HMCo #605s Reliance

"[1902-11-26] Wed 26: NE rain storm. Cast lead keel for new Cup defender #605 [Reliance].
[1902-12-09] Tue 9: Very cold. Ther[mometer] -5deg. min and zero at 10:30. 1st shipment of Tobin bronze for #605 [Reliance] received.
[1902-12-11] Thu 11: Very fine [with] l[igh]t NE [wind]. ... 1st shipment of Ni[ckel] steel angles for #605 [Reliance] received.
[1902-12-20] Sat 20: Very fine. Nearly calm. Leveled up keel of #605 [Reliance]. ...
[1902-12-26] Fri 26: Very fine [with] about 7in. [of] snow on ground. Mr. Iselin here.
[1902-12-27] Sat 27: Very fine [with] light W [wind]. ... Received steel plate from Wood Bros. for #605. ...
[1903-01-06] Tue 6: Received last of ni[ckel] steel for #605.
[1903-01-08] Thu 8: ... Dredger at work deepening water at side & head of n[orth] wharf. Set up 2 web frames on #605.
[1903-01-13] Tue 13: W[esterly] gale & cold. Frames all up on #605 from mast to heel of keel.
[1903-01-17] Sat 17: Spars of #590 [Ingomar] – 605 [Reliance] & c. arrived from Boston. ...
[1903-01-22] Thu 22: Mr. Iselin & Thorne here. Mast plates rolled for #605.
[1903-01-23] Fri 23: Began plating #605 [Reliance].
[1903-01-24] Sat 24: Cold. ... 2 plates on #605.
[1903-01-26] Mon 26: Began setting up mast for #605.
[1903-01-29] Thu 29: Calm & thick fog continued. 5 plates up on #605 [Reliance].
[1903-01-30] Fri 30: ... H[eav]y fog & rain in forenoon. Clearing in afternoon [and] ch[anging] to fresh NW. ... Began riveting mast for #605 [Reliance].
[1903-01-31] Sat 31: H[eav]y gale W in AM. Strong NW [wind in] PM. 9 plates on #605 [Reliance].
[1903-02-04] Wed 4: ESE rainstorm early. Fog & rain all day. Low barometer. ... 14 plates on #605 [Reliance].
[1903-02-06] Fri 6: Strong NW [wind]. Fine. ... 18 plates on #605.
[1903-02-08] Sun 8: Easterly rain storm set in at noon. Heavy ESE [wind] ch[anging] to W at 5PM. 20 plates on #605 & 4 stringer plates.
[1903-02-12] Thu 12: Heavy gale N to NW. Clear & mild. ... 18 plates on #605 outside and 8 deck stringer plates.
[1903-02-15] Sun 15: Nearly calm. L[igh]t snow in PM. 38 plates and 6 deck stringer plates on 605. ...
[1903-02-16] Mon 16: NE with sleet, snow & rain. Mr. Iselin here.
[1903-02-22] Sun 22: Very fine & calm. Strong NW [wind]. Ice broken up in harbor. 56 outside plates & 10 deck stringer plates on #605 [Reliance], about 2/3 riveted. Mast covered except 2 plates. Boom plates partly rounded[?].
[1903-03-14] Sat 14: Very fine & mild. L[igh]t air [from] S. Mr. Iselin here with brother & nephew. ...
[1903-03-18] Wed 18: Very fine [with] NE [wind] & clear. Took mast of #605 [Reliance] out of shop.
[1903-03-21] Sat 21: Fog & rain. NE [wind] ch[anging] to SW in PM. ... Plating of 605 all on except 6 plates of sheerstrake and middle course of deck plating. ...
[1903-03-29] Sun 29: Very fine & cold. Clear [with] NNE [wind] ch[anging] to S [in] late PM. ... 20 of crew of Reliance arrived.
[1903-04-04] Sat 4: SSW [with] fog & rain, ch[anging] to NW in PM. Rain and much colder, changing in evening. Mr. Iselin here with friends on Sunbeam [#229p].
[1903-04-08] Wed 8: Rain all day. L[igh]t E [in] AM. SW [in] PM. ... Took boom of 605 [Reliance] out of shop.
[1903-04-11] Sat 11: Very fine. Clear. Mod[erate] N [wind]. Launched Reliance #605 at 5:30 PM. Everything working successfully. Many visitors here. Tried #231 gasoline launch Adrienne [for C. O'D. Iselin].
[1903-04-13] Mon 13: Very fine [with] NE [wind], clear & cool. Stepped mast & bowsprit of Reliance. ...
[1903-04-17] Fri 17: Continuing. Wind abating in PM and sunset clear. Set up topmast in 605. Shamrock III carried away rigging.
[1903-04-20] Mon 20: Very fine. SW [wind] in PM. Reliance rigging nearly complete.
[1903-04-23] Thu 23: Fair. L[igh]t winds. Mr. Iselin arrived from NY. Bent mainsail on Reliance.
[1903-04-24] Fri 24: Fair. Fresh SW [wind in] PM. Hauled Reliance out to (?) in PM. ...
[1903-04-25] Sat 25: Very fine. L[igh]t NW [wind in] AM. Lt. NW [wind in] AM. SSW [wind] in PM. Had very successful trial of Reliance. Columbia here. Francis here.
[1903-04-26] Sun 26: Very fine [with] l[igh]t easterly [wind &] warm. Off in Reliance in PM.
[1903-04-27] Mon 27: Very fine. Work on Reliance & Columbia. Columbia at wharf.
[1903-04-28] Tue 28: Very fine & warm. L[igh]t NW [wind in] AM. L[igh]t SSW in PM. Delivered Reliance over to Mr. Iselin and Reliance left for Newport in tow of Sunbeam.
[1903-05-09] Sat 9: Very fine & warm. L[igh]t E [wind]. Reliance arrived early. Went off in forenoon trying sails. Took sails to loft to air. Constitution left in tow of Latotita[?].
[1903-05-11] Mon 11: Very fine [with] l[igh]t E to S [wind]. ... Put new boom on Reliance.
[1903-05-12] Tue 12: Very fine [with] mod[erate] S [wind] in PM. Went off in Reliance to look at sails.
[1903-05-13] Wed 13: Very fine [with] SW [wind]. Went off in Sunbeam #229 in PM to look at Reliance when beating down the bay. ...
[1903-07-02] Thu 2: Strong SW to WSW [wind]. Race off Newport of 90 footers. I went in Reliance. [She] pounded and bent plates in bow. ...
[1903-07-03] Fri 3: Reliance here [for] repairs." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1902 to 1903. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Bristol, R. I., May 23, 1902.
Dear Mr Iselin,
It is very pleasant to hear from you, and I hope you and Mrs. Iselin are quite well and have passed a pleasant winter. It will be a great pleasure to see and have a talk with you when you come early in June. The subject of a cup defender is always an enticing one, but I have the same feeling that you have, and have quite decided not to design and construct another cup defender.
It is nearly ten years since we joined hands in this work.
I am quite a little older than you are, and I feel and know that my best years for such work have passed and that it will be better to intrust the undertaking to younger minds.
I hope though that you will take it up again, for I know you could carry it through better than anyone else. You have the knowledge and experience beside the will to carry the thing through to a successful ending.
Believe me most Sincerely yours
[Nathl. G. Herreshoff]." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Letter to C. Oliver Iselin.] Mystic Seaport Museum, Charles Oliver Iselin Papers, 1893-1903 Coll. 85 – Box 1, Folder 18. May 23, 1902.)

"Bristol, R. I., Sept 5th 1902.
Dear Mr Iselin,
I received yours of 21 ult. several days ago and should have replied by Saturday last but was interested in the model and could not have it.
I appreciate very much your kind expressions and it is with pleasure I think of the grand sails and victories we have had together. It was however with much misgiving that I have consented to undertake the task again for I fully realize I have not the ability and endurance I had five years ago, and I know I cannot be as useful to you as I was then. However I want to do my best with the construction and shall ask your help and indulgence as much as possible.
At the present time I have heard nothing of the expected challenger and the contract though already drawn up and in Co. Ledyard's hands has not been signed. In the mean time we have been in correspondence with the duck mill and the agent has been here, also with the steel and Tobin bronze mills.
I now have a model very nearly completed, which is not altogether to my mind as a good wholesome boat, but is what is needed for the defense of the Cup, and I think agrees very nearly with your views except I have gone a little more on the extreme in scow form and power. I think it will fill the bill providing we can make it strong enough to pound the seak[? snake?] down. And that you can get a crew of 66 good husky fellows that can handle a rig at least 20 percent larger than was Columbia's [#499s], for I think it will take very nearly that increase in rig to carry her along in light breezes.
The design is for a boat 140ft on deck, 89 1/2ft waterline, 25 1/4 ft beam, with decidedly fuller builges and flatter floor than either Columbia [#499s] or Constitution [#551s]. Freeboard same as Columbia's amidship but a little lower forward and aft. Draft 20 feet with keel a little longer than the other boats to get better steering power for the larger rig. The lines are very fair and nice with less curvatures than Col[umbia] or Con[stitution]. As far as I have made calculations the displacement will be 10% greater than Col[umbia] and 6% greater than Con[stitution]. Area of w.l. 15 1/4% and 11% greater. Wetted surface 12% greater than Columbia with perimeter of o/x 6 1/2% greater.
I expect the stability will work out about 29% than Col[umbia] and 20% greater than Con[stitution] which warrants fully 20% more sail area than Col[umbia]. Can we handle it? If you have any doubts please let me know by cable, so I can modify the plans before we go too far.
I should follow Constitution's construction very closely, modifying only as the changed from requires. ...
Very sincerely yours,
[Nathl. G. Herreshoff]." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Letter to C. Oliver Iselin.] Mystic Seaport Museum, Charles Oliver Iselin Papers, 1893-1903 Coll. 85 – Box 1, Folder 18. September 5, 1902.)

"... Reliance [Name], 605 [Building Number], 127 [Rating], 89.6 [Waterline], 98.5 [L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule], 24.75 [B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule], 19.6 [d = draft of water as for Universal Rule], 5,920 [D = displacement in cubic foot as for Universal Rule (= 378,880 lbs or 169.1 long tons)], 16840 [Sail Area], 18200 [Sail limit Present rule], -1360 [Diff.], 14150 [Sail limit Proposed rule], 2690 [Diff.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

"Coconut Grove, Florida May 15, 1930
Wm. P. Stevens Esq. [corrected to Stephens] Lloyds Yacht Register, New York.
Dear Mr. Stevens- [corrected to Stephens] ... Your fling at RELIANCE is partly justifiable, in as far as the scow type of ends is concerned, but she had a good dead-rise at midsection. She was a wonderful craft going to windward and before the wind. On a reach in a breeze both CONSTITUTION and COLUMBIA were faster, so the inference is the scow ends were not an advantage for speed, and they were very bad in rough water when the vessel was upright.
I happen to have my record book of later designs with me, and I have taken the following data from it which will indicate my Cup defenders were not light displacement yachts, and the percentage of ballast quite ordinary, and not mere racing machines that you like to call them.
... RELIANCE
L.w.l. 89'6". Displacement 5920 cu.ft. = 18.1, & 20.1% l.w.l.
Displ. 189.5 tons. Ballast 102.3 tons, = 54% of displ.
... The 1930 Cup defenders built to Lloyds rules and with narrow, compact form of hulls and small and simple rigs have nearly the same percentage of ballast to displacement as RELIANCE and earlier Cup defenders of my design.
Very truly yours,
Nathanael G. Herreshoff" (Source: Letter 1. From N. G. Herreshoff to W. P. Stephens, dated May 15, 1930. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 1-5.)

"In the fall of 1902, there was another challenge for the America's Cup and the order was given us about [the] first of November. We had already taken [an] order for an eighty-six feet waterline schooner [INGOMAR], and the class of Bar Harbor Thirty-One Footers (11), and others besides the usual number of steamers. So, our shops were quite full. Mr. Iselin had recovered his health and again became manager of a new cup defender, this the fourth time. She was owned by a syndicate of very distinguished yachtsmen of the New York Yacht Club. She became to be named RELIANCE, and to carry out Mr. Iselin's wishes, she favored too much of the scow type, above water, to be a good type of big yacht. She was very powerful, having about one hundred eight and one-half tons of lead low down. She was one hundred and forty-three feet overall, ninety feet waterline, twenty-five feet nine inches beam, with bronze plating over a steel frame of my longitudinal plan of construction, and very strong for its weight, though hardly equal to the pounding due to [the] scow form of bow. Her rig was enormous [with a] boom [of] one hundred and fifteen feet four inches by twenty-four inches diameter, [a] gaff [of] seventy-two feet, [a] # 1 club topsail yard [of] sixty-eight feet, [a] spinnaker boom [of] eighty-three feet four inches and others in proportion. The # 1 club topsail reached one hundred eighty-nine feet six inches above water and bowsprit end to boom end was two hundred and two feet eight inches. All the major spars were steel. Her mainsails were probably the largest ever made and were of OOO and OOOO duck. He [Mr. Iselin] made four, I think, all of specially woven duck for the purpose. Her crew was sixty-eight all told, and Charles Barr was captain. With the exception of the main boom being lengthened two and one-half feet and [the] gaff two feet, so she would balance well with [a] larger sized jib topsail, there was no change made on her and she never had any accidents to require new parts or changes except reinforcing the plating under the bow two or three times. Both CONSTITUTION and COLUMBIA were fitted out for trial craft and they made a noble trio.
RELIANCE proved always faster to windward and before the wind, but not any faster in reaching, and in fact, not as fast as CONSTITUTION. This could not be explained, for due to a much longer bilge line and longer useful length due to extreme overhangs, it was expected this would be her best point of sailing. These trials demonstrated CONSTITUTION to be faster than COLUMBIA, as was indicated in their early meetings.
I sailed in most of RELIANCE'S races and often took the helm, so Barr could check up the trim of sails or rest. She easily defended the Cup against SHAMROCK III. It is interesting that in the first unfinished race, started in a light north westerly and quite a ground swell, in going fifteen miles to leeward with spinnakers and pounding into the seas, we ran away from SHAMROCK between two and three miles. [The] race was called off in a calm." (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. 69-70.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND Feb. 7. 1934. [sic, i.e. 1935] Dear Francis, ... The comparison between Constitution and Reliance is interesting. Both were nearly 90' w.l. [waterline] C - about 128 ft o.a. [over all] and R - 142' o.a. [over all] R- had much fuller waterlines and a little more beam & displacment which gave her ability to carry a larger rig. R was a little faster to windward, and always faster down wind, but in reaching, and particularly in fresh winds C was the fastest. Vigilant had fuller water lines at ends and decidedly longer body than either Valkyrie or Brittannia, with rig of about same proportions, but not so refined, nor so good crew, making allowance for crew Vig - was quite as good in light weather and faster in strong breezes, and particularly reaching, and could gain 1/4 min per mile or more perhaps 1/3 min. ... Your affect - Father." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 10: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"Mr. Iselin was selected to be manager of 'Reliance' and he tried to persuade Captain Nat to make her an out-and-out scow as that type was becoming successful in the smaller classes under the length on water-line and sail-area rules, but Captain Nat compromised in developing a model that was as long overall as the scows but had finely modeled, graceful ends so that her mid-body gave the stability to carry an extremely large rig while her ends seemed to allow her to slip along easily in light weather. I remember well watching my father cut this model and he did most of it in two evenings, but he was an extremely fast worker. He seemed to have no hesitancy about shaping the model and seemed to know beforehand exactly what shape was wanted to best do the job, which is quite in contrast to some later designers who seem to be feeling around in the dark as they have made and tested various models of quite different shapes.
But although I think the model of 'Reliance' is the finest and most highly developed of any water-line and sail-area yacht, still I cannot help feeling her very scientifically constructed hull and its ingenious fittings, together with the amazingly light spars and rig, contributed most to her speed." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 232.)

