HMCo #545s Pleasure

"[1900-07-09] Mon 9: Very fine. Turned over #545 Pleasure. ...
[1900-07-24] Tue 24: Very fine [with] fresh SSW [wind]. Launched Pleasure #545 in PM and stepped mast." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1900. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"June 1, 1900.
No. 545.
B-3-m [sic].
C[enter] b[oard] cruising yacht.
Frame spaces 16".
Deduct in making frame 1 1/4" (garboard & lower streaks to be 1 3/8", bilge strakes 1 1/4" and to be double from turn [of bilge], outside 3/4" inside 1/2").
Timbers moulded at head 2" and to increase 3/32" per foot for full length.
Sheer line figures are to upper side of deck. Deduct for deck 1 1/8".
Timbers sided 2 1/4"." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.125.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"... Pleasure [Name], 545 [Building Number], 44.4 [Rating], 44 [Waterline], 46.06 [L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule], 14.5 [B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule], 3.1 [d = draft of water as for Universal Rule], 531 [D = displacement in cubic foot as for Universal Rule (= 34,003 lbs or 15.2 long tons)], 1808 [Sail Area], 3860 [Sail limit Present rule], -2052 [Diff.], 2020 [Sail limit Proposed rule], -212 [Diff.], Under rigged [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.)

"The famous Seventy Foot Class of sloops came out in 1900: MINEOLA, RAINBOW, VIRGINIA, and YANKEE, the two forty-five footers SHARK and ALTAIR, [the] centerboard forty-four feet PLEASURE, [the] centerboard forty-seven feet MARCHIONESS, and about a dozen others of smaller sizes." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Some of the Boats I Have Sailed In." Written 1934. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 68.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 19 [1900]. --- ... It is reported that the Herreshoffs have received and accepted an order for another [#545s Pleasure] of the pole masted sloops like the Electra [#530s], which is very wide and of light draft. The Electra was built this season for a Mr Havemeyer of New York. ..." (Source: Anon. "Rainbow Ready for Trial." Boston Globe, May 20, 1900, p. 25.)

"BRISTOL, R.I,. June 23. --- H.O. Havemeyer is having a racing yacht built here which is likely to attract almost as much attention as the big seventy-footers. This yacht is to be seventy feet over all, and will be a good deal of a boat in size. She is being built on a plan much different from the other racers turned out during the past year, and is essentially a shallow craft. She resembles in some particulars the Electra [#530s], built here last Spring for Mr. Havemeyer, but her essentials are different. The latter boat was built for work in Great South Bay, but the new boat, notwithstanding her shallowness, is intended for racing in deep water. She will have a greater freeboard than the Electra. Her development is being eagerly watched by all those who are quick to note anything new coming from these shops. ..." (Source: Anon. "New Herreshoff Boats. A Racing Yacht Building for H.O. Havemeyer." New York Times, June 25, 1900, p. 3.)

"Newport, June 25 [1900] (Special). --- ... At the [Herreshoff] yards is being built a cutter measuring seventy feet over all, which has been ordered by H. O. Havemeyer, jr., of New-York, the owner of the 30-footer Esperanza and also of the Electra [#530s], lately launched at the Herreshoff yards. The new craft is a good deal like the Electra, especially in her shallowness of draught, but the coming racer will have more freeboard in proportion, and will not be intended, like the Electra, to race in shoal waters, but to meet all comers on deep water courses. Thus Mr. Havemeyer's boat under water will be very unlike the new one design seventies for the Newport yachtsmen. The Syce, the champion of the 51-foot class, is also seventy feet over all, with a 45-foot water line, and it is suggested that the Havemeyer craft is to have the same mission in which the new Hussar II has so signally failed --- namely, to dethrone the Syce." (Source: Anon. "New Designs At Bristol Yards." New York Tribune, June 26, 1900, p. 6.)

"Sloop Pleasure.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
16.42 net tons; 51.2 ft. x 15.9 ft. x 7.1 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
Overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, July 21, 1900." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Pleasure.)

