HMCo #624s Sonya

"[1904-11-28] Mon 28: Ran lead for #624 [Sonya] 52 ft. Y[acht] R[acing] A[ssociation]. ...
[1904-12-10] Sat 10: ... Began to set up frames for 624 [Sonya].
[1905-01-23] Mon 23: Finished planking #624 [Sonya].
[1905-03-14] Tue 14: Launched #624 Sonya and fitted standing rigging. Fine & cold. L[igh]t NE wind. ...
[1905-03-16] Thu 16: Very fine. Calm [in] AM. Had very satisfactory trial of #624 Sonya and stripped her in PM.
[1905-03-21] Tue 21: NE rain storm. Florence [#213p, ex-Quickstep] left for New York with 'Sonya' [#624s] in tow at about 10 AM. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1904 to 1905. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"In 1905, thirty-four sailing yachts were built, including the Twenty Rater SONYA, and the New York Yacht Club Class of Thirty Footers (18 boats). SONYA was tried in March while there was ice about." (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. 70-71.)

"In 1905 Captain Nat designed the fifty-two-footer 'Sonya' for Mrs. Turner-Farley of Falmouth, England. 'Sonya' was built to fit the British Y.R.A. rule then in force, which heavily penalized girth. Thus, like others in her class, she had great slope to the bottom of her keel. 'Sonya' did not do particularly well in the class in 1905-06, coming in somewhere in the middle of the class, which very much pleased the British yachtsmen who had been so thoroughly trounced by Mr. Herreshoffs 'Niagara' some ten years before. Perhaps one of the reasons 'Sonya' did not do particularly well was that she carried away her mast twice in the first year, and besides this, which naturally made her crew jumpy, no doubt she was not able to enter some of the races. She also had very stiff competition, being up against some of the best yachts and helmsmen of the time." (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. 269.)

"[Alice II] and 'Sonya' were shipped abroad on the decks of steamers, and these two yachts I believe were the first Herreshoff yachts to use Merriman blocks, although the Herreshoff Company continued to make their own small blocks and all other deck hardware." (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. 269-270.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., Dec. 4 [1904]. --- The keel for the new fifty-two-rater which is being built at the Herreshoff shops for racing abroad next year was successfully cast last week. The shape of the lower part of the casting is curved fairly from aft to forward instead of being in nearly a straight line as most of the Herreshoff racing boats of that size have been. ...
The sailmakers in the shops have begun work on the suit of sails for the new fifty-two-rater for Mrs. G. Turner-Farley of London." (Source: Anon. "Yacht For European Races. Keel Cast at Herreshoffs' for the New 52-Rater." New York Times, December 5, 1904, p. 10.)

"Bristol, Dec. 18 [1904]. --— At the Herreshoff shops the work of constructing the new sloop yacht for Mrs. G. Turner Farley of London is going on speedily, with quite a number of the frames set in position on the lead keel, which rests in the south shop, with a view of launching it on the marine railway. A matter of interest in connection with this craft building for the 52-rater British class is that duplicate frames are being gotten out, which gives ample proof that there are to be two of this class built in the Herreshoff shops. ..." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Busy With Boats for Foreign Yacht Owners." New York Sun, December 19, 1904, p. ?.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., Dec. 25 [1904]. --- ... The frames of the new fifty-two rater [#624s Sonya] for Mrs. Farley of London are all bent, and the last of them are being set up at the fore and aft ends. Considering the length of the water line, the boat will not have a deep draught, but on the whole not a shallow one. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Building At Bristol. Racing Sloop for Germany Not to be Shipped Until Spring." New York Times, December 26, 1904, p. 5.)

"Bristol, R. I., March 14 [1905]. --- The sloop yacht Sonya, which will be the only American designed boat to compete in foreign races of the 52-foot class the coming yachting season, was launched at the Herreshoff yards to-day. She is the property of Mrs. G. Turner Farley, of London, and will be commanded by 'Fred' Stokes. Trials will be held in Narragansett Bay this week, after which the boat will be shipped to England." (Source: Anon. "The Sonya Launched At Bristol. Only American Designed Yacht to Race Abroad This Year." New York Tribune, March 15, 1905, p. 5.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 249:]
Sonya, sloop yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1904.
18.54 tons; 51.5 ft. x 13.1 ft. x 7.9 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Mar. 14, 1905. 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. Sonya.)

"The 52-rater Sonya, built by the Herreshoffs and owned by Mrs. G. Turner Farley, the British yachtswoman, has the official number of 201,746 and her tonnage is 27 gross and 18 net." (Source: Anon. Yachting Notes." New York Herald, March 16, 1905, p. ?.)