"A great deal of 'Reliance' 's gear was worked from below deck and, besides a very remarkable mainsheet arrangement, she had, I think, about nine winches below deck including two jib sheet winches, two fore staysail sheet winches, one topmast hoisting winch, two lower backstay winches. Some of these winches were extremely ingenious: they were two speed and self-releasing for the wire sheets or backstays wound directly on drums in these winches. In their construction Captain Nat used worm gears, multiple disk clutches, and ball bearings, and you must remember this was when the automobile industry was in its infancy and such things were not at all common, and of course had to be designed special throughout. They were self-releasing by simply reversing the direction the cranks revolved. It may interest my readers to know that some of these self-same winches which were made for 'Constitution' and 'Reliance' were afterward used on Resolute,' 'Enterprise,' 'Rainbow,' and 'Ranger,' as well as some duplicates made by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company for 'Vanitie' 'Yankee,' and 'Weetamoe,' and no one else has yet equaled their design.
'Reliance' also had an ingenious rudder and steering gear. The rudder was plated of thin bronze sheets over a frame, but at its lower part there was a small hole which let water in or out of its interior. Her rudder post was hollow, or had a hole through it, so that by having a valve at the head of the rudder post air could be forced down into the hollow rudder blade with a foot pump similar to the ones used to inflate pneumatic tires. With this arrangement the water could be forced out of the rudder or let in as occasion required. If she steered hard, water was let into the rudder blade so its weight relieved the steering; but if she had a tendency to head off, then more air was forced into the blade.
'Reliance' had two wheels on her steering gear so if necessary the helmsman could be relieved by one or two people without interfering with one another. She had a very effective and neat brake also on the steering gear that was operated by the foot of the helmsman pressing on pedals located on either side of the steering gear, and that is a great relief to a helmsman in a long race, for after he has turned the wheel he can hold the helm almost automatically by foot pressure and still instantly release it.
'Reliance' 's topmast when housed ran clear to the mast step through her hollow steel mast, and when hoisted in place was held at the heel by several steel ratchets which automatically fell in place as the topmast reached the proper level. But to describe all of her unique construction, fittings, and rigging would take many pages." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 233-234.)

"'Reliance' was undoubtedly the largest and most scientifically designed sailing machine ever built, and probably the fastest single-hulled yacht ever built. It is said she got up to sixteen miles an hour at times, but her average speed certainly was not great compared to her size or compared to the more modern yachts with less wetted surface and high narrow sails." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 240.)

"At the beginning, Mr. Iselin tried to persuade Reliance's designer to make her an out-and-out scow for the scows were then nearly unbeatable in the smaller classes, but Mr. Herreshoff would not do this for he thought that in the larger classes a scow was slow in light weather. He compromised by making a model that was as long overall as a scow but had nicely modeled, fine ends. I remember very well watching my father cut this model which he did in about two evenings, proceeding very rapidly with the work as if there were no question in his mind as to the exact shape to do the work best. This is in great contrast to the other designers of that period, or since, who generally spent much time in developing several sets of lines and never quite deciding which was best. As Reliance was ordered early, and as her shape problem was settled so rapidly, this left plenty of time for the designer to spend an unusual number of hours on the construction and details. I will mention some of her features:
1. Longitudinal framing, like Constitution, which allowed a saving in weight, together with flush seam plating which I have described before.
2. Her rudder, which was lightly plated up over a frame, was arranged so that it could easily be changed from heavy to light, according to how the yacht steered. This was accomplished by having a small hole at the bottom of the rudder that let in water and made the rudder heavier if the yacht were carrying a strong weather helm, but if the yacht had a tendency to head off, then air was forced down her hollow rudder stock with a foot pump, forcing some of the water in the lower part of the rudder to escape, hence making the rudder lighter. With this arrangement the helm of Reliance could be adjusted to the weather or to the individual liking of the helmsman. Of course there was also a rudder indicator which told the actual angle at which the rudder was sailing. The steering gear consisted of two wheels so that four men could give their power if necessary, and there were two foot brakes near where the helmsman stood when either to windward or leeward of the helm. These brakes were to prove a great relief to the helmsman and, although Charlie Barr was a small, light, man, he usually could steer Reliance through a long hard race without relief, in spite of her sail area being the greatest ever hung from a single mast.
3. Two-speed self-releasing winches for wire rope. Although Mr. Herreshoff had designed the first of these winches for Constitution, he improved some models and used more of them on Reliance, so I believe she had six of these winches below deck --- two for the jib sheets; two for the forestaysail sheets; two for the lower backstays. These winches were one of the finest things Mr. Herreshoff ever designed for he was more of an engineer than an artist. They were mounted on ball bearings, used worm gears and multiple disk clutches before the automobile industry was organized. The winches handled wire ropes which were led below deck; the high speed handle or wheel quickly took in the slack, then the slow speed worm gear handle was brought into play which not only had power enough for hard winds but, with its use, fine adjustments could be made. To release the wire or sheet one of the handles was revolved in the opposite direction which released the multiple disk clutch and allowed the rope or sheet to run out quite freely but still be under instant control. It was these underdeck winches that enabled Reliance to be so quickly maneuvered around the marks that the press, who knew nothing about the matter, invariably said the defender had a smarter and better crew than the challenger, but I doubt if there ever were any better Jack Tars than the English crews of the various challengers.
4. Reliance had a double-end tapered main sheet which was quite large or strong in its middle section for the strains of sailing close hauled, but the ends were tapered to a small diameter for sailing off the wind, and this to quite an extent allows the sheet to stay up and not drag in the water which often happened before the wire forward boom guy could be connected to a whip which was taken to the anchor capstan. While a tapered main sheet was not a new thing the ingenious arrangement for handling it was, for on Reliance both ends of the main sheet were led well forward, perhaps seventy-five feet ahead of the traveler, so that all hands and the steward could haul in on it. Where the sheet ends went below forward there was a series of V-shaped pulleys that could handle any of the sizes of the tapered sheets, and these pulleys were arranged with ratchets and brakes that held any amount of sheet that was taken in without belaying, for the slack of the sheet ends led below and wound up on light drums. With this arrangement the long sheet could quickly be hauled in or slacked out without the danger of tangling.
5. The topmast housing mechanism was also very ingenious for when it was completely lowered away its heel went down to slightly below the waterline. The wooden topmast was cylindrical, or of parallel diameter, and thus could run well supported the full length of the mainmast because the mast diaphragms had lightening holes slightly larger than the topmast. The topmast was hoisted by a wire rope which wound on a drum at the foot of the mast, and this drum was actuated by gearing and an endless rope that ran over a large flanged pulley, allowing several men to haul on this mechanism at once. When the topmast was down, its cone and all of its rigging stayed securely socketed in the mast head, but when the topmast went aloft it automatically picked up its cone and the rigging and traveled up until a series of small ratchets automatically fell in place around the topmast's steel ferrule, so no one had to go aloft to secure it. Much of this description may sound like some of Jules Verne's writings, but it is accurate and few people of the time understood much of Reliance's advanced engineering. Perhaps no one but her designer and Captain Barr understood all of it, and her designer died long before the general public could appreciate such things.
At the time Reliance was designed her designer was fifty-four years old and perhaps at the peak of his genius. Even then she would not have been possible if Mr. Herreshoff had not had his own very complete yacht building establishment and sail loft manned by a picked crew whom he had trained to be particularly skillful workmen. Re- > liance cost $175,000.00, but it is very doubtful if she could be duplicated for one million today for there was a lot of manual work on her --- such as beautiful forgings and hand finished castings that it would be nearly impossible to find people to make now." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. An Introduction to Yachting. New York, 1963, p. 150-151.)

"RELIANCE --- 80th Anniversary
by A. Griswold Herreshoff
The America's Cup year of 1983 marks the 80th anniversary of RELIANCE, the unique Herreshoff America's Cup Defender of 1903. She was the largest of the many yachts that my father, Nathanael G. Herreshoff, designed for defense of the Cup and was the largest single-sticker ever built.
Vivid is my memory of the striking appearance of the shiny white and bronze scow like hull of RELIANCE sitting atop her sleek 90 ton keel gripped by a narrow launching cradle on the morning of April 11, 1903. My father stood beneath the long overhanging stern with Mr. Brechin, foreman of the metal department and probably the most skillful hull plater in the world. Pa, not one to hand out compliments carelessly, remarked to Mr. Brechin that RELIANCE was a first rate plating job, the best he had seen. Brechin replied that the straight and totally fair shape of the yacht made forming and fastening her flush plating an easy proposition. It is significant that the perfect appearance of the hull was totally without benefit of fairing filler; in fact, RELIANCE had no bottom paint; preparing her for a race simply entailed a gang of 50 men polishing the bronze bottom plating to a high shine. The previous winter it had been my practice, directly after school each afternoon, to go to the Shop and follow my father on his rounds to inspect all work in progress. In addition to the machine and boiler shops, the East Shop for small boat construction, and the North Shop, a highlight was the daily inspection of RELIANCE as she took shape remarkably rapidly in the South Construction Shop. One afternoon, down inside the hull, Pa observed the painters at work coating the inside of the hull. He admonished them to thin and apply as little paint as possible. The light construction had to be kept light in every possible way. The America's Cup rule limited waterline length to 90 feet and RELIANCE would be just that with almost no inside trimming ballast.
Casting the ninety tons of lead for RELIANCE'S keel had been some job! A hollow wood mold was built on the railway cradle. The lead in 85 lb. pigs was brought into the shop by a horse drawn low gear in ten ton lots. Sample pigs were placed on a scale to determine the average weight.
Two melting pots of cast iron about four feet across were set up on temporary ovens. Ash lined wood gutters were arranged to carry the molten lead to the mold. On the casting day, the fires were lit early in the morning. An accounting of the number of pigs (about 2300) was kept from which the weight was figured.
While RELIANCE had an aft stateroom and toilet room, she was otherwise open below except for a canvas enclosed toilet space for the crew. There was just a wooden sole, winches, and sailing gear. Extra running rigging and sails were lashed to the framing on each side leaving well over 100 feet of interior hull open and clear, a most striking sight. RELIANCE was the first yacht to have below deck winches --- for two main halyards, two topsail halyards, jib halyards, etc. There were compact, powerful worm drive winches for the running backstays; operating procedure for these was interesting. After a tack or gybe the crew on deck would hook the running backstay to its tail and then give two sharp raps with a stick on the deck to signal the crew below to start cranking in the winch. Once the mate judged the running backstay sufficiently tight, he would rap once on the deck to signal completion of the operation.
RELIANCE'S huge mainsail was trimmed with a six part tackle which, given the great length of the boom, required a mainsheet about 1000 feet long! The line was taken up on a large diameter drum below decks wound in by three of the crew.
About a week after the launching, I along with my brothers Sid and Nat jr. (all of us teenagers) accompanied our father and the afterguard of RELIANCE on her trial trip. Captain Charlie Barr did not yet have his regular crew (that would eventually total 66 including Afterguard) so men from the Shop did the sail handling --- including one who worked aloft.
It was an overcast, blustery day with a strong east wind. We swept between Bristol Ferry and Hog Island to Newport, out into the ocean, and to Block Island. The vast, open deck of RELIANCE was canvas covered and painted a buff color (as were the spars) with a white waterway about 2 ¼ feet wide. There were no lifelines. RELIANCE was fitted with two steering wheels positioned fore and aft of the binnacle so that there was provision for up to four men to share the burden of steering the large sloop. RELIANCE proved no problem to control; either my father or Captain Barr could steer her easily even on the fast reach in the ocean.
On the way back from Block Island, the wind picked up to 20-25 knots. The log was put over to measure RELIANCE'S speed at 17 1/2 knots (more than 20 miles per hour). Spectator power boats could not keep up with us.
After RELIANCE reentered Newport Harbor, the wind lightened in the lee of the land and it was practically flat calm in the Harbor. RELIANCE'S 200 ft. sailplan caught plenty of wind aloft; she 'ghosted' at more than 10 knots over the practically flat water of the harbor to the amazement of those watching. Less than an hour later, RELIANCE'S sails were lowered near Popasquash Point and she shot the final mile to her mooring at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company.
[Editor's note:] The author, A. Griswold Herreshoff, was 14 years old at the trial of RELIANCE. Gid Herreshoff later attended M.I. T. and had a distinguished career in the automotive industry, becoming Chief Engineer for Development at Chrysler Corporation. He has been inducted into the prestigious Automobile Halt of Fame. Gid and Henrietta Herreshoff now live in Delray Beach, Florida." (Source: Herreshoff Marine Museum Chronicle, Spring 1983, p. 1, 4.)

