HMCo #534s Yankee

"[1900-04-06] Fri 6: Very fine & warm. Fresh N [wind]. Clear. Cast lead [keel] for #534 (70 footer) [Yankee]. ...
[1900-04-12] Thu 12: Rainy day with l[igh]t SE to NW [wind]. ... Began setting up frames on #534 [Yankee].
[1900-04-19] Thu 19: L[igh]t rain in forenoon. Fog in afternoon. Fresh SW [wind] ch[anging] to NW & warmer in evening. Began planking #534 [Yankee]. ...
[1900-05-19] Sat 19: NE [wind] & rain about all day. Finished planking #534, 70 footer [Yankee]. ...
[1900-06-18] Mon 18: Very fine. NE [wind], fresh & clear. Launched #534 Yankee in forenoon & stepped mast. ...
[1900-06-25] Mon 25: Very fine & hot. L[igh]t S [wind in] AM. NW [wind in] PM. Temp[erature] 87deg. in PM. ... Made trial of Yankee #534.
[1900-06-26] Tue 26: Fine [with] mod[erate] S [wind]. Yankee [#534s] delivered & sailed at 1:30. ...
[1900-06-30] Sat 30: Very strong WNW [wind] all day. Owners of 70 footers have a meeting here. ...
[1900-07-03] Tue 3: Fair [with] strong SSW [wind & a] little rain in evening. Cool. Yankee [#534s] here & sailed. ...
[1900-07-09] Mon 9: Very fine. ... Hauled out Yankee [#534s].
[1900-07-11] Wed 11: Very fine [with] strong SSW [wind]. Clear. Launched Yankee [#534s] after painting &c. ...
[1900-07-13] Fri 13: Very fine [with] SW [wind]. Off in Squib to see NYYC races at Newport. Yankee [#534s] & Altair won. ...
[1900-07-14] Sat 14: Very fine [with] NW [wind]. Yankee [#534s] won.
[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 [#534s] won 3rd Newport race by small margin. ...
[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.
[1900-08-18] Sat 18: Very fine & hot. Went outside in Squib [#188p] in PM to see race of 70 footers.
[1900-10-08] Mon 8: Hauled Yankee [#534s] into south shop to strengthen.
[1900-11-17] Sat 17: Very fine. Launched Yankee [#534s]] from north shop after repairing, and hauled Rainbow [#532s] in. [Note: The NY70s were built too lightly and all had to be strengthening subsequently --- resulting in much negative press and friction between owners and the HMCo.]
[1900-11-24] Sat 24: Yankee [#534s] taken to Newport to winter.
[1902-05-14] Wed 14: Yankee [#534s, NY70] left. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1900 to 1902. 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 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.)

"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.)

"BRISTOL, R. I. April 21 [1900]. --- ... The seventy-footer [#533s Virginia] in the north shop is planked to a point above the turn of the bilges, each strake becoming longer. The remainder of the planks will not be fastened so quickly as the lower ones have been. Progress is being made in framing the last of the seventy-footers [#534s Yankee] in the south construction shop, but there is yet a month's work to be done on the hulls of these two boats. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts near Completion." New York Times, April 22, 1900, p. 12.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 5 [1900]. --- ... In the north shop, William K. Vanderbilt's 70-footer Virginia [#533s Virginia] is planked, and her planking is being smoothed up. In the south shop the fourth 70-footer [#534s Yankee] has considerable of her planking on. ..." (Source: Anon. "Mineola Ready for Trial." Boston Globe, May 6, 1900, p. 29.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 12, [1900] ... The last of the 70-footers [#534s Yankee] in the south construction shop is three-quarters planked. ..." (Source: Anon. "In The Bristol Yards. Work on the Seventy-Footers Progressing Rapidly. New Small Craft." New York Times, May 13, 1900, p. ?)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 19 [1900]. --- ... In the south shop the ... 70-footer [#534s Yankee] is planked, and some of the deck planking is laid.
The spars ... are being made ready for stepping, and the standing rigging is being made up. ..." (Source: Anon. "Rainbow Ready for Trial." Boston Globe, May 20, 1900, p. 25.)

"BRISTOL, R.I., May 26 [1900]. --- ... The fourth of the seventy-footers, owned by Harry Payne Whitney, but as yet unnamed, will be launched next week." (Source: Anon. "Vanderbilt's Yacht Launched." New York Times, May 27, 1900, p. 8.)