"The sloop yacht Sonya, the new 52-rater built at the Herreshoff's shops for Mrs. G. Turner Farley of Falmouth, England, was successfully launched Tuesday [March 14, 1905] at the south boat shop. The Sonya is 79 feet over all, 52 feet on the load waterline, 15 feet beam, and has a draught of 14 feet 6 inches. The mast which is a hollow wooden spar, joined together in upright sections, is about 90 feet in length. Her mast was stepped Wednesday [March 15, 1905] and the boat was rigged in very quick time for the trial spins, which were made yesterday [March 16, 1905] morning in Bristol harbor. Mrs. Farley gave the order for the boat last summer when she visited Bristol.
The Sonya was given two sail trials yesterday in the harbor, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, and notwithstanding that the breeze was comparatively light, the boat was so satisfactory to her designer, Capt. N. G. Herreshoff, and her skipper, Capt. Fred Stokes, that after the second trial she was stripped of sails, rigging and spars, and is being made ready to be towed to New York. She will be shipped to England on the deck of an ocean liner." (Source: Anon. "Racing Yacht Launched." Bristol Phoenix, March 17, 1905, p. 2.)

"The 52-Footer at Bristol. --- The most important work of construction at the Herreshoff shops at Bristol is the fine 52-rater, designed and built for Mrs. Turner Farley, of London. The new sloop is nearly ready for launching, and will probably go into the water in about a fortnight. She is something over 70ft. over all, and is of deep draft. The interior accommodations are ample for a craft of her size, including two saloons and commodious quarters for the officers and crew. She will be commanded by Capt. Fred Stokes, of Tollesbury, Eng., who arrived in Bristol about a week ago. Capt. Stokes is a young man, but he has had a lot of racing experience, both in the smaller classes on the Solent and the Thames, and in more important events in German waters. Last year he was skipper of the 20-rater Nebula, which boat captured a number of prizes in England and Germany. After the trials the new sloop will be sailed from Bristol to New York and there transferred to the deck of an Atlantic liner for London, about the largest boat ever to be transported in this manner." (Source: Anon. "Yachting News Notes." Forest and Stream, March 18, 1905, p. 221.)

"Sonya, the racing sloop built by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. for Mrs. G. Turner Farley, was launched at Bristol on March 14 [1905]. The mast was stepped and she was rigged with despatch, so that she was given a trial on March 16. The breeze was very light in the morning, and not much could be learned of the boat's qualities. In the afternoon the wind was fresher and she was given another trial. This spin was most satisfactory to both Captain Nathaniel Herreshoff and Captain Fred. Stokes, the boat's English skipper. After the trial the work of dismantling Sonya commenced preparatory to shipping her to England by steamer from New York on March 25." (Source: Anon. "52-Rater Sonya Launched." Forest and Stream, March 25, 1905, p. 244.)

"Mrs. Farley's 52-rater racing sloop yacht, Sonya, recently built by the Herreshoffs, arrived in New York Wednesday [March 22, 1905] morning, having been towed to that city by the steam yacht Florence [#208p]." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, March 28, 1905, p. 2.)

"A new 78 foot hollow wooden pole mast has been ordered at Herreshoff's for Mrs. G. Turner Farley's sloop yacht Sonya. The Sonya's mast was broken a few days ago while she was racing in English waters." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, May 19, 1905, p. 3.)

"The Globe's Clyde correspondent, writing under date of July 13 [1905], says;
It is reported on what seems to be authority that N. G. Herreshoff is coming here to find out the cause of the Sonya's failure on the Clyde. The bare record of her racing during the fortnight must be mortifying to owner and designer, and only a solitary second prize stands against her name.
The record:
Yacht, designer, Starts, 1st Prizes, 2nd Prizes, Points
Moyana, Mylne, 9, 5, 0, 25
Mamon, Fife, 9, 3, 2, 24
Britomart, Mylne, 9, 1, 6, 22
Sonya, Herreshoff, 7, 0, 1, 11
The American cutter came up to the Clyde with her reputation established as a weatherly boat, but in all her seven matches here she made no more than a moderate show. She would today be actually prizeless so far as Clyde is concerned but for a slip by the Maymon.
In fairness it should be said the Sonya has shown herself to be in a crippled condition. Twice she broke down and twice she failed to start, so that of the nine matches she really competed in five only. The more serious of the two mishaps was the springing of her masts, July 6. She staid off next day, but ventured on the 8th, when she made a brilliant flash on the opening distance to windward, in a fresh breeze, and then fell back quite out of the reckoning. Her mast was strapped close to the deck, as I understand there were indications of weakness, which naturally kept her from being driven her hardest. When Mr Herreshoff has overhauled her and has done his best the yacht will probably show improvement, but no one thinks that he can give her speed to win the cup. The sense of fear she weeks ago inspired exists no longer. Our designers and other naval experts have not been deeply impressed by the model of the boat. The weatherly powers are there without a doubt, but Herreshoff has sacrificed too much in other directions to secure this gain; in reaching and running she must continue to be a second-rater." (Source: Anon. "To Doctor The Sonya. N. G. Herreshoff Expected to Overhaul the Yacht and Try to Get Her Going Again." Boston Globe, July 23, 1905, p. 140.)

