15. 1908-11-02.)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Orders from N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§2: Work Order [When wanted] Before April 1st. Mast hoops for #529s, #532s, #533s, #534s, #531s, #532s, #530s, #538s, #541s, #536s, #486s, #502s, #585s, #540s (1900-02-19)
§4: Work Order [For] #529s, #532s, #533s, #534s. [When wanted] Sept. 15, 1900. For strengthening 70-footers (1900-08-15)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03460. Folder [no #]. 1900-02 to 1909-10.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕

"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (mostly in pencil but also in ink) trials booklet titled '1898 - 1909'. Relevant contents:
§7: #203p SCOUT [TENDER FOR #529s MINEOLA] Trial Run best speed 17.745kn (1900-03-26 & 1899-03-26)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE09_00060. Folder [no #]. 1898-09 to 1911-04.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪

"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule-related table on two pages with dimensions LOA, LWL, overhang fore & aft, mean length, freeboard fore & center & aft, breadth deck & w.l., draft, cube-root (displacement), 1st mast mean length, 1st to 2nd mast, J, P1, H1, B1, G1, V1, T1, P2, P2a, H2, B2, Q2, Y2,T2, sail area, sqrt(SA), sqrt(SA - NYYC Rule) for #605s RELIANCE, #499s COLUMBIA, #725s RESOLUTE, #529s MINEOLA, #663s ISTALENA, #666s AVENGER, New York 50s (#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s), #411s GLORIANA, #685s ADVENTURESS, #617s COCK ROBIN II, #586s NELLIE, #709s JOYANT, #708s CORINTHIAN, #670s SENECA, Bar Harbor 31s (#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s), New York 30s (#626s, #627s, #628s, #629s, #630s, #631s, #632s, #633s, #635s, #636s, #637s, #638s, #639s, #640s, #642s, #643s, #647s, #648s), Newport 29s (#727s, #728s, #737s), #691s MORE JOY, #446s ALERION II, Buzzards Bay 550s (#733s, #734s, #736s, #738s, #741s), #617s COCK ROBIN II, #493s JILT, #732s SADIE, #460s KILDEE, Buzzards Bay 15s (#503s Class), Buzzards Bay 12 1/2s (#744s Class), #703s FLYING CLOUD, #669s ELEANOR, #722s KATOURA, #692s WESTWARD, #657s QUEEN, #719s VAGRANT II, #698s VAGRANT, #663s ISTALENA, and #743s HASWELL. With penciled note 'Measurements in ft & inches. Results in ft & decimals'. Undated (the youngest boat on this list is from 1914/1915 and this was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_00100. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 / 1915 ?).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Penciled note listing prices for 70 footers of the #529s class, #658s IROLITA II, #698s VAGRANT I, #719s VAGRANT II and ISTALENA of the #663s class followed by what may be cost estimates for 'Dub[?] VAGRANT 2nd', '91 o.a., 66 w.l., 20 beam = power' and 'Dub[?] MARIETTE [#772s] + power'. Undated, the latest of these boats, MARIETTE was built in 1916." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (?) (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_03270. Folder [no #]. No date (1916 or later ?).)
①

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #529s Mineola even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Anon. "The Seventy-Footers." Rudder, June 1900, p. 284-287. (5,341 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No. Detailed report on the 70-footers with special emphasis on Mineola, showing many photos and sketches.

• Mineola (HMCo-made index card)
• Mineola (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: Mineola
Type: Cutter
Length: 70'
Owner: Belmont, August

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

• Mineola
• 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: Mineola II
Type: 70' cutter
Owner: August Belmont
Year: 1900
Row No.: 434

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Month: Oct
Day: 11
Year: 1899
E/P/S: S
No.: 0529
Name: Mineola
LW: 70'
B: 19' 4"
D: 14'
Rig: Cutter
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: 32,593.75
Notes Constr. Record: Original length 28000.00 Extra length 4593.75 [sic, i.e. Designed length...]
Last Name: Belmont
First Name: August

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. H5." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 8, 2009.)

"Built in 97 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $336/day, 1719 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area 6,945 sq.ft.]" (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 2606 cubic feet (= 166,784 lbs).]" (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 2585 cubic feet [= 165,440 lbs] from untitled two-page rating-rule-related table handwritten (in ink) by N. G. Herreshoff with multiple dimensions for the most important Herreshoff-designed yachts. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDE15, Folder [no #]. Undated (the most recent boat dates 1914/1915 and the table was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 16, 2020.)

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