"BRISTOL, R I, June 2 [1900] --- There has not been a great deal of activity in new boats here during the past week. ... In the shop the 70-footer for Harry Payne Whitney is well along and may be launched week after next. She was painted during the week and the caulkers were at work on her decks today. Men are also busy fitting up the interior of the yacht. ..." (Source: Anon. "Rainbow And Virginia. Herreshoff 70-Footers About Ready for Trials at Bristol." Boston Globe, June 3, 1900, p. 26.)

"Yankee, sloop yacht (no. 534), of Bristol.
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, June 8, 1900." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Yankee.)

"The Yankee, the fourth and last of the special class of seventy foot sloops which have been built at Herreshoffs, was launched yesterday morning and her mast stepped. She is now being rigged. Her crew of 15 seamen arrived yesterday from New York. Among them was Gus Peterson who has sailed H. B. Durvea's thirty footer Vaquero III [#468s] for several seasons. The Yankee is owned jointly by Harry Payne Whitney and Mr. Duryea." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, June 19, 1900, p. 2.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 997:]
Yankee, 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 head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) June 25, 1900. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] Aug. 3f 1900 (enrolled) at Newport. ([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. Yankee.)

"Mr. Duryea is doing all he can to hurry the Yankee into the field, but said at Oyster Bay on Saturday that he had no fixed idea as to when she would be sailing. When the Yankee was being launched at the Bristol yards some days ago she was somewhat damaged near the stern, but since then the injury has been repaired, and the work of rigging her was begun at once. Captain Samuel Seaman will be on board in the races, with 'Gus' Petersen and a crew of sixteen. Mr. Duryea will command." (Source: Anon. "Doings of the Seventies." New York Tribune, June 26, 1900, p. 6.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., June 25 [1900]. --- The seventy-footer Yankee, the fourth and last of the fleet which the Herreshoffs have built this year for Newport and New York yachtsmen, had her trial trip to-day with both her owners, H. B. Duryea and Harry Payne Whitney, on board. The yacht started out about 2 o'clock in a light southwest breeze that did not increase during the afternoon, so that the trial was not made under just the right conditions. Upon her return, however, Mr. Whitney said that the trip had been satisfactory and that the yacht was found to be quick in stays.
The Yankee ran out into the bay with Nat Herreshoff at the wheel and carried mainsail, two headsails, and No. L club topsail. She beat slowly down the bay as far as the lower end of Prudence Island and then came round and headed up toward Providence. She did not go very far up the river, and after a few more manoeuvres she came into the harbor and dropped anchor off the Herreshoff works. She will probably have another trial later in the week." (Source: Anon. "Yankee's Trial Trip. Poor Conditions Favored the Sail, but the New Yacht Is Quick in Stays." New York Times, June 26, 1900, p. 8.)

"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.)

"BRISTOL, Nov 16 [1900] --- The 70-footer Yankee [#534s], owned by Messrs Whitney and Duryea, which has been in Herreshoffs' south construction shop for a number of weeks for the purpose of making repairs and also to bring her back to her original lines, will be launched tomorrow at high water.
The Yankee, with others of the [New York] 70's, was badly wrenched in the races off Newport last summer. Her bow turned upward from its original position a number of inches so that it did not need an experienced eye to note the change, and besides the wrenching caused leaks in the yachts so that it was necessary to haul out the boats before every race.
When the Yankee was hauled out the first thing that was done was to take off the planking forward of the mast. After this was done the bow of the yacht came back to its original position without any assistance whatever. Considerable extra bracing was put inside the yacht and steel plates fastened to the frames to form a backing for the wooden planking and also to give the yacht the desired stiffness. The job has been quite an expensive one, but it is now believed that there will be no trouple. The yacht looks as she did when she was launched last spring. Her lower mast is on the north pier at Herreshoffs' and will he stepped as soon as there are high tides enough to float the yacht off the head of the pier where the shears are located. As soon as the Yankee is launched the 70-footer Rainbow [#532s], owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, will be hauled into the shop over the railway. ..." (Source: Anon. "Fixing The 70-Footers. Yankee Will be Launched Today and Rainbow Will be Hauled Into the Shop In Her Place." Boston Globe, November 17, 1900, p. 5.)

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

"The 70-footer Virginia [#533s], owned by Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., is being strengthened at Burlee's yard, Staten Island, under the direction of Tams, Lemoine & Crane. Yankee [#534s] and Rainbow [#532s] were practically rebuilt at the Herreshoff's." (Source: Anon. "Yachts News Notes." Forest and Stream, April 20, 1901, p. 314.)