"When Mrs. Turner-Farley brought over the Herreshoff-designed Sonya from America, she earned the gratitude of all. Recognising that both Maymon and Moyana would be hard to beat --- even if the task were entrusted to those most likely to accomplish the difficult task --- and wishing, moreover, to stimulate the fleet, she went to great personal trouble --- and some expense --- to find a worthy competitor. Sport knows no nationality, and it is only fair to say that in Sonya the great American designer produced a remarkable boat --- severely handicapped throughout the season by being so far away from her creator and by that unci ©finable element commonly known as luck. There is no doubt that Ilerreshoff understands rating rules as few designers do, and in formulating his American one he must have closely studied that adopted by us and noted carefully the results. Sonya is such a boat as our rule was devised to produce. She takes full advantage of its most lenient factors, and the fact makes her success somewhat astonishing. That the designer of skows and rule-cheaters should turn out a Sonya is in itself remarkable, but that a Sonya should be comparatively successful is perhaps more so. Sonya is not a pretty ship ; but in all Herres-hoff's work appearances have always been subservient to efficiency. In Sonya, work was the chief consideration, and nothing was sacrificed. The hard quarters and the short ends have all been seen before, and, as in the past, they told. [P. 159]
There is no doubt that Sonya has not yet found herself, and -it is quite reasonable to anticipate better records for her in the -future than that which she shows for 1905. Every racing yachtsman and designer knows the extreme sensitiveness of the modern racing yacht, and it is just possible that there is a little something wanted to give Sonya that perfect balance of weight and power which makes for the maximum of efficiency. With her original displacement she was a wonderful boat to windward in a sea, and could hold a closer wind than any other boat in the fleet. As she went off the wind, however, she became less effective, and wanted length. Undoubtedly her heavy displacement was too much for her power, to which her inability to keep her mast on board testifies. With 27 cwt. off her keel, she was still the stiffest of the quartette, and the spare measurement thus obtained was useful when put into running power. Strange to say, although there were races which she would have won had her displacement been reduced sooner, there were others which she might have won had she retained her original ballast. On the average, however, the result warranted the alteration.
To the eye, Sonya's Herreshoff sails looked baggy and lacked the flat rigidity of Britomart's canvas. But, again, Herreshoff does not study the eye, and although the British-made Lapthorn and Ratsey sails had hardly a fair trial, the discarding of them was probably well-advised. There are similar precedents with like results. The American sails were cut with slight 'draft/ and doubtless the matter was well considered.
When Mrs. Turner-Farley decided to entrust the sailing of her racer to Fred Stokes, who had handled her cruiser Nebula so successfully, it was popularly supposed that she had made a mistake. Neither Mrs. Turner-Farley nor her daughter, however, are merely nominal owners. Both have practical experience and knowledge, and, doubtless, considered the full importance of the choice before making it. As a matter of fact, it was well justified. Sailing a cruiser and a racer are two very different things, but Stokes rose to the occasion, and in the keenest class cut a very fine figure. On many occasions Sonya was sailed with great judgment, and to get the better of Mr. "Burton, with Mr. Leuchars at his elbow, and Hogarth, is no mean performance. It may safely be asserted, therefore, that no good point which Sonya had was thrown away in the sailing of her.
As might be imagined from her underwater body, Sonya has exceptional accommodation, good headroom and comfortable cabins, which could not be improved upon in any cruiser. Naturally she has a strong section, but the skill which put Japonica (nee Niagara [#451s]) together, did not take undue advantage of the fact, and her constructional work is sound and good.
Undoubtedly Sonya's weak spot was her mast. Her great artificial stability put tremendous strain upon this spar and was the cause of its weakness. In a series of articles, written by the writer for this journal during the past winter, the subject of hollow spars and their support was discussed at some length, and, as bearing upon the subject, Sonya's experiences are of interest. It may be remembered that opinions then expressed aroused a considerable amount of controversy, and raised no small measure of adverse criticism. The opinion was then ventured that hollow spars, of light scantling in proportion to their length, should be allowed to ' whip 5 as little as possible, and that extra support and stiffening were necessary. The modern wire shrouds were shown to be generally capable of much greater strain than the spars, and it was suggested that as much weight as possible should be taken off the hollow mast, which should be of considerably greater diameter than the solid one, and that its rigidity must be maintained, the reason given being that a hollow spar loses its power to resist buckling on deflection.
Sonya's first mast was long and extremely light --- it went. Her next spar was of bigger diameter, but light --- it went the way of its predecessor. The next was of large diameter, much heavier scantling, and was strutted to prevent deflection. Undoubtedly the lightened displacement helped this last spar, but at the same time, it stood the hardest sailing of the season, and probably the extra 27 cwts. would not have affected it. When one considers the question of stability, the point of the utility of the hollow spar to every racing yacht is open to debate. Sonya was at her best with a lightened keel and a heavier spar. It seems within the bounds of possibility that she might have been highly successful in the first instance with a wholly or almost solid mast. This, however, is a speculative digression hardly bearing on the present subject.
... [P. 160] ... On her measurements, Sonya is a wonderful boat, and to get the results he has on such dimensions Herreshoff is deserving of great credit. Recognising that a deep-bodied and large-displacement boat requires much driving, he supplied artificial ballast and large sail area. Water-line length had to be sacrificed to it, and the result was visible in Sonya's quarter wave. This wave is said to stop her, but it might be more correctly stated that too much of her power is absorbed in making it. With her under-water form and short length this wave was only to be expected, and has been experienced by similar boats in other classes." (Source: Anon ('M.I.N.A.'). "The Fifty-Two Foot Class in 1905. ... Sonya." The Yachtsman (U.K.), September 7, 1905, p. 158-159.)