"At a meeting of the New York Yacht club held last evening Commodore Lewis Cass Ledyard announced to the members that the contract for building a cup defender had been signed with Herreshoffs. C. Oliver Iselin has consented to act as managing owner of the new boat and Capt. Charles Barr is to be the skipper.
The new syndicate is made up of nine wealthy members of the club, six of whom are owners of yachts.
The members of the syndicate are Elbert H. Gary, Clement A. Griscom, James J. Hill, William B. Leeds, Norman B. Ream, William Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Walters and P. A. B Widener." (Source: Anon. "New Cup Defender Syndicate." Bristol Phoenix, October 31, 1902, p. 3.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., March 22 [1903]. --- Preparations are now going on for the launching of the Reliance, which, it is now believed, will take place during Easter week. Many Bristol people have already engaged boats so that they might witness the launching from the harbor front, and many members of the New York Yacht Club will be present on their yachts. In order to prevent an accident like that which happened at the launching of the Columbia, it is said that spectators will not be admitted to the wharves at the Herreshoff shops.
The craft attracts people to Bristol even now, but not many have had the opportunity of. getting a glimpse of her on the stocks. Some visitors to the town claim that they, saw the boat when the shop doors were open, but the portions visible were those low down on the fin, the upper portion of the craft being away up toward the ceiling of the shop and out of the range of vision of a person on the street.
The work is so well narrowed down to a finish that very few of the mechanics can be seen at work, the parts of the craft yet to be finished being on the deck and at the after end. The stern was being plated yesterday, but there is yet quite a lot of riveting to be done there. The stern of the boat will be pretty well drawn in, and in this particular will be not nearly as wide as the stern of the Constitution.
Now that the mainmast is out of the north shop, there is room for carrying on the work of plating the mainboom of the Reliance, and more room is needed for that spar than for the mainmast, as the boom is longer than the mainmast. The making of the steel gaff will be carried on in the same shop, and as the boom is nearing completion the turning out of the gaff can be pushed rapidly and it can be made in much shorter time than the mast. Billman and his riggers are hard at work on the fitting of the rigging for the Reliance,
As in the days of the building of the Defender, when aluminium was used in her construction, the average Bristol boy has a craze for aluminium, and in some way or another, though the scraps in the shop are carefully gathered up and stowed away, many boys of the average age of fifteen manage to become possessed of souvenirs of this kind from the Reliance. Finger rings are whittled out by some boys, while others fashion out imitations of coin and various trinkets with their pocket knives. Sidney Herreshoff, Capt. Nat's youngest son, created a sensation among his schoolmates the other day when he appeared with an aluminium top of his own design and manufacture.
The Constitution with her mainmast stepped is being fitted out gradually, and the shrouds are about all connected up at the deck. It was found a difficult job to scrape the spars of the boat that had been lying in storage nearly two years.
The yachting season in Bristol promises to open early on account of the speedy finish of the Reliance and the favorable weather. ..." (Source: Anon. "Easter Week Launching. Deck and Stern of Reliance Are Now the Only Parts Incomplete. Spectators May Not Be Permitted to See Launching from the Wharves at Herreshoff Shops." New York Times, March 23, 1903, p. 6.)

"... There is much work to be done on the Reliance before she can be launched, and it will be a big achievement if she is ready by April 15. The aluminum deck is nearly laid, and presents a handsome appearance with its silvery shining surface. It has been decided to cover the deck of this yacht with canvas, but just what will be used to stick it on the aluminum has not been decided. A number of tests have been made with paint, varnish, &c, and the tests thus far seem to favor varnish. The deck of the Constltution was covered with a cork material when that yacht was launched, and it made a fine deck to walk upon, but the cork rolled up from the plating after it had been down a while. It was afterward all taken off and canvas substituted. ..." (Source: Anon. "Hurrying The Reliance. Aluminum Deck Nearly Laid and Work on the Rudder Now Under Way. " New York Herald, March 27, 1903, p. 11.)

"Reliance, sloop, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1903.
175.31 gross tons, 140.59 net tons; 110 ft. x 25.8 ft. x 17.6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, April 6, 1903." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Reliance.)

"Reliance, the sixth yacht built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co, as a cup defender, was successfully launched Saturday [April 11, 1903] evening from the south shop, whence all but one of the six have emerged to take their maiden dip in the harbor.
The launching was witnessed by many thousand spectators, who lined Hope street from the Lawless pier south to Walley street. On the slope of the grounds of ex-Gov. A. O. Boom, north of Walley street, a large crowd gathered to witness the event in which many nations were interested. ..." (Source: Anon. "Reliance Launched. Handsome New Cup Defender Put Overboard Saturday Evening From Herrehoffs' South Shop. Launching Witnessed By Many Thousand Spectators. Must Stepped In Yacht Yesterday Morning." Bristol Phoenix, April 14, 1903, p. 1, 3.)

"The new cup defender Reliance was given her first trial trip Saturday [April 25, 1903] and in various winds, ranging from almost a flat calm to a 12 knot breeze, demonstrated that she will be a flyer in a good breeze and a fast boat in light airs.
The start was made from off Herreshoff's shops at 9.35 o'clock and under her mainsail, jib, forestaysail and a very small clubtopsail she sailed down the east passage between Hog Island and the main land at Ferry Hill. On the way down the keel of the yacht struck the mud, which held her for a few minutes,the wind not being strong enough to move her when she struck, but she worked off without any other assistance. After the yacht got out into the ferry way, the wind, or what there was of it, shifted from the northwest to the southwest. There was enough of it to fill the sails well and the yacht made good speed across the bay, below Hog Island, towards Prudence. The wind was increasing all the time and as the wind increased so did the yacht's speed. Off Sandy Point the course was changed and the yacht headed for Newport where it was anchored until the crew and yachtsmen obtained their dinners.
In the afternoon the Reliance took spin outside Brenton's Reef Lightship and then came up the bay before the wind with her spinnaker set, arriving off the Herreshoff's about 5.15 o'clock.
The result of the day's spin was very satisfactory to those on board the yacht, which included, besides the crew, Capt N. G. Herreshoff, C. Oliver Iselin, Woodbury Kane, Newberry D. Thorpe, Herbert C. Leeds, J . Frederic Tams, Frederick Caplain, C. L. F. Robinson, Commodore Bourne, W. B. Leeds, George A. Cormack, secretary N. Y. Y. C; J. B. Francis Herreshoff, former commodores Lewis Cass Ledyard and E. D. Morgan and three of Captain 'Nat's' boys.
The yacht was followed by her tender, Sunbeam, steam yacht Noma, which arrived here Saturday morning with Commodore Bourne and party on board, the steamer Cygnet, which was the press boat and a number of smaller craft.
The yacht was given another spin Sunday afternoon, leaving the harbor about 15 o'clock and returning shortly after o'clock. She went down the east passage and down the bay as far as Gould Island, returning by the west passage with her balloon jib topsail set, making a very pretty picture. She came into her moorings to the northward of Castle Island beacon. During the trip there was a light breeze from the southeast, which shifted more to the eastward as the afternoon wore on. Yesterday the yacht did not go out for a spin. Her mainsail was taken off and some alterations made on it by the sailmakers. It is expected that the yacht will make another spin today and she may go to New Rochelle.
A very large number of visitors were in town Sunday to see the new cup defender and from early morning until nearly sundown, Hope street from the foot of Summer street to Walley street, was lined with them. They had an opportunity to compare the new yacht with Colombia [#499s], the cup winner, which arrived in the harbor Saturday afternoon and was at anchor all day Sunday off the shops. Yesterday the Columbia was hauled into the slip at Herreshoffs. Her sails were taken to the loft.
Dr Thomas Monahan of Boston has been engaged as a physician for the officers and crew of the Reliance and also in case any of the guests should be taken ill. Dr. Monahan arrived here yesterday. With such a large crew there is likely to be some them ill at times during the season and an accident may happen at any time that will require the services of a physician at once." (Source: Anon. "Reliance's Trial Spins. Very Satisfactory Trip Made Saturday and Sunday by New Cup Defender. Columbia Here." Bristol Phoenix, April 28, 1903, p. 1.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 785:]
Reliance, sloop, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1903.
175.31 gross tons, 140.59 net tons; 110 ft. x 25.8 ft. x 17.6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Apr. 27, 1903. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff, Bristol. ([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. Reliance.)

"The new cup defender Reliance was turned over to the syndicate Tuesday [April 28, 1903] afternoon by her builders, the Herreshoff company. The yacht was received in behalf of the syndicate by her manager, C. Oliver Iselin.
The work of altering her sails and finishing up the fittings above and below deck was completed the same afternoon. The yacht left here about 6 o'clock Tuesday evening in tow of her tender, steamer Sunbeam, for Newport.
Previous to the yacht's leaving the harbor the crew was drilled in handling sails while the yacht was at her anchorage. After the club topsail was sent up the lacing on the club was broken.
Wednesday [April 29, 1903] the yacht was given another trial spin off Newport and exhibited the same excellent qualities of speed, windward work and quickness in stays that she did in the previous trials.
The yacht went into commission at Newport Wednesday. The yacht left Newport yesterday for New Rochelle, the home of manager Iselin and will remain here for several weeks.
The cup winner Columbia [#499s] left here yesterday morning for Newport and will also go up the sound. While here the yacht's sails received alterations." (Source: Anon. "New Cup Defender Reliance. Turned Over To Manager Iselin For Syndicate Tuesday. Yacht Left Here Tuesday Evening." Bristol Phoenix, May 1, 1903, p. 3.)

"The last America's Cup defender, Reliance, which successfully sailed against Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock III in 1903, and which since then has graced the shores of City Island, is to be broken up. Her racing career is over. She has filled her purpose and has never been in commission since the year she was built. She was a fast boat, practically an unbeaten boat, but was of no use for anything except a race like that for the America's Cup --- too big for a sloop, with no one in her class to sail against, and not suited for conversion into a schooner, she has stood idle in Jacob's yard for eleven years, a club over any would-be challenger for the Cup. She has been sold to Capt. Lem Miller, and workmen have already started demolishing her." (Source: Anon. "The End of the Reliance." Yachting, February 1914, p. 96.)

"BROOKLYN. July 2 [1914]. The famous old cup defender Reliance, the largest, and probably, on the whole, the fastest of all the long line of white winged flyers that in their time have sailed for the America's cup, left her native element yesterday afternoon for the last time in Furman's shipyard [Furman Dry Dock Company] and by the same time this afternoon little will be left of her graceful lines but piles of scrap metal. There was no ceremony, nor were there any mourners, when the old yacht was hauled reluctantly up the creaking ways, down which she'll never slide again. Michael Cowhey, a Brooklyn junkman, who bought the yacht in from Adrian C. Iselin last December, had her towed around from Robbins' drydock in Erie basin, where she has been lying, and inside of an hour the Reliance was high and dry, awaiting the onslaught of the wreckers who will dismember her.
Reliance was built for the cup races of 1903 by Herreshoff for a syndicate of members of the New York Yacht club, headed by Mr. Iselin. It is estimated that she cost, completed, close to $300,000. She displaced about 200 tons, of which 100 tons was sheer weight of lead on her fin keel. No expense was spared on her hull and fittings. She measured 90 feet on the water line and 148 feet over all, and her mast, from truck to keelson, measured 167 feet.
She was built throughout of metal, her frames being steel, her hull plating of the finest Tobin bronze, and her deck plating of pure aluminum. Her mainmast, boom and gaff and bowsprit were of steel. The mainmast alone weighed 10.000 pounds, and the main boom, which was 114 feet long, 4.300 pounds. Her standing rigging was of steel wire rope, and all the sheaves of her blocks either aluminum or brass.
Mr. Cowhey was the successful bidder among 43 firms who applied for her when put up at auction. Early in April he brought her from City Island, where she had been lying in idleness ever since her triumph over the Shamrock, to the drydock, where the 100 ton fin keel was removed. With the keel on it would have been impossible to haul her out as she drew more than a battleship. Then the spars were taken out of her, the main- and topmasts being sold for $1,000 to the Brooklyn Federal league baseball club for a flagpole. Her sails were sold for awnings, sail covers, etc. [The mast stood in Washington Park, Brooklyn until 1922 when it was hit by lightning and was bent in half according to http://www.covehurst.net/ddyte/brooklyn/washington_park.html, retrieved April 28, 2014.]" (Source: Anon. "Old Reliance Goes To The Scrap Heap." New London Day, July 2, 1914, p. 14.)