"Bristol, July 24, [1900]. --- On Monday [July 23, 1900] afternoon there was launched a new cruising sloop for H. O. Havemeyer of New York, who, a couple of months ago, had the Electra [#530s], a racer, built for him. The boat launched yesterday is named Pleasure. Of very shallow draught and wide beam, she is a peculiar-looking boat. Her dimensions are 70 feet over all, 16 feet beam, and 2 feet 8 inches draught. The rig is that of a pole-masted sloop, with small spreaders for lifts and backstays. She is to be used by the owner in Great South Bay." (Source: Anon. "H. O. Havemeyer New Yacht." New York Times, July 25, 1900, p. 5.)

"Special to The New York Times. BRISTOL, R.I. Aug. 5 [1900]. --- ... The cruising sloop Pleasure, built for H. O. Havemeyer of New York, has sailed for Great South Bay. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht News of Bristol." New York Times, August 6, 1900, p. 3.)

"Within a week or two the largest sloop yacht ever built for use in Great South Bay will be swinging at her home anchorage off the Penantaquit-Corinthian Yacht Club. She will fly the private signal of H. O. Havemeyer, who ordered her some time last winter from the Herreshoff's and who have been able to complete her only within the past week on account of the press of prior orders. She is essentially a cruising craft, but has speed enough to race, if in the future any yachts in her class appear in the bay. She was launched from the Herreshoff shops last week and christened the Pleasure. She is a peculiar looking boat, partially on the old skimming dish order, gaining her stiffness from an exceedingly broad beam, to make up for her curtailed draught. To an over all length of seventy feet she has a beam of 16 feet. She draws at the deepest point only 2 feet 8 inches, which will make it possible for her to go anywhere in the bay at high water, and there are few flats in the vicinity of what will be her cruising ground where she cannot sail at dead low tide.
She has the regular Herreshoff overhang, fore and aft, and a pronounced sheer. While her extremely broad beam --- nearly one-fourth of her length --- gives her a peculiar look to yachtsmen who have been accustomed to finding their acme of beauty in much smaller comparative beam, she is by no means an ugly boat.
She has no topmast, but her tall pole mast looks much more trim and just as tall.
The mast is fitted with small spreaders, which add to its slim appearance. She will not be over-rigged and will carry only mainsail and head sails." (Source: Anon. "H. D. Havemeyer's New Yacht. She Is the Largest Ever Built For Use in Greet South Bay." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 30, 1900, p. 6.)

"[For sale] No. 2027 --- Centerboard pole mast sloop; designed and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., in 1901 [sic, i.e. 1900]; 64 feet over all; 44 feet length water line; 15 feet 9 inches beam; 3 feet 1 inch draught; is very fast and will make a good cruiser; especially desirable for use in shallow waters; has very small rig, and is easily handled; perspective in photograph is bad and does not show the yacht to advantage. Owner is willing to sell for less than one-half of what the boat cost. Frank Bowne Jones, Yacht Agent, 29 Broadway, New York. [Pleasure was not explicitly identified in the accompanying advertisement text, but it is clear that only she could have been meant, as she was the only 44' LWL centerboard sloop that had been contracted for in the 1900-1901 time period. Shortly after this advertisement appeared, Pleasure was reported to have been sold to T. C. Zerega.]" (Source: Rudder, March 1904, p. 165.)

"H. O. Havemeyer has sold to Theodore C. Zerega of the New York Yacht Club the sloop yacht Pleasure, through Stanley M. Seaman of this city. She was built in 1901 [sic, i.e. 1900] by the Herreshoff Company, and has been used for day sailing and racing on the Great South Bay. For three years she has been champion of her class. Mr. Zerega will rearrange the interior and fit the yacht out for cruising in the Great South Bay, Long Island Sound, and Eastern waters. The Pleasure will be put into commission as soon as possible." (Source: Anon. "H. O. Havemeyer Sells Yacht Pleasure." New York Times, April 7, 1904, p. 7.)

"Theodore C. Zerega, of the New York Yacht Club, has purchased from H. O. Havemeyer the Herreshoff sloop Pleasure, champion of her class in the races on Great South Bay for 1901, 1902 and 1903. The Pleasure measures 64 feet over all, 44 feet waterline, 15 feet 9 inches beam, and 3 feet 1 inch draught." (Source: Anon. "Of Interest To Yachtsmen." New York Tribune, April 25, 1904, p. ?.)