"NEW YORK, July 14 [1906]. --- The Sonya, the Herreshoff-built 52-rater competing in the British regattas, is doing better this year than she did last, but still is unable to beat the Moyana, the Mylne-designed yacht now four years old, as often as the Moyana beats Sonya. The Britomarte, another Mylne boat built last year, is also doing better, and it would seem from the records that the Britomarte has at last found herself and from now on will be a hard boat to heat. On the Clyde the Moyana won four firsts and three seconds out of nine starts. The Sonya had three firsts and the Britomarte two firsts. The Britomarte won the last race sailed on the Clyde, and the Sonya was last. From the Clyde the yachts went to Belfast, and in the regatta of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht club, in a steady northwest wind, the Britomarte got over the line too soon and had to put back. She then gradually overhauled the other two and eventually won a fine race, beating the Sonya 19 seconds and the Moyana 1 minute 4 seconds. This was said to be the best race Britomarte ever sailed.
In the regatta of the Royal Ulster Yacht club the Britomarte won again. The wind was steady and fresh. This time the Britomarte got away last, but her victory was more decisive. She beat the Moyana 3 minutes 4 seconds and the Sonya 3 minutes 46 seconds. The third race off Belfast was also won by the Britomarte. The wind was moderate and held true, and the Britomarte beat the Moyana 1 minute 28 seconds and the Sonya 2 minutes 20 seconds.
Through the victories of the Britomarte Mylne stock has gone up. He has designed a yacht with which Sir Thomas Lipton contemplates racing for the America's cup next year." (Source: Anon. "Sonya Cannot Defeat Moyana. Herreshoff Boat Doing Better This Year. The Britomarte, Launched Last Season, Making Good Time And Will Be A Hard Boat To Beat." Los Angeles Herald, July 15, 1906, p. C6.)

"July 13th [1907]. The time honoured cross-Channel races were the prominent features in Saturday's programme, and it is many years since there has been a c class 1 contest from Dover to Boulogne. ... The race for the 15-metre boats had a very peculiar termination. Britomart, after leading nearly all the way, was passed by Sonya near the finish, after that boat had been over twenty minutes astern at the South Goodwin mark. The breeze when they finished was all in patches, though where it was blowing it was of fair weight. ... At the end of the day Sonya hoisted her whole string of fifteen prize flags for the season, for this was her last race this year, her owner, Mrs. Turner-Farley, being obliged to give up racing through illness. Sonya's fifteen flags represented three first and 12 other prizes. ... Course: From Breakwater, round N.E. Varne buoy, South Goodwin lightship, and back. ..." (Source: Anon. "Open Class Racing." The Yachtsman (U.K.), July 18, 1907, p. 399.)

"SONYA, Cutter, 52 l.r., for Sale ; designed and built by Herreshoff in 1905; sails by Ratsey & Lapthorn. Can be inspected at Gosport where particulars, inventory, and permission to view can be had on application." (Source: Anon. For Sale Advertisement. The Yachtsman, August 13, 1908, p. v.)