"Only superlatives adequately describe Reliance, the largest single-masted vessel ever built. Her topmast sprit towered 189 feet 6 inches above the water; it took sixty-six men to race her; there was enough square footage in her sails for eight modern 12-Meter boats; her mainsheet measured 1,000 feet in length (it was rolled up on a drum below deck); and she carried over 100 tons of lead ballast in her keel. A marvel of engineering, Reliance has lived on as a most appropriate logo for the Herreshoff Marine Museum.
Reliance was underway a week after launching, being manned during her early trials by a crew from the Herreshoff shop, with Charlie Barr as skipper. Unless there was a reason to do otherwise, her professional crew laid themselves out along Reliance's windward rail when racing, acting as live ballast and cutting down on windage. Reliance proved to be a good performer (she easily won all races against Lipton's third Shamrock) and experienced no serious gear failure. However, NGH recorded his opinion that she was too scowlike in form.
Her extreme shape had been requested by syndicate manager C. Oliver Iselin, an old sandbagger sailor, whose influence had earlier shown up in the wide beam of Vigilant. It is possible that NGH was influenced as well by the shape of Independence, an America's Cup contender designed by B. B. Crowninshield for 1901, which had the potential for great speed but not the structural reliability to show up well against the Herreshoff boats Columbia and Constitution.
NGH designed Reliance's hull as he had Constitution's [#551s], with bronze plating over a steel framework consisting of widely spaced web frames connected by longitudinal stringers, much as found in an airplane fuselage. Below deck she was open, with over 100 feet of clearly viewable hull structure --- 'a most striking sight,' according to NGH's son Griswold, who was aboard for the Bristol trials. A single stateroom and toilet aft and a canvas-shrouded crew toilet forward were the only accommodations.
Reliance was built with two steering wheels on a common shaft so that four persons could lend their strength in keeping the boat on course. According to NGH, however, Reliance steered easily and never required more than a single helmsman.
During trials, with no escort vessel at hand, a dinghy was always towed as a lifeboat in case someone fell overboard. (Cup defenders had no lifelines and only a low toerail.) ...
Reliance's forward overhang, all 28 feet of it, indicates, perhaps as much as her towering rig, how extreme the turn-of-the-century racing yachts had become. Highly stressed in both hull and rig and decidedly an engineering triumph not ever likely to be repeated on such a scale, Reliance and her ilk were as impractical as the Cup boats are today in the late twentieth century. In earlier times, rational hull forms carrying reasonable spreads of sail had been built for this contest and had become useful as cruisers and 'round-the-buoy racers after their America's Cup years were over. Reliance certainly was not one of them.
Considering that you're looking at hull plating covered only by paint and not filled with the usual fairing compounds, Reliance's hull is remarkably free of waviness. Because of its shape, and the great sloop's speed, her bow took an unmerciful pounding as it drove into the seas, and metalworkers were called upon two or three times during the season to pound out the dents. The structure behind the plating had to be reinforced as well. ... Notice that there are two independent bobstays. It has been recorded that a single wire rope of sufficient diameter was not to be found. Notice also the adjustable thrust strap at the heel of the bowsprit by which the bobstays are tightened." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 97-99.)