"[See also a long article about Pleasure with drawings prepared by C. D. Mower. She was then owned by Theodore C. Zerega of the New York Yacht Club.]" (Source: Anon. [No title.] Forest and Stream, November 19, 1904, p. 434.)

"No. 3242 --- For Sale --- (See illustration). Centerboard sloop 65 ft o. a., 44 ft. w.l., 19 ft. 5 in. beam, 3 ft. draught. Launched by Herreshoff Autumn of 1900. Low cabin trunk with skylight; cockpit 13 ft. long. New Herreshoff steering gear and binnacle. Carries 12-ft. cutter equipped in davits. Construction oak and pine wood, double planked from water-line up. Fastened with brass screws. Has brass diagonal straps and bronze floor knees. Rigged as pole-masted knockabout. Easily handled with two paid hands. Working sails fair condition; light sails perfect order. Has full equipment as to awnings, sail and hatch covers, etc. Cabin has over 6 ft. headroom and contains wide spring berth with transom each side, giving sleeping accommodations for four; at after end are hanging closets and drawers. Forward on starboard side is toilet room under skylight; port side hanging and other lockers. Has two Sands' w. c's., one in toilet room and one forward for men. Mahogany hatch about 4 ft: square placed on forward deck 1904, giving 5 ft. 8 in. headroom in galley. Interior finish white and oak. Equipment of cabin, galley and forecastle in perfect condition. Has wooden frame and canvas cover for Winter housing. Plans published in Forest and Stream, Nov. 11, 1904. They can also be had with inventory, and other particulars at the office of Stanley M. Seaman, 220 Broadway, New York. [Though not named in the text, the reference to the Forest & Stream article clearly identifies her as Pleasure #545s.]" (Source: Rudder, March 1907, p. 223.)

"[Another advertisement, this time by Tams, Lemoine & Crane.]" (Source: Anon. [Sale Ad.] Rudder, March 1909, p. 281.]

"A member of the Baltimore Yacht Club has purchased the center-board racing sloop Tanya. The craft was designed and built by Herreshoff in 1900. She is 65 ft. over all, 44 ft. at the water line, 15 ft. beam and draws 3 ft. of water. The Tanya is a fast boat and it is believed she will beat anything in these Waters. " (Source: Anon. [No title.] Nautical Gazette, November 11, 1909, p. 364.)

"N/A"