"At Camper & Nicholson's the alterations to the accommodation of Sonya, cut., 42 tons, Mr. Noel T. Kershaw, C.B., are now finished. ..." (Source: Anon. "Portsmouth Harbour." The Yachtsman (U.K.), January 7, 1909, p. 10.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with three displacement curves on 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879' stationery. Titled 'Preliminary. 52ft class Y.R.A. [#624s SONYA]. Oct[ober] 24, 1904. Sc[ale] 1/2in'. With calculations arriving at a total displacement of 1140cuft = 73000lbs = 32.6 long tons. " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01880. Folder [no #]. 1904-10-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with pinpricks and three displacement curves titled 'From finished model. 52ft class Y.R.A. [#624s SONYA] Scale 1/2in. Oct[ober] 26, 1904'. With rating-related particulars and calculations arriving at a total displacement of 1135cuft = 72700lbs and a wetted surface of 724sqft. " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01860. Folder [no #]. 1904-10-26.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'No. 624 [#624s SONYA]. 52ft class Y.R.A. Finished model. Scale 1/2in. Nov[ember] 6, 1904'. With calculations arriving at a total displacement of 1156cuft = 74000lbs, ballast weight of 40100lbs, and a wetted surface of 751sqft." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01870. Folder [no #]. 1904-11-06.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections and calculations titled 'No. 624 [#624s SONYA]. Nov. 8, 1904'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT08_05460. Folder 46. 1904-11-08.)
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"[Item Description:] enclosing account of the 52-footers from the 'Field', once the news of your building me a 52-footer [#624s SONYA] leaked out most of the leading papers spoke of it, there will be some very strong competition in this class next season, Mylne is building new boat, I think he is even better than W. Fife, Don't you?, Fife also has an order for a 52ft, very anxious lest you should not be able to let me have the boat over here soon enough, do you think you could have her finished by 1st of March [1905]?, would you mind telling me if you have started the work yet, if you have made any alteration in the model since I saw it?, I expect not as you seemed to have made it quite perfect then; together with undated (ca1904-11) clipping from the English 'Field' describing the 'welcome news that Mrs Turner Farley has decided to join the 52ft class in 1905 with a yacht built by Herreshoff', description of #451s NIAGARA's exploits ten years earlier, incl. envelope" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21250. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1904-11-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary plan with inboard profile and arrangement plan of an unidentified large sloop titled only 'Scale 3/8. 18in frame spaces'. Extrapolating from an estimated 6ft berth length this boat might have a LWL of 47ft and a beam of 13.5ft. The boat bears a certain similarity with #624s SONYA from 1905 but is not her. There is also a certain similarity with #685s ADVENTURESS from 1909 but again it is not her." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Preliminary Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_06450. Folder [no #]. No date (1900s ???).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§37: Work Order '[For] 624 [#624s SONYA] Rigging loft. [When wanted] March 1905. Bobstay …' (1904)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_01320. Folder [no #]. 1897-01 to 1905.)
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"[Item Description:] am delighted to hear the new boat [#624s SONYA] is advancing so rapidly, yachting world seems to continue to take the most exteme interest in it and the papers look upon it as quite an international contest, Fife & Mylne are both building new 52 footers to meet yours, have sent an order for a draft to my bankers & will forward the 2nd payment directly I receive it, would you kindly ask Mr. John Herreshoff if he would see about arranging the transport contract for me?, send my sailing master to Bristol, travel with the new boat, he has picked up a very smart crew, I have quite decided on the name for the yacht 'SONYA', I hope you like it?, I should like the name on the tiller, the life belt & the two boats [#190502es and #190513es] & my club burgee (the Royal Dorset Yacht Club) on bows of the two small boats, I am very interested to hear you have made some alterations in the model since I saw you & it is very kind of you to offer to make any change for me in the internal arrangement, but I am sure I shall be delighted with it, incl envelope" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21310. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-01-05.)
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"[Item Description:] I was extremely interested to hear what you thought of [#624s] SONYA's trial, nothing could have been more satisfactory than trying her in a light breeze, as you are satisfied I know she must be a real good boat!, the snapshot gives an excellent idea of her & I think she looks like speed all over, I am simply longing to see her out on a trial, pleased that she steers so beautifully, it makes all the difference to our pleasure & one of our earliest races will be for amateur helmsmen only so my daughter will steer in that, I hear the sails set beautifully & it is really wonderful that you should have had no alterations to make in anything, I will write to you again directly I have seen SONYA which I am looking forward to doing on her arrival" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21370. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-03-27.)
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"[Item Description:] newspaper clipping titled 'The Skipper's Column. The New Herreshoff 52-Footer. Interesting Particulars' from the Yachting World (England), clipping accompanied D. G. Turner-Farley's May, 1905 letter to NGH, 'The new 52-footer SONYA [#624s], designed and built by Herreshoff at Rhode Island, New York, for Mrs. Turner Farley, arrived in the Thames last week per the Atlantic Transport Company's steamer Minnetonka. For the passage across the Atlantic a cradle was built on the deck of the liner, on which the new racing boat was placed and to which she was securely bolted, two of the bolts passing through her lead keel. Arrived in the Thames, no time was lost in putting Sonya in the water, a floating derrick being brought alongside to lift her off the steamer. This was safely accomplished on Tuesday, and two days later the boat left under trysail for Tollesbury, where she will be fitted out for racing by her skipper, Captain Stokes. ...', followed by detailed description of the boat and her chief competitors MOYANA by Mylne and MAYMON by Fife, all spars hollow, all spars except mast in duplicate, spars about one third-less in diameter than her competitors, overhangs not at all exaggerated" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn (sender). Correspondence (newspaper clipping) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_56780. Subject Files, Folder 72. 1905-04-13.)
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"[Item Description:] Undated, unidentified newspaper clipping titled 'Clyde Breezes' thought to be from the Yachting World (England) and dated ca April 1905, clipping accompanied D. G. Turner-Farley's May, 1905 letter to NGH, 'It was with the keenest kind of interest that the yachting-men of the Clyde received through the columns of The Yachting World the first detailed and authentic description of Mrs. Turner-Farley's new Herreshoff 52-ft. rater SONYA [#624s]. This racing of the 52-ft. class, and particularly the appearance of the Yankee clipper, is a matter in which the yachting brigade of the Clyde considers itself entitled to take a strong and personal interest. The international element bulks largely. We have suffered so much disappointment in the defeat of the international racers built here since the days of Thistle that any kind of a chance of --- in the slang of the day --- getting a little bit of our own back, appeals to us very powerfully and very directly. It would be hypocrisy of the most barefaced kind to say that the general hope runs to anything but the wish for the triumph of the British boats and the consequent defeat of the invader, ...'" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn (sender). Correspondence (newspaper clipping) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_56730. Subject Files, Folder 72. No date (ca1905-04 ?