"[Item Description:] Penciled experiments booklet with strength tests of canvas, tracks and slides, cotton rope, coleman hooks, manila rope, bronze Henshaw hooks for #557, nickel steel open hook, bolt rope, rings for forstay to #605, cotton cloth, sewing twine, galv. plow steel flex rope made for running rigging on small racing craft, heavy twill egyptian cotton for balloon sail for #722 and #725, new hopsack weave # 1 made of Egyptian cotton for #725, sewing seams. Test dates range from Jan 4, 1899 to December 1915." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Experiments Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_01060. Folder [no #]. 1899-01-04 to 1915-12.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled notes booklet for #215p ROAMER titled 'No. 215 Roamer. 1901-1902'. Containing detailed dimensions, construction and fitting out notes as well as a complete log of cruises for the year 1902 (taking with them ROAMER's electric launch #190202ep and #404s COQUINA), including a voyage to New York City and Larchmont Race week in July 1902, the cruise of the New York Yacht Club in August 1902, a summer cruise to Bar Harbor, ME (with meetings and discussions preliminary to the design of the Bar Harbor 31 class), and an October 17, 1902 trip from Newport to Bristol during which the contract for #605s RELIANCE was signed. Also containing scrap paper notes about coal consumption, flags carried on board, a sketch for an electric capstan, a list of dishes and kitchenware carried on ROAMER." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Notes Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_00030. Folder [no #]. 1901-10 to 1903-03-16.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled untitled lists of drawings (ranging from no. 86-30 to 86-81), all of which relate to #551s CONSTITUTION (and many of which were later also used for #605s RELIANCE). Undated, the plan dates range from January to June 1901." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.010. Drawing list. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 605s. No date (ca1901-01 to 1901-06).)
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"[Item Description:] arranging to meet in Newport or Bristol, possibly related to what will eventually become #605s RELIANCE" (Source: Ledyard, Lewis Cass. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_05000. Correspondence, Folder 17, formerly 112. 1902-09-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled midship sections with pinpricks of an unnamed deep-keeled yacht. Sections are marked '53 2/3', 53 1/3', 56 1/3' and '54 1/2'. Untitled, no notes, a few numbers and calculations. Filed with another midship section marked '605' [#605s RELIANCE] which provides a perfect match. Undated (RELIANCE's design began in October 1902)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09680. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1902-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled midship section titled '605' [#605s RELIANCE]. Section shows bulb angles marked '3x2 bulb', '4 1/2 x 3 T', '3 x 2 bulb', etc. With (unreadable) calculations. Undated (RELIANCE's design began in October 1902)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09700. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1902-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Mimeographed specifications titled 'Specifications For a Racing Sloop Yacht for the Defence of the America's Cup in 1903. Being No. 605 on the list of the Herreshoff Mfg Co. [#605s RELIANCE]'. Marked in pencil in upper right corner 'Deliver Apr[il] 15, 1903'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02590. Folder [no #]. No date (1902-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten (carbon copy) contract and specifications for #605s RELIANCE." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator). Contract and Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02650. Folder [no #]. No date (1902-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint table with list of '3 1/2% Nickel Steel' showing data for 'Mark', 'Number', 'Thickness', 'Length in Feet & Inches', 'Width in Inches' and 'Approximate Weight of each plate' for positions 'A', 'B1', 'B2-D2', 'C1', 'C2', 'D1', etc. On verso a rough sketch of what may be a metal midship section that is 21ft wide and a 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. Builders of Steam Vessels & Steam Machinery' stamp. (Note: The HMCo plan index cards show plan 86-83 of October 31, 1902 to have been a 'List of Plates nickel steel' for #605s RELIANCE. This plan is missing in Hart Nautical Collections. However, there is a plan 86-85 dated November 10, 1902 titled 'Table for Tobin bronze plates' which is rather similar in format to the table on this blueprint. There is a (remote?) possibility that the Nickel steel plates on this blueprint were intended for RELIANCE.)" (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0010. WRDT08, Folder 1, formerly MRDE08. No date (1902-10 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled '2[nd] trial. 1st model'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 5050cuft for body part and 805cuft for keel for a total of 5855[cuft] = 375000lbs = 167 long tons and note 'Disp[lacement] 12% greater than COLUMBIA [#499s] & 7 1/2% greater than CONSTITUTION [#551s]. Wetted surface 11 1/2% greater than COLUMBIA. ...'. Undated, compare with pantograph hull sections titled '4th [trial]. Oct[ober] 4, 1902. 89ft w.l. design [#605s RELIANCE]. 1st model' which show the same design." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07730. Folder [no #]. No date (1902-10-04 or earlier).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled '4th [trial]. Oct[ober] 4, 1902. 89ft w.l. design [#605s RELIANCE]. 1st model'. With calcultions adding weigth estimates for Hull, Equipment, Ex. Sails & gear, Spars on deck, crew * 66, Standing rig and arriving at a total weight of 370000lbs. With 1/4 beam related calculations. With tabulated calculations determining displacements for body and total and a total displacement of 5780cuft = 370000lbs = 165.3 long tons. With note 'Disp[lacement] = 10 1/4% greater than COLUMBIA [#499s] & 6 1/4% greater than CONSTITUTION [#551s]. Area w.l. = 15 1/4% greater than COLUMBIA & 11% greater than CONSTITUTION. Wetted surface = 12 1/2% greater than COLUMBIA. [unreadable comparison]. Ext. stability = 29% greater than COLUMBIA & 20% greater than CONSTITUTION'. On verso another set of penciled pantograph hull sections marked '3rd [trial]' without further notes or calculations." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04140. Folder [no #]. 1902-10-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections with radials and pinpricks, untitled and marked '2[nd] model. 1st trial; and '2[nd trial]. 2nd model [for #605s RELIANCE]', respectively. The second trial with calculations arriving at a displacement of 5210cuft [hull] and 760cuft [keel] for a total of 5970cuft = 382000lbs = 171 tons gross. Undated (hull sections for RELIANCE's 1st model had been drawn on October 4, 1902)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04160. Folder [no #]. No date (after 1902-10-04).)
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"[Item Description:] Printed racing rule beginning with 'Conditions to govern the races for the America's Cup [between SHAMROCK III and #605s RELIANCE], under the challenge of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, on behalf of Sir Thomas J. Lipton, dated 7th October, 1902, as agreed upon by the Committee of the New York Yacht Club and Royal Ulster Yacht Club. Number of Races: The match to be decided by the best three out of five races. ...] Marked in blue pencil 'Conditions of 1903'. Filed with April 8, 1913 Royal Ulster Yacht Club America's Cup regatta circular." (Source: New York Yacht Club (creator). Printed Racing Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07380. Folder [no #]. 1902-10-07.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Printed club circular on 'Secretary's Office, New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th Street' stationery:] A Special Meeting of the Club will be held at the
Club House on the evening of Thursday, October 16th [1902], at
nine o'clock, to take action in respect to a challenge for
races for the America's Cup to be sailed in 1903 [with #605s RELIANCE].
By order of
Lewis Cass Ledyard,
Commodore.
G. A. Cormack, Secretary." (Source: Cormack, George A. (Secr. NYYC). Correspondence (printed yacht club circular) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_02970. Folder [no #]. 1902-10-08.)
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"[Item Description:] America's Cup challenge, SHAMROCK III, contract with HMCo for new defender [which will be #605s RELIANCE]." (Source: Ledyard, Lewis Cass. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_04980. Correspondence, Folder 17, formerly 112. 1902-10-15.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections and calculations titled '89 1/2ft w.l. #605 [RELIANCE]. (2nd model). 3rd trial. Oct 18, 1902.' With table titled 'Comparison' and two columns titled 'Larger than COLUMBIA [#499s]' and 'Larger than CONSTITUTION [#551s]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0626. WRDT08, Folder 46. 1902-10-18.)
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"[Item Description:] [Typed letter on 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879. Builders of Steam Yachts, Torpedo Boats, Launches, High Speed Marine Engines and Tubulous Boilers. John B. Herreshoff, Prest. and Treas., N.G. Herreshoff, Gen. Mgr., C.W. Young, Sec'y, A. A. Packard, Supt., A.B. Brownell, Purch Agt.' stationery:] Please cancel the following nickle steel plates:- from Cup Defender #605 [RELIANCE] ..." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Letter to J. Wood & Bros. Co. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.010. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 605s. 1902-10-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I am writing to ask you to send me a letter approving our formula, and also urging its immediate adoption, that it may facilitate the designers building for the coming season. I am not giving you much time, but the fact is that I have been so busy with the work of the various Committees that I almost forgot this important detail. I do not suppose you could come up to take part in the discussion personally for no doubt you are overburdened with your new labors.
I intend running down to Newport on Monday or Tuesday next and shall endeavor to call on you at Bristol.
Wishing the new boat [#605s RELIANCE] every success, for I am sure she will be easily the finest thing that ever floated off the ways at Bristol, believe me to be... [Incl NGH reply:] I have studied over the proposed amendments to Racing Rules you have forward[ed] to me and I approve of them highly, and am sorry I will not be able to attend the meeting on Thursday to put in my vote in favor of them. There are a few minor things that I would like to see modified and may be after a year's experience, but as a whole I believe, when put into use the amendments will prove of great value to the sport of Yacht Racing. There will be larger entries of older boats, and the new ones will be of a more healthy and useful type.
I sincerely hope the amendment will pass and become available for use the coming season. There is nothing in the rules that will put any existing boat out of racing and a much better type of boat will spring up when it is in use. So the sooner it is done the better.
With reference to the little things I think can be improved I may as well mention I hope they will be acted upon at some future time and make the Racing Rules still more perfect for universal use.
1st With using the Y.R.A. sail area rule I think the constant divisor should be larger. Say 5 1/2 or even 6 instead of 5. This change would not effect the N.Y.Y.C. particularly, but would make the rule in better form for universal adoption. And I think that is one point your committee had in view in the original circular sent up[?]. Also for the same reasons, the regulations of the crew could be much improved by instead of allowing so many men per class to gauge the crew by the area of sail each boat is measured for. i would propose allowing one man for each 250 sqft sail area, and fraction[?] or express algebraically[?] Crew = .004 * (SA) + 1. The one begin added in place of a fraction.
Under the proposed rule of your Committee the 1st class sloops or schooners are limited to 50 men whatever may be their size. This is not enough for the crew of a Cup Defender as you will see by referring to the Racing length of COLUMBIA [#499s] in the report of your committee which is 131 ft. The same no that would be allotted to a yacht of only just over 100 ft.
The sail area (121)^2 = 14621 [space] .004 * 14621 = 58.564 or 59 men.
3rd The draft limit would be easier to apply if express algebraically instead of graphically. So expressed Draft = (1.34 Racing length) + 2.58 which I think is better.
I believe it would be better to make the limit of sail area = 1.30 times L and change the time allowance to the full theoretical amount, but this can be better determined after a years trial.
I hope I am not making myself too officious in mentioning these. I naturally have a fatherly feeling in the application of these new rules and I want them to be as perfect as possible." (Source: Cormack, George A. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69890. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F03, formerly MRDE15. 1902-10-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections and detailed calculations for '1st', '2nd', '3rd' and '4th' [trials] titled 'No 605 [#605s RELIANCE] Cup Defender. Nov 1st 1902'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0625. WRDT08, Folder 46. 1902-11-01.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Printed and typewritten testing report. Text on outer cover:]
Ordnance Department, U. S. A.
Report Of Mechanical Tests Made With The U.S. Testing Machine
Capacity 800,000 Pounds
At Watertown Arsenal, Mass.
November 6, 1902
for Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.
Tests by Tension
Steel wire rope
With report beginning with:]
Six strand galvanized rope with hemp core. Sample 1, 2 and 3 had eye splices and thimbles at the ends; No. 4 was a plain piece of rope.
[Followed by elongation data for various loads for wire rope of between .63 and .64in diameter and tensile strengths ranging from 19,900lbs to 33,500lbs.] [These tests were probably related to the design of #605s RELIANCE.]" (Source: Ordnance Department, USA, Watertown Arsenal. Correspondence (wire rope test) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02250. Folder [no #]. 1902-11-06.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Printed and typewritten testing report. Text on outer cover:]
Ordnance Department, U. S. A.
Report Of Mechanical Tests Made With The U.S. Testing Machine
Capacity 800,000 Pounds
At Watertown Arsenal, Mass.
November 10, 1902
for Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.
Tests by Tension
Steel wire rope
With report beginning with:]
Test No. 12,093.
Six strand galvanized rope, with hemp core. Sample No. 5 had eye splices and thimbes at the ends. No. 6 was a plain piece of rope.
[Followed by elongation data for various loads for wire rope of between .64 and .65in diameter and tensile strengths ranging from 31,100lbs to 34,900lbs.] [These tests were probably related to the design of #605s RELIANCE.]" (Source: Ordnance Department, USA, Watertown Arsenal. Correspondence (wire rope test) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02280. Folder [no #]. 1902-11-10.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Printed and typewritten testing report. Text on outer cover:]
Ordnance Department, U. S. A.
Report Of Mechanical Tests Made With The U.S. Testing Machine
Capacity 800,000 Pounds
At Watertown Arsenal, Mass.
November 15, 1902
for Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.
Tests by Tension
Steel wire rope
With report beginning with:]
Test No. 12,097.
Six strand galvanized rope, with hemp core. Samples No. 7, 9, and 11 had eye splices and thimbes at the ends. Samples Nos. 8, 10 and 12 were plain pieces of rope.
[Followed by elongation data for various loads for wire rope of between .65 and .69in diameter and tensile strengths ranging from 24,950lbs to 44,900lbs. With penciled notes, probably by NGH noting which samples were 7-wire and which 19-wire rope and which rope was made by whom (H. Mfg. Roebling and Hazzard).] [These tests were probably related to the design of #605s RELIANCE.]" (Source: Ordnance Department, USA, Watertown Arsenal. Correspondence (wire rope test) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02310. Folder [no #]. 1902-11-15.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I have not yet heard from the report to be made on the condition of 'COLUMBIA's' [#499s] hull. Will you not kindly let me have it as soon as possible? What would you suggest as the best method and time for straightening the rudder which during the last season was slightly bent? Will you kindly send me COLUMBIA's sail plan? I have been asked to get two or three extra sails from Ratsey, merely as an experiment and to oblige certain people. I trust you will let me have this without delay as Mr. Morgan has spoken to me several times.
Will you kindly give me a list of the places where Italian hemp can be used to advantage in the rigging, also the sizes thereof? There is no doubt it can in some places be used to advantage --- runner tackle for instance.
I have a letter from Miller to whom I gave orders to get prices on it and as it may interest you, I will quote them.
'Italian hemp made out of sail twine is about 72 cent per kilo. German money 2 marks and 90 pfenninge. Freight and duty 'extra'.
I suppose by this time that you and Ollie [Iselin] have been hard at it. I am sure he will be pleased with your ideas for next year's boat [#605s RELIANCE] and furthermore, I am sure that she will be a flyer." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38090. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1902-11-18.)
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"[Item Description:] [Typed letter with 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879. Builders of Steam Yachts, Torpedo Boats, Launches, High Speed Marine Engines and Tubulous Boilers. John B. Herreshoff, Prest. and Treas., N.G. Herreshoff, Gen. Mgr., C.W. Young, Sec'y, A. A. Packard, Supt., A.B. Brownell, Purch Agt.' letterhead:] Please furnish us with the following nickle steel plates for Cup Defender #605 [RELIANCE] ..." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Letter to Lukens Iron & Steel Co. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.010. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 605s. 1902-11-19.)
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"[Item Description:] [Typed letter with 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879. Builders of Steam Yachts, Torpedo Boats, Launches, High Speed Marine Engines and Tubulous Boilers. John B. Herreshoff, Prest. and Treas., N.G. Herreshoff, Gen. Mgr., C.W. Young, Sec'y, A. A. Packard, Supt., A.B. Brownell, Purch Agt.' letterhead:] Please furnish us with the following nickle steel plates for Cup Defender [#605s RELIANCE] ..." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Letter to J. Wood & Bros. Co. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.010. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 605s. 1902-11-19.)
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"[Item Description:] [Typed letter with 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879. Builders of Steam Yachts, Torpedo Boats, Launches, High Speed Marine Engines and Tubulous Boilers. John B. Herreshoff, Prest. and Treas., N.G. Herreshoff, Gen. Mgr., C.W. Young, Sec'y, A. A. Packard, Supt., A.B. Brownell, Purch Agt.' letterhead:] Please cancel the following Tobin Bronze plates from Cup Defender order #605 [RELIANCE] ..." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Letter to Ansonia Brass & Copper Co. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.010. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 605s. 1902-11-19.)
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"[Item Description:] [Typed letter with 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879. Builders of Steam Yachts, Torpedo Boats, Launches, High Speed Marine Engines and Tubulous Boilers. John B. Herreshoff, Prest. and Treas., N.G. Herreshoff, Gen. Mgr., C.W. Young, Sec'y, A. A. Packard, Supt., A.B. Brownell, Purch Agt.' letterhead:] Please furnish us with the following Tobin Bronze plates for Cup Defender [#605s RELIANCE] ..." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Letter to Ansonia Brass & Copper Co. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.010. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 605s. 1902-11-20.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled list:] Total spars for 605 [#605s RELIANCE]
3 Hollow Topmasts
2 Hollow spare booms
1 solid spare boom
2 Bowsprits
2 sets # 1 club t[op]s[ail] spars
1 (Make 2 N.G.H.) sets # 2 club t[op]s[ail] spars
1 (Make 2 N.G.H.) sets # 3 club t[op]s[ail] spars
2 sets # 4 club t[op]s[ail] spars
Extract from letter of Mr. Iselin." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_00850. Folder [no #]. No date (1902-12).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled list on 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879. Builders of Steam Yachts, Torpedo Boats, Launches, High Speed Marine Engines and Tubulous Boilers. John B. Herreshoff, Prest. and Treas., N.G. Herreshoff, Gen. Mgr., C.W. Young, Sec'y, A. A. Packard, Supt., A.B. Brownell, Purch Agt.' stationery titled 'Mem[orandum] of all sails for #605 [RELIANCE] as dictated by Mr. Iselin, Dec[ember] 1903' followed by list of sails, their numbers and cloth weights and notes 'to be made'. On verso a table of sails and months (from February to July), apparently to plan the manufacture of sails over the coming months" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_00830. Folder [no #]. 1902-12.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Thank you very much for yours of November 29th enclosing the Plan of Sails [for #499s COLUMBIA]. I hope you will not bother to get up a new plan. Can you not give me a blue print of the one you have? I would not bother you about it, but not having [Charlie] Barr it thrusts a great deal of responsibility upon me, and there are many ways, even to the setting of the sails, in which I can get help from it. As I assured you before, it will of course be for my personal use.
I see by the papers you got your casting out [for #605s RELIANCE] and apparently is satisfactory. I also see by the papers that they have started our racing on May 21st so that it will be necessary not to put away our fur clothing as early as usual." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38110. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1902-12-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Printed and typewritten testing report. Text on outer cover:]
Ordnance Department, U. S. A.
Report Of Mechanical Tests Made With The U.S. Testing Machine
Capacity 800,000 Pounds
At Watertown Arsenal, Mass.
December 27, 1902
for Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.
Tests by Tension
Plough steel wire rope
[With cover letter letter:]
Watertown Arsenal
Watertown, Mass.
December 27, 1902
Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Ro.I.
I inclose herewith report on plough steel wire rope tested agreeably to your request of December 23, 1902, together with an account of expenses.
Please inform me what shall be done with the scrap.
Respectfully, Your ob[edien]t servant ...
[P.S.] It is impracticable to determine the elongation of rope of this size and strength without having specimens fitted with eye splices at each end.
[With report beginning with:]
Test No. 12,117.
Six strand galvanized rope, with wire strand core. Sample No. 13, a plain piece of rope.
Samples Nos. 14, 15 and 16 each had an eye splice and thimble at one end, the other end plain.
[Followed by results with tensile strengths ranging from 32,800 to 40,600lbs for wire rope of .64in diameter.] [These tests were probably related to the design of #605s RELIANCE.]" (Source: Ordnance Department, USA, Watertown Arsenal. Correspondence (wire rope test) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02210. Folder [no #]. 1902-12-27.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.06814 (086-122). Blueprint table titled 'Block List No. 605 [#605s RELIANCE]. Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. 1st Sheet. Dec[ember] 30, 1902'. With penciled check marks and a few changes / corrections." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0167. WRDT08, Folder 16, formerly MRDE06. 1902-12-30.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.06814 (086-122). Blueprint table titled 'Block List No. 605 [#605s RELIANCE]. Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. 2nd Sheet. Dec[ember] 31, 1902'. With penciled check marks and a few changes / corrections. on verso penciled note 'Old list 129 [?]' and a few penciled calculations." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0168. WRDT08, Folder 16, formerly MRDE06. 1902-12-31.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table, untitled, listing schooner classes (from A to EE) and sloops & yawls classes (from F to Q [and R and S]) and their ratings. With separate note showing rating factors 'with excess of rig' for CORONA [#435s ex-COLONIA], GLORIANA [#411s], WASP [#414s], IROLITA [#591s], HUMMA [#553s], COLUMBIA [#499s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s] and SPASM [#538s]. On verso unidentified sketches. Undated (the latest boat on this list was built in 1903)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01380. Folder [no #]. No date (1903 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Technical drawing showing dimensioned profiles and sections of nine different sizes (Size # 1 to Size # 9) of high-load hooks titled on plan-head 'Close hooks for Runners and Special Places'. With notes for every hook stating proof test load (in tons) for three different materials (nickel steel, steel casting and mild steel). Size # 1 hook with note '2 of this for runners of #605 [RELIANCE] of Ni[ckel] steel forged and cut out'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_01460. Folder [no #]. No date (1903 or later ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten dedication regarding the 'RELIANCE' [#605s] clock (standing in the dining room):] To NATHANIEL GREENE HERRESHOFF Designer of Reliance
in recognition of his genius as an Engineer and Constructor, and in gratitude for his services in the defense of the America Cup. 1903.
Presented by
C.O. Iselin
E.H. Gary
C.A. Grisoom
Jas.J. Hill
W. B. Leeds
N.B. Ream
Wm. Rockefeller
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Henry Walters
P.A.B. Widener." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_56030. Dedication. Subject Files, Folder 64, formerly 148. 1903.)
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"[Item Description:] [Carbon copy of letter/list with handwritten notes in upper margin 'Duplicate' and 'Requisition of W. Coleman & Son', stamped 'Jan 26, 1903:] Please send us at once the following Nickle Steel for straps for #605 [RELIANCE] … [With further handwritten note in lower right corner:] Block Strap material for 605 Nickel Stel. To be sent to W Coleman & Son, Prov. Material to be carefully weighed and weights returned to office. HMCo. Y[oung]'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Letter to W. Coleman & Son. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.010. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 605s. 1903-01-26.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Can you conveniently send me a cabin plan of the PELICAN [#408s] also a profile plan? I am thinking some of selling her, so that the use for these is obvious.
Hoping to see you at the launching [of #605s RELIANCE on April 11, 1903], I am ...
P.S. Would you kindly fill out the enclosed blank for me, and greatly oblige, ..." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38140. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-03-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten signed letter on 'Cary Smith & Barbey' stationery:] As the day draws near for the trial of the RELIANCE [#605s], I want to express my faith in your brains to keep that Cup here.
May the new boat be all you expect and may we both gain in the final howl of triumph." (Source: Smith, A. Cary. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_44370. Correspondence, Folder 97, formerly 79. 1903-03-23.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I have written to [Capt. Uriah] Rhodes, telling him to confer with you about the two old mainsails of the 'CONSTITUTION' [#551s]. I would like very much to have you go out with him, taking also Mr. [Asa] Hathaway with you, and decide what alterations had best be made in the cut of the sails. The No. 4, I am sure, you will find requires some cutting to make it fit better.
I had intended coming on with Mr. Iselin, but just at the moment I have too much important business to attend to that I cannot leave, but will be on at the launching [of #605s RELIANCE. Believe me,
Yours very sincerely, ..." (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39890. Correspondence, Folder 82, formerly 64. 1903-04-02.)
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"[Item Description:] Please invite me to DEFIANCE [sic, i.e. #605s RELIANCE] launching" (Source: Garchier(?), E.R. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_09460. Correspondence, Folder 28, formerly 149. 1903-04-06.)
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"[Item Description:] [On 'S. Cabot. Chemist. Mason Building, 70 Kilby Street, Boston, Mass.' stationery:] It was kind, which, like you, to invite me to the launching of your latest triumph, and I wish I could go, but I am so driven with a thousand and one things that I fear I must forgo it. I shall be with you in spirit and feel perfectly safe in prophesying a jubilant career to the 'RELIANCE' [#605s] and none will be happier to throw up his cap for you than ... [No year, but reference to RELIANCE launch clearly shows this to have been from 1903]." (Source: Cabot IV, Samuel. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13490. Correspondence, Folder 37, formerly 197. No year (1903)-04-10.)
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"[Item Description:] Invitation of Mr. Lawrence Grinnell to #605s RELIANCE launch" (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Invitation. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_2480. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Box 1), Folder [no #]. 1903-04-11.)
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"[Item Description:] Employe's [sic] Ticket to #605s RELIANCE launch" (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Ticket. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_2500. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Box 1), Folder [no #]. 1903-04-11.)
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"[Item Description:] Printed ticket 'Employe's Ticket. Launching of cup defender 'RELIANCE' [#605s]'. Saturday, April the eleventh nineteen hundred and three five-thirty P.M. Pass Mr.[sic] [blank] with lady to North Wharf. Herreshoff Mfg. Co.'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Printed Entrace Ticket. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_06690. Folder [no #]. 1903-04-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I have been making in various directions inquiries for a first-class engineer for the VANISH [#177p] and it occurred to me to ask if you had any man in your employ that you could recommend highly for the position?
I congratulate you most heartily on the success of Saturday last [when #605s RELIANCE was launched]. It certainly was your day." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38200. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-04-13.)
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"[Item Description:] am anxious to get names of owners and names of boats that you are building for the new one design class [BH31], congratulate you on perfection of details of launching of #605s RELIANCE" (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_17840. Correspondence, Folder 48, formerly 75. 1903-04-15.)
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"[Item Description:] sorry we could not have more time at launching [of #605s RELIANCE], haven't heard of Mr. Sears [apparently re BH-31], will be at the trial of RELIANCE" (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_17830. Correspondence, Folder 48, formerly 75. 1903-04-21.)
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"[Item Description:] I learn by a letter from your brother [JBH] that he was much pleased by the steam trial of the 'VANISH' [#177p] which had just been made, but he does not say anything further about it. Will you kindly let me know the result of the trial? I hope that my representative found everything in good working order. I was somewhat disturbed [the] day before yesterday to find the 'RELIANCE' [#605s] a little dull in a light breeze. Of course her mainsail would account for it to a certain extent, but not sufficiently to make us feel altogether happy in that kind of sailing. I have no doubt, however, that you will make a radical improvement in her." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38230. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-05-07.)
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"[Item Description:] I received both of your letters this morning on my arrival at the office. I am glad to hear so good a report of the 'VANISH' [#177p] and am obliged to you for having attended to the matter for me. I found her Saturday morning ready for use at Glen Cove and it felt like old times to have her start off again like the 'DAISY' [ex-HENRIETTA]. There is no doubt about it, they are delightful boats. I too, had the same opinion and so expressed myself to Ollie [Iselin] about that mainsail that the 'RELIANCE' [#605s] had on when she came alongside of me. The next mainsail she put on appeared to me, on very brief examination, to be very good indeed, and one I am sure would have started her up much more briskly." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38240. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-05-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Since my conversation with you I have been very much worried and distressed over the fact that I have hurt your feelings in having my sails [for #551s CONSTITUTION], which were made by you, altered and repaired here without your assistance. It is doubly distressing to me because I would not, for the world, do anything to hurt your feelings in this connection, on personal grounds, quite apart from any business aspects of it, and I hope you won't harbor it against me and am sure you will realise that I am rather doing you a favor in not pestering you with details about my boat while you are so busy with your new creation [#605s RELIANCE], and which really is the boat that will defend the Cup and to which your undivided attention, I might say, is almost obligatory.
Practically, too, I do not think you would have been able to give the time which I would have required from you here and go out with me, and even if I had come to Bristol with the boat, which at the present time I have really not found the time to do, although I can and do manage to go out every afternoon with the 'CONSTITUTION,'- you would have been too busy.
The first sail that you made me I have not as yet touched. It is coming out to be a superb sail, and what little I have to change in it, I can perfectly well direct myself with the assistance of Capt. Terry and Capt. Rhodes, and really most all the little changes of his kind have got to be done by driblets, and if could not see you constantly, I would be without the advice required.
I think I am doing my duty to you and your boat to try and bring it to the line in as good a shape as possible in order to provide for you the opportunity of forming a proper judgment about the 'RELIANCE'.
Please let me know when there is a chance of my being able to have your advice. For instance,I I cannot reconcile my own ideas with the fact that the boom of the 'CONSTITUTION' swings so uncommonly high. Last winter you told me that you had been all over the calculations, and I accepted your verdict that there was no change of any kind to be made, and I understand that no change has been made.
The boat is going to haul out at New London on the 16th of May, and I would only have to-morrow and the day after to bring the sail in, and probably the 20th, the day before the race, if I could come West in time. Believe me,
Yours very truly, ..." (Source: Belmont, August. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39900. Correspondence, Folder 82, formerly 64. 1903-05-13.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] I am exceedingly disappointed to find that my feeble attempt to help the 'COLUMBIA' [#499s] in light airs seems to have gone wrong. The facts are that the wooden No. 1 Clubtopsail yard is this year about as I found it last year, and my reasons for wanting a steel yard are identical with those that I had at the time of ordering. You can therefore, very well see how disappointed I am not to have the yard that I ordered so early in the season, and I am going to ask you if you will not make it for me and with as much haste as possible. Please let me know what is the earliest date of delivery and I will then wire my definite decision on the matter. I trust that the 'RELIANCE' [#605s] is going on to your satisfaction, and that she will prove herself to be up to your highest expectations, is the wish of ..." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38250. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-05-14.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [In pencil:] Yours of 13th rec[eive]d today & I hastened to ask if you could fix the mainsail without the boat [#499s COLUMBIA]. It is impossible to send her as she hauls out tomorrow & races next Thursday. The mainsail is as near as possible like that of the RELIANCE [#605s]. Between AB & the dotted line CD the sail is thankfully smooth but without draft. For C to D it is very had and abaft of that the sail & leach hang to leeward. [Sketch.] Of course the moment any dampness appears in the air all the faults are accentuated. I would not attempt to make any suggestion as to how to make the alteration out from your letter feel that you know what to do. I am naturally anxious to get it fast as soon as possible as you well know I am anxious to use your sail, but at present I could not do so.
The present jib is tight on the lower part and loose in the leach & upper part. I mention this is reference to the new jib. With kind regards ..." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38260. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-05-15.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Kittery, Maine Aug 7th
My dear Capt Herreshoff
I was indeed very much obliged for your kind thoughtfulness in inviting me to witness the races at Newport on your yacht, but very sorry to miss the chance as I should haveby[?] also had the pleasure of again meeting your family which has given me much pleasure to do and especially last summer when they were so much interested in our original belongings here and I have been hoping to see you all again this year as I have still 'something up my sleeve' (that is what people say of you, for the Englishmen) to interest them in old Kittery town[?], so I trust you will find it convenient to pay a visit here.
The reason I missed you at Newport was that I did not arrive there until 5 P.M. Monday. the man in charge of the [New York Yacht] Club Station told me that you had called for me at the landing that morning. I had a fine view of the race on Tuesday on board the Committee boat by invitation of Commodore [Grenville] Kane and it was very fair. Your RELIANCE [#605s] is a daisy and as she passed close to us under full sail it appeared to us the proper thing to fall down in worship of the beautiful craft. I certainly congratulate you on your production and as you say she should 'do the trick', I don't know as you are aware of the fact that you have done it on many occasions.
I missed sniny[?] the other races at Newport for the reason that there was no Club boat furnished as had been intended by the N.Y.Yacht-Club. I had been intended by a prominent member of the Club to be with him on the occasion, so was quite disappointed. One[?] thing[?] suns[?] the Challenger is a complete Herreshoff boat as far as I can see by Photos of her, so am unfortunate that[?] or jockeying[?] way knock[?] things out, but I trust you will come out on top.
I wish you would remember me kindly to Mrs Herreshoff and your sister in Law Mrs De Wolf whim I enjoyed seeing very much and again thanking you for your kind thoughts[?]." (Source: Shackford[?], F.[?]G. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52550. Subject Files, Folder 45, formerly 59. (1903)-08-07.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Thank you for letting me know about Mr Havemeyer.
I will write to him as you suggest.
Our committee has been asked to see the Cup races from CORSAIR so I hope to have a good chance to see RELIANCE [#605s] polish[?] off SHAMROCK.
What a fine race it was between the three [#499s COLUMBIA, #551s CONSTITUTION and #605s RELIANCE] in the trial race & what magnificent boats they are.
I wish I could alter COLUMBIA over & have her only draw ten feet, but you said it would be impossible. I like her to look at better than either of the new ones.
After the races are over, I hope you will drop into Hadley with your steamer [#215p ROAMER]." (Source: Forbes, J. Malcolm. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13030. Correspondence, Folder 37, formerly 197. 1903-08-11.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] As a citizen of Rhode Island and your neighbor, I want to congratulate you heartily on the success that has attended the splendid performance of the RELIANCE [#605s]. You have certainly conferred new honor on American skill and seamanship, and you have hopelessly distanced the British boat builders. You have one of the high satisfactions that can come to any man, of having climbed to the top of his particular business or profession. We are proud of the part that Rhode Island, through you, has in this great series of victories." (Source: Faunce, William Herbert Perry (Pres. Brown Univ.). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52590. Subject Files, Folder 45, formerly 59. 1903-09-02.)
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"[Item Description:] I wish to congratulate you on the successful defense of the America cup. The RELIANCE [#605s] is certainly a wonderful boat. They may talk all they please about the way she was handled, etc., but the most essential thing was to have the boat to do it with. All honor to Captain Nat. Herreshoff. Please accept my hearty congratulations. [Incl newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe of September 4, 1903 titled 'The Boat's the Thing' and annotated in ink by Wilcok 'my sentiments exactly'.]" (Source: Wilcox, Edward (Steamboat Inspection Service). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52530. Subject Files, Folder 45, formerly 59. 1903-09-04.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] What a wonderful season RELIANCE [#605s] has had! Just when everyone thought the limit of speed had been reached in 90 footers you have shown them that it had not.
I am so glad there were no accidents either, that was an equally great triumph.
I hope you have had a very pleasant Summer. Please give my regards to all your family.
I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that you have shown the whole world that you are easily the leader in yacht designing & building.
With kindest regard ..." (Source: Packard, Alpheus A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52570. Subject Files, Folder 45, formerly 59. 1903-09-07.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] praise for #605s RELIANCE" (Source: Haswell, Charles H. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_23290. Correspondence, Folder 68. 1903-09-09.)
①