"... One of the 70-footers [#534s Yankee] has been sold to J. Rogers Maxwell, Mr. Whitney taking the 51-footer Humma [#553s] in part payment. As Mr. Maxwell intends to race her there is certain to be some sport in that class. ..." (Source: Stephens, W. P. "The Yachting Outlook." Outing, April 1902, p. 121-123.)

"J. Rogers Maxwell has presented as a wedding gift to his son, Harry L. Maxwell, the 70-foot sloop Yankee [#534s]. The new 90-foot racing schooner which is building for him at the Herreshoff shops will be named Queen [#657s], and be in charge of Capt John Hanses." (Source: Anon. "Club House Gossip." Boating Magazine (Cleveland, Ohio), April 1906, p. 143.)

"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.)

"These transfers of yachts are reported through the agency of Cox & Stevens: ... Herreshoff sloop Yankee has been sold for H. L. Maxwell to Edward S. Reiss, who will remove her rig and convert her into a house boat. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts Change Hands." Forest & Stream, March 26, 1910, p. 504.)

"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.)

"... An old hull occupied a conspicuous position close to the breakwater [at Glen Cove] and attracted much attention. It was the hull of the 70-footer Yankee, built originally for Harry Payne Whitney and the late Herman Duryea which sailed so many stirring contests against Mineola Rainbow and Virginia. Yankee was later purchased by the late J. Rogers Maxwell and was sailed in more races by Harry L. Maxwell. Then she was sold to be changed into a houseboat and was dismantled. Now her hull is a wreck. Her deck is warped, hatches broken, ports are without glass and except for her trim lines, there is nothing to remind one of the swift yacht she was, probably the most successful of the fastest class ever turned out by Herreshoff. ..." (Source: Anon. "New York Yacht Club Cruise." Rudder, September 1916, p. 255.)