-ca15 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] newspaper clipping titled 'The Skipper's Column. Under One Rule' from the Yachting World (England), clipping accompanied D. G. Turner-Farley's May, 1905 letter to NGH, 'In a season which promises to have more variety of sport than has fallen to our lot in recent years, and promises further to provide quite a number of events of special interest, the visit of SONYA [#624s] stands out as the one particular feature in which the chief interest of the racing year will centre. The yacht itself is not such an epoch-making vessel as would explain all the interest likely to be taken in her performance. She introduces, it is true, the element of international sport into the keenest racing class which the British fleet will muster this year, and behind her is at least some part of the question as to whether Herreshoff has skill enough to push home in these waters the victories, which he has scored over us in the matches sailed off Sandy Hook. ...'" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn (sender). Correspondence (newspaper clipping) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_56740. Subject Files, Folder 72. 1905-04-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Undated, unidentified, untitled newspaper clipping thought to be from the Yachting World (England) and dated ca April 20, 1905, clipping accompanied D. G. Turner-Farley's May, 1905 letter to NGH, '... Herreshoff has apparently steered wide of the mistake of making a hull too small for the work, but there are figures in the measurements given which suggest that he may have fallen into the same error of building an American yacht for British weather. ... If MOYANA and MAYMON are canvased up to their profitable limit, and no one who ever raced on either, in afresh breeze, will hold them as being- short in the matter of canvas, then it seems to be almost beyond question that SONYA [#624s] with apparently no greater power in the hull, must spread too much cloth for our summer. Should it happen, however, that the summer turns out one of those hot and windless seasons which we do have at intervals, it will readily be admitted that with exceptionally light spars and canvas, and plenty of both, Sonya's chance would be worth backing., ... '" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn (sender). Correspondence (newspaper clipping) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_56760. Subject Files, Folder 72. No date (1905-04 ?-20 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] I waited to acknowledge receipt of Builder's Certificate until I had [#624s] SONYA, am perfectly delighted with the boat & think her a real beauty & just what I wanted in every respect, I greatly admire all the new 'dodges' in blocks etc, am going out in the end of next week for a trial cruise, on the 20th have entered her for a preliminary trial race, greatest interest is being taken in SONYA & hundreds of people have neen to look at her, I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the boat & how fully I appreciate the care & trouble you have taken with SONYA in every particular, I enclose some interesting cuttings from the Yachting World; incl envelope" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_56690. Subject Files, Folder 72. 1905-05-06.)
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"[Item Description:] am glad to hear you will be able to send me the new hollow mast [for #624s SONYA] by the [steamship] MINNETONKA tomorrow, it was a most unfortunate accident, was it not, before we had even begun to try the boat, Insurance Company survey says in his report 'The workmanship of the mast & materials used appears to be of the best & the rigging well set up & not damaged in any way, it would appear that the mast has been designed too slight for the boat', has been a great disappointment to me, so much so that I have ventured to disregard your advice & am racing tomorrow at Harwich with a temporary solid white wood mast using the broken hollow mast as topmast, if SONYA should win under these adverse conditions it will be a real triumph for your boat, but I cannot say I feel hopeful after all you said to me on the subjet of solid versus hollow masts!, rating has come out well [at] 51.9" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21390. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-05-26.)
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"[Item Description:] on Yacht [#624s] SONYA stationery with golden lettering: Is there any chance of your coming over this season to England?, I wish so much you could & that you could join us on the Clyde, I fear if you cannot advise us we shall do no good with SONYA, she seems too much too stiff, cannot keep up with the other boats, don't you think we might have some lead off?, something seems to be stopping her all the time & she requires so much lee helm, we have tried taking everything out of her with no success, sails do not set well, have ordered a new mainsail, jib & staysail from Ratsey, am afraid you will think the boat is not properly handled but my skipper & crew are considered very smart, new mast is satisfactory & I have wired to ask you to send me a duplicate one to the Clyde; incl undated handwritten table of results for races on the Clyde, in Cowes and in Ireland for the three leading yachts in SONYA's class which may be from 1905 or 1906" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21410. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-06-11.)
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"[Item Description:] penciled telegram note, 'London. Herreshoff Bristol. SONYA [#624s] won brilliantly beating MAYMON. MOYANA. Farley. 1203 PM, 6/15/05. Cable ...'" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Correspondence (telegram notice) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_56800. Subject Files, Folder 72. 1905-06-15.)
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"[Item Description:] on Yacht [#624s] SONYA stationery with golden lettering: have just had your cable in answer to mine, many thanks for sending it but as the repair had been carried so far we could not quite carry out your instructions entirely, the damage started at the scrap below the band on boom on the lee side (which was starboard), & ran down to the step of the mast, main & gaff halyard cleats were pulled right out, smooth water, on a wind & moderate breeze no jib topsail, we gave up at once & came to Robutern[?] of Sandbank[?] who I think is making a satisfactory job of it by putting steel band around the mast[?], 6 below deck & 3 above, above the boom the mast is sound enough, but below it is split at each joint straight up & down, I am afraid the repairs are heavier than you would have wished but each band weighs only 4 lbs & the steel wedges are not heavy either, we think the glue is certainly faulty, I myself found it quite soft in a damaged part of the gaff which we carried away last Monday (on a dead run), I could make patters on the glue with my thumb nail, in the mast however the heat of the stove may have had something to answer for & we are having it covered with asbestos, may thanks for giving me instructions about taking off the lead, we have now given the boat a good trial & Captain Stokes & I am both of opinion that SONYA is decidedly sluggish in light weather, we quite understand the instructions you so kindly wrote me but I cannot think if you saw the boat sailing that you would advise taking the weight off from each end but only aft, I am so sorry you were unable to join us on the Clyde, it would have been a great pleasure to see you here & I wish it had been possible for you to come; incl envelope" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21600. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-07-07.)
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"[Item Description:] on Yacht [#624s] SONYA stationery with golden lettering: we tried SONYA with the mast repaired in a nice moderate sailing breeze & as she could not keep up with the others to windward we decided take of the lead at once & they are now working at it, we get to Ireland tomorrow, the only thing I am not doing which you advise is to increase the sail area this season, I hope we shall do better in Ireland & the South, there are crowds of people looking at SONYA on the slip, they are much interested & very jealous of the boat although we have had such bad luck here" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21480. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-07-11.)
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"[Item Description:] have yours of 7th [July] and have only a short time to reply before mail closes, will wire you 'wait instructions mailed', in taking off lead [of #624s SONYA] I advise removing a piece near top and fill space in with hard wood, I have not time to figure out the correct size and so will have to guess at it in our Yankee way, think it will be between 1000 and 1600 lbs, I cannot understand why the boat should do best so much by the head, excepting in the very lightest winds, I still believe the intended trim best when there is any force to the wind, the racing on the Clyde has certainly been disappointing to us, but I hope for better results when you get to the south were the winds are stronger and true and Mr Stokes nearer his home waters, I expect this will go with the same steamer that the new mast will" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21580. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-07-21.)