"[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).)
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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:
#545s [Design] May [1900] [Length:] 45ft W.L. c.b. [Planking:] Y[ellow] P[ine] [Delivery:] July 15 [1900] [Owner:] H.O. Havemeyer (PLEASURE)." (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 Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on '117 Wall Street, New York' stationery which will lead to contract for #545s PLEASURE] I have tried the ELECTRA [#530s] and she appears to suit in every respect. I do not know what deeper draft boats are capable of, but in smooth water I would like to sail a race with them. As a class boat I do not believe she can be equaled; certainly not in the Great South Bay, where she was intended to sail. She is unsuited in every respect for lumpy water or the ocean, and since I have had her I have almost made up my mind to have you construct for me a boat [#545s PLEASURE], not exceeding 3ft draft, built somewhat on the lines above water of the ELECTRA, but with a very much increased water line length, so that she can be used in the ocean and be easy in the seaway. She is not to be a class boat in any respect. I have been advised that such a boat as I contemplate could be made 10ft longer over all, and perhaps 45ft on the water line, and built much heavier and very much stronger, and her underbody so shaped as to make her easy in the sea. It requires three men to handle the ELECTRA nicely, and I am informed that three men could handle the larger boat as readily. I am also informed that the speed of this new boat, owing to the increased length and her greater water line, will be much faster than that of the ELECTRA, boat for boat.
I would like to know whether you would undertake to construct such boat; what her length over all and her water line would be; her beam, and the amount of lead she would have on her keel, draft as [p. 2] I have already stated, not exceeding 3ft, (the ELECTRA proves to be 3f-2in) and the thickness of her shell, together with her general stability, ease in seaway and area of canvas.
The height of the ELECTRA's cabin from the floor is ample, but if the boat was made 10ft longer, I suppose the cabin would be perhaps 2ft longer, and the cockpit perhaps 4ft longer. If I build the boat I want her at once. I think you said something about being able to turn one out in two months. With all these particulars I want the price. The boat would be painted and finished like the ELECTRA.
In going before the wind and reaching, the Muncy boat is her equal in a fair sailing breeze --- the only test that has been made ---, but to windward the ELECTRA is certainly considerably her superior.
It may interest you to know that I had to add to the trunk of the centerboard of the ELECTRA one foot in height, as in going before the wind the water splashed into her cabin in considerable quantity.
Will your Mr. Nathaniel Herreshoff be in New York shortly, say the first four days of the week?
Yours truly, ..." (Source: Havemeyer, H.O. Letter to Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01270. Folder [no #]. 1900-05-07.)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten (carbon copy) contract and specifications for #545s PLEASURE." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator). Contract and Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01240. Folder [no #]. 1900-05-18.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'No. 545 [#545s]. May 29, 1900. Scale 1/2in. 45ft w.l. c.b. cruising yacht. PLEASURE'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 507cuft = 32600lbs and a wetted surface of 21.36sqft." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04480. Folder [no #]. 1900-05-29.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Lead & Deadwood for #545 LOWINE[?, crossed out] PLEASURE. June 4th, 1900. Scale 1/12'. With calculations and note 'Disp[lacement] of Lead, Deadwood & rudder = 24.3cuft = 1565lbs with c.g. at .717 of w.l. W[ei]g[h]t lead = 13.6cuft = 9650lbs [with] c.g. at .627'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09260. Folder [no #]. 1900-06-04.)
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"[Item Description:] question about position and rake #530s ELECTRA's mast, should I send her to you to have this corrected, #545s PLEASURE is a splendid boat, can beat ELECTRA in any weather, feel she could stand 400sqft more sail, she is trimmed by the stern and I would like to send her to you and have this corrected, large jib needs correcting, cost of winter storage?" (Source: Havemeyer, H.O. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_17510. Correspondence, Folder 47. 1900-08-30.)
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"[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.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten (carbon copy) letter marked 'Copy':] 117 Wall St.,
New York.
Jan. 19, 1903.
Mr. Nath'l G. Herreshoff,
Bristol, R. I.
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 16th at hand, I am going to avail of your kind offices and have you build a boat [#607s FLIGHT]. I fear from the nature of the boat I want she will come more or less in the category of freaks, a style I know that you have little interest in, but at the same time, for use in the Great South Bay, an indispensable style to meet the competition that exists there, and probably always will exist on account of the poor depth of water.
She is to be in the 30ft class, i.e., length of water line, plus square root of sail area divided by two, and her water line will be determined when her crew of 750 pounds is aboard. She is to be essentially a light weather boat.
I enclose something taken out of the paper this morning, which will give an idea of what is going on with 25ft water line boats in the way of square feet of sail.
The draft of the boat must not exceed 3ft. All the boats that you have built for me appear to suck the bottom when under way, even at that draft. The less draft this boat has, that will enable her to carry her sail, the better. The ELECTRA [#582s] last year beat the WANDA [#490s] as she did the ARROW, on account of the heavy wind and sea. I doubt very much if the ELECTRA could beat the WANDA in ordinary weather, i.e., when the WANDA could carry her full sail, on time allowance. [p. 2]