"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 ?).)
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"[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 ?).)
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"[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.)
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"[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.)
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"[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.)
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"[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.)
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"[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 ???).)
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"[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 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I have been away for three weeks on account of ill health & have not had a chance to discuss the interior arrangement of my 70 footer [#534s YANKEE]. I would like to get one fairly large cabin with a larger bed in it.
I enclose contract & my congratulations to you on 'COLUMBIA's' [#499s] great showing. It is splendid proof of your skill." (Source: Whitney, Harry Payne. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52880. Subject Files, Folder 46, formerly 60. (1899)-11-01.)
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"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).)
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"[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:
#534s [Design] Oct. [1899] [Length:] 70ft W.L. [Planking:] Y[ellow] P[ine] [Delivery:] June 15 [1900] [Owner:] H.P. Whitney (YANKEE)." (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).)
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"[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.)
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"[Item Description:] Mr. Whitney has been good enough to sell a half interest in his new 70 [#534s YANKEE], please let me know cost of bowsprit, gaff, topmast, boom, club topsail, when do you expect to have our boat ready?, Whitney sent a rough set of rules which I think cannot be carried out, don't think can find six amateurs on each boat everytime they race, when you say spars of wood do you mean solid, which duck, cost of new sails?, if not too much bother send sail plan + plan of interior, see by the papers that you are building some 46 footers, what are they like?, have been shooting & hunting all winter" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19630. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1900-02-17.)
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"[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.)
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"[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.)
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"[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.)
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"[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).)
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"[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).)
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"[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).)
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"[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).)
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"[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).)
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"[Item Description:] was glad to hear about #534s YANKEE [which had been re-launched from HMCo on Oct 17, 1900 after strengthening], three boats of yours are pretty good, this damned [America's Cup] challenge will stop the 46 foot class for a year, I hear that C. Vanderbilt is to build" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19650. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1900-10-17.)
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"[Item Description:] [J.R.] Maxwell offered to trade #553s HUMMA for #534s YANKEE on a basis that would have been agreeable to both Mr. Whitney and me when I suddenly ran across the enclosed rule, I want HUMMA simply for racing, I would not think of her if she would be much handicapped as I am afraid she would be as far as I can work it out, am afraid this rule will knock HUMMA out, please look rule over, I must let Maxwell know before I go South, I wish I would[?] like racing YANKEE again but we had such an unpleasant year [apparently due to the structural weaknesses of the boat and associated costly repairs] that I don't want to go in for that cost of thing again, incl. newspaper clipping describing rule that yachts launched before Jan 1, 1902 (HUMMA had been launched June 13, 1902) were entitled to race in class in 1902 but at the new 1902 rating" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19670. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1901-11-29.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Replying to your favor of the 31st ult and your inquiries, I would state that to the best of my recollection the EFFORT [#552s] had considerably the best of the luck in the first round of the triangle and the ALTAIR [#539s] and HUMMA [#553s] the worst and that the ALTAIR was in no shape to show her best speed.
The measurements of your boats in the table by the new rule were taken by me from the figures furnished by you to the measurement committee in one of your letters and the rating given for EFFORT in the same was 50ft.
The measurements of the Schooners were furnished by Mr. [A. Cary] Smith from his drawings but it seems to me that these boats must measure up higher than these figures upon actual measurement although their big displacements for length reduce their ratings considerably.
The light wind at the start was favorable to the smaller boats and although it freshened up after the first round of the triangle had been sailed it was not at any time stronger than a good whole sail breeze.
Had the wind been strong from the start, I am quite certain that the YANKEE [#534s] would by the corrected time under the new rule have won and the others been placed with but one or two exceptions in the order of measurement with but little time between the winner and the last boat in the table.
I think that in order to fully appreciate how well the new rule works out, it is necessary to take into account the exact conditions which prevailed and the advantages which some of the boats obtained over the others and that with these things taken into consideration, the rule seems to me I thank you for your very interesting letter which I will show to the other members of our committee.
Wishing you a very prosperous and successful new year and trusting that your health may be maintained to accomplish satisfactorily the very great work you have in hand for the defense of the America Cup, ..." (Source: Lawton, N.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72060. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F07, formerly MRDE15. 1902-01-02.)
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"[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).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [On HMCo stationery, marked 'Copy':] Since receiving your letter of 20th I got interested and have spent considerable time in trying to devise perfect rules to give sail area limit. I have tested a number of formula and have finally settled on one that gives very good results in any type of model.
The old rule would allow as much sail for length on a shallow boat as on a deep heavy ballasted one, which is not right if you want to protect a good cruising boat.
This becomes very apparent in working to the new rule for L is reduced and D increased[?] as compared with the older type, and plainly needs more sail for length of L.
I have taken into the formula the elements principally affecting the sail carrying power, but nothing more than is now recorded in taking measurements to obtain the Racing length, i.e.