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"[Item Description:] many thanks for sending me the plan & drawing for removing the lead [for #624s SONYA], I am glad to find we have done it much as you wished, as we could not finish the race at Belfast owing to the mast breaking it was not a decisive trial, it has been a dreadful disappointment to me not to get the new mast sooner, I have never heard why there has been so much delay in sending it?, if we do any good at Cowes I will let you know, I think we are bound to win some races if we can only keep the mast from splitting, the boat was going so beautiful at Belafts & appeared to be in perfect trim that day, everyone was hoping to see you here for Cowes, PS: would you please send me the account for the masts[?] without delay" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21500. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-08-15.)
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"[Item Description:] on Yacht [#624s] SONYA stationery with golden lettering: I ought to have answered your very kind letters sooner but I thought you would like to hear the result of the Cowes week, I am glad to say we got two first, we really ought to have won Monday also but unfortunately mistook a mark not mentioned on the course & had to give up, we all think the boat faster in light breezes since the alteration in the lead, next season I think we must add to the boom as you said to have a bigger jackyarder in light weather, in 19 starts we have[?] 5 firsts, seconds & had to give up six times owing to breaking masts[?], gaff etc, the new mast seems very satisfactory but we have also taken the precaution of having extra strut & double spreaders, everyone who cmes on board is greatly struck with the finish & excellence of the workmanship & fittings & the boat has been greatly admired, by all, I have been constantly asked if you & W. J. Herreshoff [sic, i.e. JBH] were not coming over this season & much disappointment has been expressed at your not being able to do so, I do hope you will come some day soon however" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21520. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-08-19.)
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"[Item Description:] very sorry to hear in your last letter that Mrs Herreshoff had been so ill & that you too had been so unwell, I do hope you are both quite well again now [Clara Herreshoff died two weeks after this letter was written], you are always so kind, that I hope you will not mind my asking your advice about SONYA [#624s], as though she is undoubtedly a fast boat & in good trim, we require her to be faster still, to be ahead of our opponents, owing to the lead being taken off we are now entitled to more sail area, do you think we should improve the boat or not by giving her 2 feet more length on the boom?, or if you agree to increase the mainsail what extra length would you advise on boom?, as both my present boom & the spare one are good would it be possible to lengthen them, SONYA is of course laid up now, she has stood the season well & shows no signs of damage anywhere, what a success you had with the Canada Cuo, I wish SONYA would do the same, by the way I am having a lot of trouble with the Insurance Co. in my claim for the loss of the mast, they will it is 'owing to defective design not accident', it is not decided yet" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21540. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1905-11-14.)
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"[Item Description:] on Yacht [#624s] SONYA stationery with blue lettering: am sorry to say our disasters still continue, this season we are having no end of trouble wih the jaws of the gaff, easing of the mast & breaking the gaff, we may succeed by altering the new mainsail, if this does not answer I will get a new mainsail to your original sail plan as the boat is not so fast to windward this year as last, the additional 15 inches on gaff & boom, was carried out as you directed, we were so sorry not to be able to use your last mast again, it was such a good one & suited the boat well, but the glue did not stand the damp winter although the mast was well cared for in the store, it could not be repaired so I had to replace it by a Hollwey (Dublin) hollow telescoping one, everyone agrees now that Stokes is sailing SONYA very well & that the crew are smart at their work, but it is very disheartening on them to have to contend with so many accidents, hope you are well, please remember me very kindly [dated only with month and day but context clearly indicates this to be a letter from 1906]" (Source: Turner Farley, Dorothy Gwendolyn. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21460. Correspondence, Folder 64, formerly 86. 1906-06-29.)
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"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I have spent most of the day in making of study of Lloyd's Rules for International Classes and comparing with our own practice.
I find there is a vast difference in some of the details. In the smaller sizes in particular Lloyds requirements are absurdly heavy and if adopted in our small classes would make them so logy that half the pleasure of sailing them would be lost.
I have made two special comparisons. Taking in one case the N.Y.Y.C 30s [#626s class] as representing a good type of for our waters, strong enough for any use a yacht should be put to and built so they will probably need no repairs in 20 years.
Detaching[?] some of the parts Lloyds require in keel & c about 180%, timbers 230%, floor 1.38[sic], clamps 180%, bridge, stringers 280%, planking 107%, deck beam 1.53[sic], hatch & mast heavier 300%. Hanging knees about 1.50, deck 122%, lead bolts 122% of the wgts designed for the class.
This would make the weight of bare hull about 150% [heavier] and change the schedule of weights as follows:
[Actual vs Lloyds requirements]
Hull & interior completion .345 [vs] .440
Rig, equipments, stores & c .160 [vs] .161
Ballast .495 [vs] .399
[Total] 1.000 [vs] 1.000
[Detailed table with itemized comparison on verso.]
For a composite boat I selected one [#624s SONYA] we sent abroad, which would rate in the 15 meter class. She is intended for racing & has complete cruising accomodations so owner & crew can live on board continually.
Although a lightly constructed vessel she has proved perfectly staunch in every way and is said to be the staunchest of her class of modern racers.
Actual weights are about as follows. As compared to this vessel Lloyds would require
Keel 87%
Steel frames 190%
Floor plates 133%
Web frames 175%
Sheer & deck stringers 220%
Flat keel plate (has none)
Vertical side keel plate 190%
Diag. straps planking 140%
Diag. straps deck 1.10
Keel angles (has none)
Deck & bilge angles (has none)
Planking 143%
Deck beams 139%
Deck 120%
Lead bolts 100%
The bare hull would be about 175% of present weight to comply to Lloyds and loprectul[?] of weights as follows:
[Actual vs Lloyds requirements]
Hull bare .210 [vs] .370
Interior fittings .070 [vs] .070
Righ & equipment in racing .108 [vs] .108
Ballast .612 [vs] .452
[Total] 1.000 [vs] 1.000
[Detailed table with itemized comparison on verso.]
This craft is full bodied and rather small in deck, consequently the ballast ratio to hull is unusually large.
I don't think it wise to adapt such rules as those of Lloyds, but it is possible the Lloyds Committee could be induced to formulate rules the the[?] would be more in keeping with the practice and requiements of yachtsmen of our waters. They should be much simpler, not one quarter the detail that they have, but giving the design & construction a freer hand in the modern of constructions. On a yacht of certain proportions the Rules should dictate what percentage of weight should go into hull construction without fittings, equipment, ballast & c, and in the hull construction should the percentage of weight in keel & frame stapping and outside covering[?]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Duncan, W. Butler. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_68260. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F02, formerly MRDE15. 1907-03-03.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Orders from N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§37: Work Order [For] #624s, #634s. [When wanted] March 1 & April 1, 1905. Chain cable from J.B. Carr Co. (1904-12-06)
§38: Work Order [For] #624s. [When wanted] Early March. Standing rigging [6 pages] (1905-01-16 & 1905-01-17)." (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.)
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① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕

"[Item Transcription:] I do not know how George Cormack got the impression I have made a model for M class racing, for I have made none for that class since the ADVENTURESS, now KALINGA [#685s]. Perhaps George had in mind a model I made before the [New York] 50s of the 20 rating class to be sent to England [#624s SONYA], which is I think about 53ft l.w.l. This however is not a suitable model for M class. The 50s are better.
It is interesting to know you are thinking of building in the M class and that you are working on lines &c. If you succeed as well as you did in the R class with PUFFIN #1053s it will be a great credit to you.
I am no longer interested in racing models, and do not expect to do any more in that line of designing.
With kindest regards, ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Morgan, Junius S. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.56. Correspondence, Folder 31, formerly 180. 1928-01-13.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #624s Sonya even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Sonya (HMCo-made index card)
• Sonya (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: Sonya
Type: Cutter
Length: 47'
Owner: Farley, G. T.

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

• Sonya
• 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: Sonya
Type: 47' cutter
Owner: Mrs. T. G. Farley, England
Year: 1906
Row No.: 639

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: 29
Year: 1904
E/P/S: S
No.: 0624
Name: Sonya
LW: 47'
B: 13'
D: 9' 3"
Rig: Cutter
K: y
Ballast: LeadO
Amount: 15500.00
Notes Constr. Record: Comp. Cons. Eng. Y.R.A.
Last Name: Farley
First Name: G. T. [?].

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.

"Exported to England." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"Dimensions from construction plan dated 1904-12-05: HH.5.05519 (076-060) 'Sonya - 70ft-6in o.a., 47ft w.l., 13ft beam, 9ft-3in draft'." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 21, 2014.)

"Built in 136 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $114/day, 544 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Displacement 1156cuft = 74000lbs.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Penciled note on pantograph hull sections taken off the original model on November 6, 1904. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

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