"[Item Description:] Re: #605s RELIANCE congratulations - move to RELIANCE Congratulations subject file. Marked 'copy'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Rev. W. H. Faunce. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_12770. Correspondence, Folder 36, formerly 189. 1903-09-10.)
①

"[Item Transcription:] Thank you for your letter of August 23rd. I was much disappointed to miss you but it was unavoidable. I am afraid that the data which you have given me is hardly sufficient and I will try to come up from Newport and see you before long and have a little talk on the subject.
With the heartiest congratulations for a victory [of #605s RELIANCE over SHAMROCK] so hollow (at which I am well pleased) I am,
Sincerely yours ... " (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38300. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-09-10.)
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"[Item Transcription:] As an American citizen I wish to express to you my sincere thanks for your great service to the Nation in designing the yacht 'RELIANCE' [#605s] with such good judgment and skill as to enable her to win an easy victory over the challenger, save the America's Cup, and increase the National reputation in vessel building.
Am quite earnest in this expression as I firmly believe that if the Challenger had won the cup, we never could have got it back, no matter how fast a yacht we might have sent over for it.
It was my privilege to visit your establishment and meet you many years ago with Col. John Mason Loomis, in the Schooner 'VIKING' and I was then much impressed with the high order of genius shown in the vessels under construction there at that time.
Respectfully yours
[signed Horatio L. Wait]
(formerly of U.S. Navy) [incl NGH draft reply:] I am in receipt of your kind letter of 15th inst. regarding RELIANCE's victory.
I wish to thank you for the kindly feelings you express and tell you of the pleasure I have in receiving such a letter you[sic].
I well remember your visit to our works with Col. Loomis in VIKING." (Source: Waith, Horatio L. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52600. Subject Files, Folder 45, formerly 59. 1903-09-15.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Now that the cup races are over and won and our season here is also finished we all begin naturally to look to the next year, and what it will bring for it.
It is a about time I think we had some more boats in our bay from your hand and I write to say that I have been talking with some of our members and have six men who are willing to build in a two design class of 18ft LWL, and I think I can get two or three more. First my idea of two design is got from the fact that some of our men object to the narrow type of boat with little power and an easy heel, being always used to wide boats, while others who have our 15-footers [Buzzards Bay 15 Class] will have nothing else.
I therefore ask if you will make me up a set of dimensions in a rough way of two boats, about 18ft LWL that will sail in your opinion as even as is possible in all kinds of weather with a sheer plan and deck plan of each. I will also ask for price in case 4 of each are built or 6 or more are in case one or other of designs is given up. It might be well to send me contract form for members to sign boats to be ready by June 1, 1904.
Yours very truly,
R W. Emmons 2d
over
If I may suggest somewhat the kind of boat we want. I will say that nothing can be better to our mind than an enlarged 15 footer with low home like [Charles M.] Baker's 21 footer EDITH [#456s]. These boats I would suggest to be built single planked in accord with construction restrictions of our 18 foot restricted class or that of the YRA. To be without bowsprit and to have extra freeboard which to my mind will make them about 28-6 [LOA] and to carry out the stern far enough to make the boat have a light and pretty run although it many not be of much use when sailing.
These boats we would like to compare in every way in workmanship to our 15 footers not as expensive[?] as some of your work but good enough which is better than anybody else that I have yet seen. Drop me a line to 40 Water street Boston in this matter and the sooner I can be given some data to work with the sooner I can turn over the order to you. I congratulate you on the success of [#605s] RELIANCE and I think every one interested in yachting must feel indebted to you for what you have done.
RWE 2d [This will lead to the Buzzards Bay 18 class of four boats #612s, #613s, #614s, and #615s.] [Undated, but referring to the concluded 1903 America's Cup races, suggesting this letter to have been written in September 1903. Apparently the single envelope from R.W. Emmons that is postmarked Sep 21, 19??, filed close by, and carries a penciled note '40 Water Street' which is the address that Emmons wanted a response sent to, belongs to this letter. This would suggest that this letter may date from September 21, 1903.]" (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39120. Correspondence, Folder 79, formerly 71. No date (1903-09 ?-21 ??).)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Description:] Typed signed letter on 'Prime Minister's Office' stationery requesting a rivet from #605s RELIANCE as a souvenir for Miss, Seddon, a daughter of the Prime Minister." (Source: Jones, A.S. (secr. to New Zealand Prime Minister). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_00320. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84). 1903-09-30.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled note comparing w.l., L, D, d, S limit, Beam, B and rating for three boats: An unidentified 90-footer [America's Cup class], CONSTITUTION [#551s] and RELIANCE [#605s]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_00150. Folder [no #]. No date (1903 or later).)
①

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

"[Item 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.)
① ②

"N/A"

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Orders from N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§25: Work Order [For] #605s. [When wanted] Soon as possible. Galv. plow steel wire (1902-11-30)
§26: Memorandum of total no of sails for #605s (1902-12-01)
§28: Work Order [For] #605s and stock. [When wanted] Soon. Ex. fine 3-strand manila rope (1902-12-09)
§29: Work Order [For] #605s. [When wanted] Soon as possible. Galv. plow steel wire (1902-12-22)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03460. Folder [no #]. 1900-02 to 1909-10.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕

"[Item Description:] Penciled tabulated data showing 'Base/w.l.', 'Base/P1', '% J&B Base', '% Mast stop to w.l.', '% Sq-rt(S) to w.l.', 'Stability moment[?] / Water L[?] outboard' and 'Rating' for 'RELIANCE [#605s]', 'CONSTITUTION [#551s], 'COLUMBIA [#499s], 'AVENGER [#666s], 'AURORA CLASS [#667s New York 57 Class], '711 Class [#711s New York 50 Class], '725 D (9150 S) [#725s RESOLUTE with 9150sqft sail area]' and '725 D (8225 S) [RESOLUTE with 8225sqft]'. On verso of printed card from Browning, King & Co. acknowledging 'receipt of your favor'." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0599. WRDT08, Folder 45. No date (1913 ??).)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled Memorandum on verso of printed Browning King & Company payment acknowledgment:] RELIANCE [#605s]
Cannot find detail w[ei]g[h]ts sheets, were probably destroyed.
The approximate weight of hull with rudder & fixtures 105000lbs
Of this, Tobin bz. plating and Aluminum deck plating 147000[lbs]
leaving[?] of steel framing, cast bronze keel plate & over hang bars, other metal & wood work 50300[lbs]
The lead ballst is approximately 204000[lbs]
Total standing rig about 31000[lbs]
of this mast 10438[lbs]
boom 4365[lbs]
gaff 1576[lbs]
N.G.H. Aug[ust] 20, [19]13. [This was probably made to estimate the cost of building #725s RESOLUTE which had been requested by George A. Cormack from NGH in a letter the day before.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_00860. Folder [no #]. 1913-08-20.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Penciled diagram titled 'Stability curves. Scale 200ft tons per inch' comparing America's Cup yachts (from most to least stability) #605s RELIANCE, #499s COLUMBIA, #451s NIAGARA, #435s COLONIA, #437s VIGILANT and #429s NAVAHOE. Undated, mention of RELIANCE from 1903 indicates a year of 1903 or later with 1913 when #725s RESOLUTE was designed being the most likely one." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Stability Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0602. WRDT08, Folder 45. No date (1913-09 ???).)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Mr. Cormack has just submitted to the Syndicate the contract for a 75-foot Cup Defender [#725s RESOLUTE], and we feel there must be some mistake.
Our Syndicate was formed based upon your letter of August 22nd to Mr. Cormack, which you advised was written after consultation with your brother.
In this letter you say that, owing to lack of certain information about the type of boat, etc., you could not name anything definite, but 'that you could give the extremes'. Your letter then names 'One Hundred and Twelve Thousand Five Hundred ($112,500.00) as an outside limit', covering a vessel built expressly for racing (as RELIANCE [#605s]), with all weights figured down to the minimum, all important parts of the rig and gear tested, elaborate construction, using nickle steel, Tobin bronze and aluminum principally, special winches, etc.'
In the interview with members of the Syndicate at Mr. Morgan's office when an order was placed with you for the Cup Defender and in reply to an inquiry as to cost, you referred to this letter of August 22nd to Mr. Cormack, and the members of the Committee not present have since been informed that $112,500.00 was the outside cost.
We feel, therefore, some mistake has been made in preparing the contract and filling in the cost at $123,000.00, and hope yon will promptly forward to Mr. Cormack a new contract with a cost not exceeding your outside limit of $112,500.00. [Incl NGH draft reply note:] Answered by telegram to Mr Cormack 9/24/13" (Source: Walters, H. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_25080. Subject Files, Folder 3, formerly 96-100. 1913-09-23.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I was at Bristol again yesterday, and found the work had been progressing satisfactorily, in fact that on the hull of the boat [#725s RESOLUTE] has gone ahead very fast. The bronze plating is now all on with the exception of the top streak, and of this about half of it is riveted. The gunwale bars were all ready, and also the steel covering board, at the stern had been taken out, and were to be shipped to New York or Providence for galvanizing. The wooden boom has been shaped up and given a coat of varnish. One of the gaffs was partly shaped up, and the other one is down in the lower shop, alongside of it.
Hathaway has cut out and is starting sewing up the No. 1 and also cut out the No. 2 jib, also the gaff topsail was partly completed, all for the double rig. He has received all the hopsack canvas under your order for the double rig, with the exception of 500 yards of the No. 1. Also almost all of the canvas made for us, which is not to be mercerized, has been received.
In the machine shop I saw all the bronze wheels for the winches. Also the vanadian steel turned buckles and chain plates. They claimed to be about all done, waiting to be heat treated. Sidney informed me that the capstan I wrote about in my last had to be made over, as there was a mistake, I believe, in the sprocket. They were also overhauling the machine that came with the RELIANCE [#605s], that was used for the main sheet, which I believe we are to use on our mainsheet. The only department which has nothing to do, as I wrote you, is Chase and the rigging. He has received no wire now for ten days, and I have taken the matter up with the Roeblings in New York, to find out the reason why. Mr. John has heard nothing from the people in England, either, regarding the hemp, and if you could send me a list of the pieces that could he replaced by manilla, that would be used below deck (where I think manilla would be just as good) I think it would be just as well for us to give up the idea of the other rope for those parts.
I have sent in the order for sails (list of which I enclose to you) subject to any alterations you may think advisable for me to make.
Nothing has been done on the steel mast as yet, but Mr. John informed me that he thought it would be better for the shop work to continue on the hull of the boat until practically done, before starting on the mast. He approached me again on the subject of the second mast, and I told him I preferred to do nothing, and would await your orders.
The more I see of our hopsack canvass the more convinced I am that it is going to be a success. Yesterday we took out a roll of the No. 1, made under the contract, and made a stretch test, pulling a piece by hand as hard as possible, when laid out the whole length of the sail loft. The most it could be pulled out, under this method was five inches, whereas our No. 0, which I spoke to you about in my last letter, could be pulled out at the same tension eight inches. We also compared the two weaves in the No. 5, and found that the same difference in stretch existed there as well.
The cold spell here has at last turned, and we have had two beautiful days. I hope you are now having good weather in Bermuda. When are you planning to return? I hope you will stay as long as you possibly can, and get yourself in the very best of shape, as you know that we are counting on your sailing with us as much as you possibly can this summer, as we certainly need all the advice and suggestions you can give us.
As far as the other two boats are concerned, I do not see but that they are going ahead very slowly, and I am afraid will not be ready to give us any races as early as planned. At Lawley's [VANITIE], they have done nothing so far but mould the keel, and I am informed by Bassett, in Taunton, that they have only just begun to ship the bronze plates to Lawley. Down at Bath [DEFIANCE], the other boat's frames were begun to be set up yesterday. While both of these boats have ordered canvas from Lowell I am happy to say that neither of them has ordered any of our hopsack weave.
Charlie Adams and I are going down again to Bristol tomorrow, and George Cormack is coming on from New York to meet us.
We have our tender alterations well underway, and all arrangements connected with the boat on the outside are going along very satisfactorily. I have already engaged 20 of of[sic] the 24 sailors that we shall need. If I can only stir up some results on the wire. I believe also the cast steel thimbles that you ordered from a certain place in Providence, have not shown up as yet, and they are to be followed up. When these things are started along, I do not see but that all departments will be running on schedule.
Mr. John is getting over his grippe, and was sitting up yesterday. Sidney seems to be around and keeping an eye on everything.
Some of the castings for the steering gear are completed. I note that the rope called for for the peak and throw halyards is 3 inches in circumference. Could we not reduce that to 2 1/2 or 2 3/4? I have not put in an order for extra wire rigging as yet, but will do so as soon as I hear from you as to what you think would be advisable to order. Would it not be well to have this a little longer than actually required? The bronze casting to be bolted on to the keel into the shieve of the centre-board penant I saw completed in the machine shop.
Also numerous other fittings,
I wrote the members of the syndicate the other day, giving them a general idea of how far the boat construction had progressed, and I have received letters from them all, expressing much satisfaction. They are, I believe, trying to get together next week, and see if they cannot settle on a name. I think it is about time.
Cameron Forbes called me up, as he is leaving for Panama to be gone until the middle of April, requesting that I ask you to place a wheel in the 'ADVENTURESS' [#685s] for him, and also design him, without altering the step of the mast, a single jib, to replace the double head jib, as he wishes to make her as easy to handle as possible. I spoke to Sidney about the steering gear, and perhaps you can write him telling him how much to cut down the bowsprit, etc, or if there will be time after you get back to make the alterations, and have the boat ready for him by the 15th of May, it will be satisfactory.
I wish I could see my way to run down with Mrs. Emmons for a week to Bermuda, and get a sail with you in your boat [#718s ALERION III]. It is a place I have never been and would like to make the trip very much, but am afraid that I cannot induce her to go, and I doubt if I can get away myself.
I hope you will pardon this typewritten letter, but as there is so much to put on paper, and my handwriting is so poor, I think you will find it more satisfactory to receive it as it is.
With kindest regards, I am, ...
P.S. Basset further stated he is sending bronze frames also for the Gardner boat [VANITIE], and he estimated the total weight of the bronze plates to be used for the Gardner boat would weight considerably more than ours, although there wasn't any great difference in the thickness." (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_25860. Subject Files, Folder 5, formerly 96-100. 1914-02-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I will send a line by the 'BERMUDIAN', hoping it will reach you before you sail, which I surmise will be on her return trip, if you stick to your plan to come on the 21st. I an sorry you do not feel as if you ought to stay another week, as I think you will find the weather still pretty raw when you get here.
Was at Bristol all day Saturday. Things continue to go along well. The plating [on #725s RESOLUTE] was all done except one of the bow sheer streak plates, and the riveting was completed above the water line. The gunwale bars were all in, and they have also begun riveting up the aluminum deck. The bronze plating to cover the lower part of the lead, however, is not yet on. The steel mast was all put together, except two sections. Both topmasts were completed, but not varnished. Chase is getting along well with the wire. He was working on the main shrouds. We have all the canvas in the loft now except 600 yards of the No. 2 mercerized. Wahmsley will ship some of his Waumsetta stuff the last of this week.
The little bronze shoe that I spoke to you about, that Francis made a model of, Sidney has had a bronze casting made of. It looks very neat and I am anxious to find out what you think of the boys' work, when you see it.
Mr. John says that the steel for the second mast has been ordered, and also I heard him speak about ordering the aluminum, also talking with Sidney about the rolls you are making for shaping this steel when it arrives, and I gathered from Sidney that he is now at work making the rolls for the same.
They told me in the machine shop that they have about all the various parts for winches etc., finished. I wrote on to Christensen, and had him get hold of the RELIANCE's [#605s] old battens from Miller, as I thought we could utilize them in the event of our using some longer battens when experimenting.
I am going to New York on Wednesday, and am going to call on Mr. Walters, and tell them they must hurry up and decide on the name. The hub of the steering wheel is all completed, they are anxious at Bristol to have a name given them to engrave on it. It is high time this was done. My sentiments regarding the name 'HALF MOON' are the same as yours. I guess we can do better than that.
We made two very careful stretching tests of the canvas in the loft on Saturday. Some of the No. 1 Hopsack and some of the No. 2 Egyptian Hopsack, put under 150 lbs. pressure, stretched only about 2in whereas when we took a roll just received fresh from the mill, which had not been opened, and put it under the same test, it stretched 5in and over, which we conclude indicates very definitely it to set, before cutting. [Barely readable handwritten inserted sentence:] (The[?] canvas[?] we tested was stretched[?] out the length of loft --- 2 in in a least[?] 90 feet in mid[?] test[?] at 150 lbs.)
George Cormack has been sick with the Grippe, and had to go White Sulphur Springs. He has just returned. I was interested to hear from him, and also that he had heard from your, and that you had told him you had been experimenting with jibs, with a boom running the whole length of the foot, and was much pleased with the results. I had begun to think that perhaps you might find that the jib with the club, such as the fifty footers had, would be the most advantageous.
George Nichols is in Lowell today, looking after the last canvas, which are going to be woven up of Peeler Mercerized Yarns and Hopsack Weave.
All the members of your family seem to have kept well, with the exception that Sidney was complaining of a slight cold on Saturday. The men in the shop seem to be working cheerfully and well." (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_25900. Subject Files, Folder 5, formerly 96-100. 1914-03-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Marked 'Copy':] I will send a line by the 'BERMUDIAN', hoping it will reach you before you sail, which I surmise will be on her return trip, if you stick to your plan to come on the 21st. I an sorry you do not feel as if you ought to stay another week, as I think you will find the weather still pretty raw when you get here.
Was at Bristol all day Saturday. Things continue to go along well. The plating [on #725s RESOLUTE] was all done except one of the bow sheer streak plates, and the riveting was completed above the water line. The gunwale bars were all in, and they have also begun riveting up the aluminum deck. The bronze plating to cover the lower part of the lead, however, is not yet on. The steel mast was all put together, except two sections. Both topmasts were completed, but not varnished. Chase is getting along well with the wire. He was working on the main shrouds. We have all the canvas in the loft now except 600 yards of the No. 2 mercerized. Wahmsley will ship some of his Waumsetta stuff the last of this week.
The little bronze shoe that I spoke to you about, that Francis made a model of, Sidney has had a bronze casting made of. It looks very neat and I am anxious to find out what you think of the boys' work, when you see it. [Handwritten addition:] This casting was to take clew of mainsail.
Mr. John says that the steel for the second mast has been ordered, and also I heard him speak about ordering the aluminum, also talking with Sidney about the rolls you are making for shaping this steel when it arrives, and I gathered from Sidney that he is now at work making the rolls for the same.
They told me in the machine shop that they have about all the various parts for winches etc., finished. I wrote on to Christensen, and had him get hold of the RELIANCE's [#605s] old battens from Miller, as I thought we could utilize them in the event of our using some longer battens when experimenting.
I am going to New York on Wednesday, and am going to call on Mr. Walters, and tell them they must hurry up and decide on the name. The hub of the steering wheel is all completed, they are anxious at Bristol to have a name given them to engrave on it. It is high time this was done. My sentiments regarding the name 'HALF MOON' are the same as yours. I guess we can do better than that.
We made two very careful stretching tests of the canvas in the loft on Saturday. Some of the No. 1 Hopsack and some of the No. 2 Egyptian Hopsack, put under 150 lbs. pressure, stretched only about 2in whereas when we took a roll just received fresh from the mill, which had not been opened, and put it under the same test, it stretched 5in and over, which we conclude indicates very definitely it to set, before cutting. [Barely readable handwritten inserted sentence:] (We[?] caura[?] we tested was weeled[?] out the length of loft --- 2 in in a least[?] 90 feet in mid[?] test[?] at 150 lbs.)
George Cormack has been sick with the Grippe, and had to go White Sulphur Springs. He has just returned. I was interested to hear from him, and also that he had heard from your, and that you had told him you had been experimenting with jibs, with a boom running the whole length of the foot, and was much pleased with the results. I had begun to think that perhaps you might find that the jib with the club, such as the fifty footers had, would be the most advantageous.
George Nichols is in Lowell today, looking after the last canvas, which are going to be woven up of Peeler Mercerized Yarns and Hopsack Weave.
All the members of your family seem to have kept well, with the exception that Sidney was complaining of a slight cold on Saturday. The men in the shop seem to be working cheerfully and well.
Yours ...
P.S. The canvas we tested was stretched out the whole length of the loft. The pieces I should say were about 90 ft. long, and the strain put on them 150 lbs. I am inclined to think that perhaps the reason for that just out of the roll stretching more than what had been hung up was partly due to the fact that having been just unrolled we were pulling out the consequent takeup that might come to any rolled up material." (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_25930. Subject Files, Folder 5, formerly 96-100. 1914-03-16.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule-related table on two pages with dimensions LOA, LWL, overhang fore & aft, mean length, freeboard fore & center & aft, breadth deck & w.l., draft, cube-root (displacement), 1st mast mean length, 1st to 2nd mast, J, P1, H1, B1, G1, V1, T1, P2, P2a, H2, B2, Q2, Y2,T2, sail area, sqrt(SA), sqrt(SA - NYYC Rule) for #605s RELIANCE, #499s COLUMBIA, #725s RESOLUTE, #529s MINEOLA, #663s ISTALENA, #666s AVENGER, New York 50s (#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s), #411s GLORIANA, #685s ADVENTURESS, #617s COCK ROBIN II, #586s NELLIE, #709s JOYANT, #708s CORINTHIAN, #670s SENECA, Bar Harbor 31s (#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s), New York 30s (#626s, #627s, #628s, #629s, #630s, #631s, #632s, #633s, #635s, #636s, #637s, #638s, #639s, #640s, #642s, #643s, #647s, #648s), Newport 29s (#727s, #728s, #737s), #691s MORE JOY, #446s ALERION II, Buzzards Bay 550s (#733s, #734s, #736s, #738s, #741s), #617s COCK ROBIN II, #493s JILT, #732s SADIE, #460s KILDEE, Buzzards Bay 15s (#503s Class), Buzzards Bay 12 1/2s (#744s Class), #703s FLYING CLOUD, #669s ELEANOR, #722s KATOURA, #692s WESTWARD, #657s QUEEN, #719s VAGRANT II, #698s VAGRANT, #663s ISTALENA, and #743s HASWELL. With penciled note 'Measurements in ft & inches. Results in ft & decimals'. Undated (the youngest boat on this list is from 1914/1915 and this was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_00100. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 / 1915 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] have chartered a tender [for #725s RESOLUTE], the steamer MONTAUK, I do not blame you for thinking there are getting to be too many ideas and cooks in our broth, can easily saw 3ft off mast, topsail yard, won't cut new mainsail until April 10, will make it identical with last one made in 1915, will give up all thought about the lead until you return, have not have a good chance to the sails for the little S boats, ice only just breaking up now, boat will not be able to be launched and tested for her trim until latter part of next week, there are now 15 [S boats] in all, George Nichols canvas [for VANITY] has arrived in Bristol, am afraid Dr. Reynolds and his brother have got a good deal of advice from you gratis, as I doubt very much whether they would be prepared to build boats such as you suggest, as I gather they are talking with some ship builder down east for a pretty rough sort of craft, however, I will talk with him the first time I see him and write you again, at the time he told me something about his boat, I told him if he rally wanted a good type of boat I suggested he had better write you at Bristol and get you to tell him what the proper style of craft should be, are all beginning to get more anxious and there are many little things in connection with getting RESOLUTE ready to go over board which I am getting sceptical as to their being done to your satisfaction without you are personally in attendance, suggests NGH come home 10 days earlier, as you suggested have ordered an especially made main manila sheet from Plymouth Cordage Co, tapered at ends in similar proportion to #605s RELIANCE's, HMCo to receive first check for war tax on from Mr. Herrick [for #371p GYPSY] tomorrow, noting so far has been heard from Lippett [#368p MARY ANN], Crozier [#369p SUNFLOWER] or Pierce [#370p TYARA], work at the shop seems to be going on very well, I hope you succeeded in getting Morgan's boat [#236p MERMAID ex-EXPRESS] as a yacht for yourself for the season, but I assure you if not there will be plenty of room for you on our tender the MONTAUK" (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_27110. Subject Files, Folder 7, formerly 90-95. 1920-03-20.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Department of Justice, Washington.
...
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of November 17th, enclosing two blue prints of the framing of the yachts CONSTITUTION [#551s] and RELIANCE [#605s], and copies of your correspondence with the Commissioner of Patents relative to the Isherwood patent.
Please accept my thanks for your courtesy." (Source: Busby[?], John S. (Dept. of Justice). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_33540. Subject Files, Folder 38, formerly 28-30. 1922-11-27.)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten copy of letter: 'I have been much interested in reading your paper in the Sportsman on the match for the America Cup. I often see some strange statements made by the ordinary reporters on yachting, concerning the products that originated in the Bristol shops, of which I take no notice. But when a paper is published by such an authority as yourself, it is supposed to be reliable. But in this paper you have made some statements that are entirely false, and as it should become standard in the History of Yachting, I hope you will put aside any prejudices you have against the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and make corrections that will give a just chronicle of the Cup defense.', #437s VIGILANT, #429s NAVAHOE, VALKYRIE II, VALKYRIE III, #435s COLONIA, #452s DEFENDER, GENESTA, BRITANNIA, PILGRIM, JUBILEE, #551s CONSTITUTION, #605s RELIANCE, #725s RESOLUTE; [This letter published as 'Letter One' in Herreshoff, Stephens. Their Last Letters 1930-1938. Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, RI, 1988, p. 1.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter (copy) to Stephens, William P. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_20570. Correspondence, Folder 59. 1930-05-13.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten letter: 'I have been much interested in reading your paper in the Sportsman on the match for the America Cup. I often see some strange statements made by the ordinary reporters on yachting, concerning the products that originated in the Bristol shops, of which I take no notice. But when a paper is published by such an authority as yourself, it is supposed to be reliable. But in this paper you have made some statements that are entirely false, and as it should become standard in the History of Yachting, I hope you will put aside any prejudices you have against the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and make corrections that will give a just chronicle of the Cup defense.', #437s VIGILANT, #429s NAVAHOE, VALKYRIE II, VALKYRIE III, #435s COLONIA, #452s DEFENDER, GENESTA, BRITANNIA, PILGRIM, JUBILEE, #551s CONSTITUTION, #605s RELIANCE, #725s RESOLUTE; [This letter published as 'Letter One' in Herreshoff, Stephens. Their Last Letters 1930-1938. Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, RI, 1988, p. 1.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Stephens, William P. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_20500. Correspondence, Folder 59. 1930-05-13.)
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"[Item Description:] am much better, you, Alty [E.D.] Morgan and I are the only ones left of the old guard and Alty's eyes are very bad, do remember in 1903 I made a bet with Sir Thomas Lipton, #605s RELIANCE's binnacle against SHAMROCK's?, Mrs. Iselin has just presented SHAMROCK's binnacle to NYYC" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21110. Correspondence, Folder 61. 1933-01-06.)
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"[Item Description:] Alte's [E. D. Morgan's] death was a shock coming so soon after Butler's [Duncan], everyone connected with #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, #499s COLUMBIA, #551s CONSTITUTION and #605s RELIANCE have passed away, as a matter of fact you and I are the only ones left that have been connected with the Cup since 1885, you before that date, yachting is slim, George Nichols telephoned that VANITIE beat #1147s WEETAMOE handily" (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18200. Correspondence, Folder 49, formerly 76. 1933-06-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Third of January Nineteen thirty-four
Dear Nat:-
I was glad to get your letter. I am fairly well but more or less twisted up with rheumatism - I hope that you are in good health.
Once again I am on an America's Cup Committee and it certainly furnishes an abundant amount of occupation.
We are the only ones left of those who participated so successfully in the defense of the Gup years ago - as you say others now have the work that was allotted to you in the past. I too trust they will have the same success but they never can produce such boats as you did - you stand alone in that and if it had not been for your designs of VIGILANT [#437s], DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], AND RESOLUTE [#725s], we would have had no success to-day.
When the new boat progresses and takes some definite form, weather permitting, I shall journey down to Bristol and we can have a long talk over the good old days.
With all best wishes and hoping that you will have the best of New Year's, ..." (Source: Cormack, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_04060. Correspondence, Folder 15, formerly 107. 1934-01-03.)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph of the East side of NGH's model room at Love Rocks. NGH's recording anemoter installed in front of the fireplace. [America's] Cup Defenders from top to bottom shown: DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RESOLUTE [#725s], RELIANCE [#605s], KATOURA [#722s], possibly one designed for Kaiser Wilhelm. [The list of models is correct, the photo does not show a model designed for Kaiser Wilhelm. Visible in the backgrond is also #187504es Amaryllis Model Yacht (made from paper mache).]" (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.206. Photograph. Box HAFH.6.7B, Folder Photograph. No date (after 1938 ???).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typed signed letter:] 'Dear Sir: We acknowledge your letter of May 9th and are pleased to advise as follows:
Between the years 1879 and about 1885 My Father built six or seven catamarans, varying in length from 25 to 30 feet. He used to say that their top speed was about 20 statute miles per hour [=17.38kn]. This was of course, with the wind on the quarter in a strong breeze, and, smooth sea. He used to tell storys [sic] about racing the Fall River Line Steamer while running down the bay between Fall River and Newport, in a strong Northwest breeze. He said the catamaran could easily beat the steamer in the comparatively shoal water of upper Mt. Hope Bay; but as they reached deeper water the steamer would gradually work ahead during the interval between puffs of wind. My Father has often said that he had greater pleasure in sailing these boats than any other kind of craft.
In the Summer of 1933 we built a near replica [#1232s AMARYLLIS] of his last catamaran [#187903es LODOLA] for Mr. Keller of the Chrysler Company. She was fitted with a Kenyon Speedometer, and in our trials at Bristol, the highest speed indicated on this instrument was about 19-3/4 Statute miles per hour. This craft was used for several seasons on Lake St. Clair and is now in the Ford Museum at Detroit. The hulls are 33 ft. long, 28 in. wide and 16 ft. apart. Her original sail area was 900 Sq.Ft. later cut down to 750. She weighed about 3000 lbs.
The displacement of RELIANCE [#605s] was approximately 175 tons.
I trust we have given you the desired information.
Very truly yours, ...'" (Source: Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. Letter to Cookin, S.R. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.048. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Catamaran. 1941-05-16.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #605s Reliance even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. America's Cup Yacht Designs 1851-1986. Paris, 1987.
  Vessel biographies, large-scale sail and lines plans.
• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "Specifications For a Racing Sloop Yacht [Reliance] for the Defence of the America's Cup in 1903. Being No. 605 on the list of the Herreshoff Mfg Co." No place [Bristol], no date [October? 1902]. (974 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Detailed vessel specifications for #605s Reliance.
• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Typewritten (carbon copy) contract and specifications for #605s Reliance.] Bristol, no date [October? 1902]. (1,918 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Original building/sales contract with vessel description, scantlings, payment terms, and specifications for #605s Reliance.
• Pastore, Christopher. Temple to the Wind. The Story of America's Greatest Naval Architect and his Masterpiece, Reliance. Guilford, Connecticut, 2005.
  Detailed history of Reliance interwoven with a biography of N. G. Herreshoff and the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company.