L = ft length at 1/4 wl breadth and 1/10 of breadth above
B = ft breadth of waterline in widest place
d = ft draft of water
D = cu ft of displacement.
then
Sail area limit in rigs with topsails = 10.8 * L * 1/4 * cube-rt(B * B * d * D) in sq ft
Sail area limit in rigs without topsails = 10 * L * 1/4 * cube-rt(B * B * d * D) in sq ft
This formula is very easily worked with the aid of a slide rule or table of logarithms and gives very good results in any siye of type of model.
Here are a few of our yachts that are well known in the NYYC:
[Actual vs Limit rule]
NYYC 30s [#626s New York 30s] 1035, 1160
Newport 30s [#463s Class] 1017.5, 960
SPASM [#538s ex-COUNTESS] 1633, 1740
PLEASURE [#545s] 1808, 1830
GLORIANA [#411s] [blank], 3500
SHARK [#531s] and ALTAIR [#539s] 3410, 3480
YANKEE [#534s] 6945, 7030
QUEEN [#657s] 11000, 12000
As a penalty I would add to Racing length, twice the excess of sq rt of sail area over the sq root of sail limit by rule." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter (copy) to Cromwell, Oliver E. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_68390. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F02, formerly MRDE15. 1907-03-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink and) table / design rule titled 'Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule' and signed 'Nath'l G. Herreshoff. Bristol R.I. July 16, 1907'. With formula 'Sailarea not more than C * B * (L * d * D)^.025 in which C = constant depending on rig, as follows: Sloops & Yawls not carrying topsails C=8.75. Full rigged Sloops C=9.8. Full rigged Schooners and Yawls C=9.3. L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule. B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule. d = draft of water as for Universal Rule. D = displacement as for Universal Rule. The following are examples of application of the above formula to some well known yachts designed by the author. Measurements for Universal Rule'. Followed by tabulated data showing Building Number, Rating, Waterline, L, B, d, D, S, Sail limit Present rule, Diff., Sail limit Proposed rule, Diff., and Notes for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s class], KILDEE [#460s], SIS [#536s], DOROTHY Q [#668s], SENECA [#670s], N.Y.Y.C. 30 [#626s class], NEWPORT 30 [#463s class], ELECTRA [#530s], SPASM [#538s], PLEASURE [#545s], NEITH [#665s], DELIGHT [#679s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s class], IROLITA II [#658s], YANKEE [#534s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], PETREL [#510s], QUEEN [#657s], INGOMAR [#590s], WESTWARD [#692s], AND [KATOURA] [#722s]. [In an article in the March 5, 1905 Boston Globe (p40), N. G. Herreshoff argued that unless there be a stricter limit on sail area in the present Universal Rule, there would be only few cruising yachts racing. This formula is apparently an attempt to address the above issue. See elsewhere for complete spreadsheet transcription.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080. Folder [no #]. 1907-07-13.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule titled 'Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule' and signed 'Nath'l G. Herreshoff. Bristol R.I. July 16, 1907'. With formula 'Sailarea not more than C * B * (L * d * D)^.025 in which C = constant depending on rig, as follows: Sloops & Yawls not carrying topsails C=8.75. Full rigged Sloops C=9.8. Full rigged Schooners and Yawls C=9.3. L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule. B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule. d = draft of water as for Universal Rule. D = displacement as for Universal Rule. The following are examples of application of the above formula to some well known yachts designed by the author. Measurements for Universal Rule'. Followed by tabulated data showing Building Number, Rating, Waterline, L, B, d, D, S, Sail limit Present rule, Diff., Sail limit Proposed rule, Diff., and Notes for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s class], KILDEE [#460s], SIS [#536s], DOROTHY Q [#668s], SENECA [#670s], N.Y.Y.C. 30 [#626s class], NEWPORT 30 [#463s class], ELECTRA [#530s], SPASM [#538s], PLEASURE [#545s], NEITH [#665s], DELIGHT [#679s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s class], IROLITA II [#658s], YANKEE [#534s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], PETREL [#510s], QUEEN [#657s], INGOMAR [#590s], WESTWARD [#692s], AND [KATOURA] [#722s]. [In an article in the March 5, 1905 Boston Globe (p40), N. G. Herreshoff argued that unless there be a stricter limit on sail area in the present Universal Rule, there would be only few cruising yachts racing. This formula is apparently an attempt to address the above issue. See elsewhere for complete spreadsheet transcription.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Rating Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00260. Folder [no #]. 1907-07-16.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint table titled 'Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule' and signed 'Nath'l G. Herreshoff. Bristol R.I. July 16, 1907'. With formula 'Sailarea not more than C * B * (L * d * D)^.025 in which C = constant depending on rig, as follows: Sloops & Yawls not carrying topsails C=8.75. Full rigged Sloops C=9.8. Full rigged Schooners and Yawls C=9.3. L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule. B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule. d = draft of water as for Universal Rule. D = displacement as for Universal Rule. The following are examples of application of the above formula to some well known yachts designed by the author. Measurements for Universal Rule'. Followed by tabulated data showing Building Number, Rating, Waterline, L, B, d, D, S, Sail limit Present rule, Diff., Sail limit Proposed rule, Diff., and Notes for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s class], KILDEE [#460s], SIS [#536s], DOROTHY Q [#668s], SENECA [#670s], N.Y.Y.C. 30 [#626s class], NEWPORT 30 [#463s class], ELECTRA [#530s], SPASM [#538s], PLEASURE [#545s], NEITH [#665s], DELIGHT [#679s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s class], IROLITA II [#658s], YANKEE [#534s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], PETREL [#510s], QUEEN [#657s], INGOMAR [#590s], WESTWARD [#692s], AND [KATOURA] [#722s]. [In an article in the March 5, 1905 Boston Globe (p40), N. G. Herreshoff argued that unless there be a stricter limit on sail area in the present Universal Rule, there would be only few cruising yachts racing. This formula is apparently an attempt to address the above issue. See elsewhere for complete spreadsheet transcription.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Blueprint Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0169. WRDT08, Folder 16, formerly MRDE06. 1907-07-16.)
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"[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 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

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #534s Yankee 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.

• Yankee (HMCo-made index card)
• Yankee (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: Yankee
Type: Cutter
Length: 70'
Owner: Duryea and Whitney

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

• Yankee
• Yankee and Happy Princess
• 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: Yankee
Type: 70' cutter
Owner: Herman B. Duryea and Harry Payne Whitney
Year: 1900
Row No.: 771

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.: 0534
Name: Yankee
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
Last Name: Dwyer & Whitney

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. H11." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 8, 2009.)

"Built in 250 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $130/day, 667 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

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

"[Displacement (2606 cubic feet = 166,784lbs).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

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