I am sure she could not beat the ARROW, Although the ARROW does not point quite as high as the ELECTRA, of course I mean when she is carrying her full sail. The ARROW outfoots her enough to make up the difference, and off the wind she can beat the ELECTRA close to half a minute in a mile.
I should like her cabin to be open --- nothing in front whatever, and her cockpit to be down on the flooring. It may be that where the cockpit ends you may have to step down a foot to get in the cabin. These details I suppose could be referred to me later.
I should like to have her ready on the 1st of May; would take her earlier. The skippers in the Bay think that wooden blocks would be light, and run much easier in the rigging. This refers particularly to the main sheet blocks. The top of the cabin is to be covered with canvas, and to be open at the sides, the same as the ELECTRA, and the deck is to be covered with canvas. She is likewise to have a bowsprit, which you will recollect the PLEASURE [#545s] did not have.
It all comes down to what my boy answered when I spoke to him if he had anything to suggest about the detail of the boat --- 'Leave the matter entirely to Mr. Herreshoff, merely stating that she must be a boat to sail in light airs.'
Yours truly, ...
H. O. Havemeyer." (Source: Havemeyer, H.O. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02530. Folder [no #]. 1903-01-19.)
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"[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 Description:] [almost unreadable], #582s ELECTRA, #490s WANDA, incl. NGH reply: in regard of proposed new class, since advent of Universal Rule yachts have very much improved, much abler craft and pleasanter to sail, you can get this statement verified by anyone who owns a boat built under the new rule who formerly had experience in the flat ended scow formed boats, I am sure the type will sooner or later be seen in Great South Bay and if you start it it will develop and give your young people a good type of boat, [next two sentences crossed out:] I consider all the boats we have built for you excepting #545s PLEASURE and #582s ELECTRA II, freaks to beat the waterline measurement rule and WANDA is the most extreme being built to sail under the same rule in L.I. Sound, she is one of the fastest and also meanest boat I ever designed, I would like to see a better type spring up in your waters as well as elsewhere along the coast, however if you prefer the old type we can build them as well as any and I think will still be able to turn out successful ones, I cannot agree with you that WANDA, #607s FLIGHT & #530s ELECTRA I are a better type than ELECTRA II, but admit fully that comparing by waterline length when measured lying still they are much faster, they were designed to beat that way of measuring and do it successfully, they are larger boats for the waterline length and get the advantage of the size in racing but are a poor type of boat for any use but racing in your shallow water bay where moderate breezes and smooth waters prevail, ordinarily the enjoyment of yacht racing comes from sailing the yacht to wit out against your antagonist and showing greater ability in the art of sailing a yacht, there are very few who look upon it as you do and prefer a yacht that is like a race horse and of little use except for racing, when you proposed to get up a new class it seemed to me it would be better to make it a type that would be popular with the ordinary yachtsman and that in view submitted the draft of rules and restrictions that should produce a good wholesome and fast boat, probably faster than any you now have on the Bay providing they were all measured and sailed under the Universal Rule which does not use water line length as a measurement at all, I will state that I don't like the flat scow type of boats and much prefer to design and built a type of more general use, but if you desire [I] will try my hand at any type you will decide on as I have heretofore with fair success" (Source: Havemeyer, H.O. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_17680. Correspondence, Folder 47. 1907-09-07.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled '#546 MARCHIONESS. On moulds of #545 [PLEASURE]'. With note 'to[?] w.l. 48ft 10in with forward overhang 9ft 5in and aft overhang 9ft 5in as measured by E. [Edson] B. Schock for Brooklyn Y.C. July 17, 1908. Note: E.B.S. gave five[?] broad[?] wl[?] points 9ft aft of chainplates as 3ft 6in which does not tally. Drawings show 3ft 4in (about) at above w.l. Corresponding L is 48ft 11 1/2in = 48.96'. With calculations showing a total displacement as 808[cuft] = 51600lbs and 'aprox. sail by rule' of 1946[sqft] and rating = 42.2." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01410. Folder [no #]. 1908-07-17.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #545s Pleasure even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Typewritten (carbon copy) contract and specifications for #545s Pleasure]. Bristol, May 18, 1900. (1,037 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Original building/sales contract with detailed vessel specifications for #545s Pleasure.

• Pleasure (HMCo-made index card)
• Pleasure (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: Pleasure
Type: J & M
Length: 44'
Owner: Havemeyer, H. O.

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

• Pleasure
• Tanya ex-Pleasure
• 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: Pleasure
Type: 45' cutter
Owner: O. H. Havemeyer
Year: 1900
Row No.: 530

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: May
Day: 18
Year: 1900
E/P/S: S
No.: 0545
Name: Pleasure
LW: 44'
B: 15' 9"
D: 3' 1"
Rig: J & M
CB: y
Ballast: Lead O,
Amount: 7,000.00
Notes Constr. Record: Great South Bay, L. I.
Last Name: Havemeyer
First Name: H. O.

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.

"Built in 67 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $104/day, 508 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area info 1808sqft.]" (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 (531.3 cubic feet = 34,003lbs).]" (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.