• Reliance (HMCo-made index card)
• Reliance (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: Reliance
Type: Cutter
Length: 90'
Owner: Ledyard, L. C, Syndicate

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

• Reliance
• 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: Reliance
Type: 89' 7" cutter
Owner: C. O. Iselin, et al.
Year: 1903
Row No.: 566

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: 16
Year: 1902
E/P/S: S
No.: 0605
Name: Reliance
LW: 90'
B: 25' 6"
D: 19' 6"
Rig: Cutter
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: 174000,00
Notes Constr. Record: Cup Defender
Last Name: L.C. Ledyard Syn
First Name: L. C.

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.

"[See also:] Drawing list - Correspondence regarding hardware (1902, 1903). In: Technical and Business Records pertaining to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Series VI, Folder HH.6.10 (Hull No. 605), Box HAFH.6.1B." (Source: Hasselbalch, Kurt and Frances Overcash and Angela Reddin: Guide to The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1997, p. 63-79.)

"Reliance's launch was designed by C. F. Herreshoff and built by the Electric Launch Co. A photo of her appears in Rudder, September 1903, p. 503." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 4, 2015.)

"Reliance went on her first trial trip on April 25, 1903." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. An Introduction to Yachting. New York, 1963, p. 151.)

"Built in 177 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $983/day, 2141 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"N/A"

"Sail area 16870sqft from untitled two-page rating-rule-related table handwritten (in ink) by N. G. Herreshoff with multiple dimensions for the most important Herreshoff-designed yachts. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDE15, Folder [no #]. Undated (the most recent boat dates 1914/1915 and the table was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 16, 2020.)

"[Sail area 16,840 sq.ft.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

"[Displacement (5920 cubic feet = 378,880lbs).] (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.