HMCo #669s Eleanor

"No. 668 [#668s]. Feb[ruary] 1907.
No. 669 [#669s] (Bow lengthened)
Frame spaces 10".
Use scale 10/12 for lengths and 11 1/4 / 12 for breadths and depths.
Crown 3 3/8" in 8' 0".
In making moulds deduct
for planking 7/8" (common rule)
for timbers 1 9/16" (common rule)
Total 2 7/16"
Sheer line is to under (upper for #669) side of deck (#668). (Deck 13/16").
Keel plank 1 7/8 thick with rabbate 1/2 up from underside. False pieces will be required forward & aft to finish out form.
Note.
For 669 is to upper side of deck. Change in lead as per drawing.
Bow lengthened in #669 as per figures in lower part of pages.
Planking in #669 to be 25/32.
Fin[?] out[?] mould of #668 3/32" to allow for diff[erence] in planking." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Handwritten (in pencil and ink) note in Offset Booklet HH.4.157.] February 1907. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"The 'Q' boats 'Dorothy Q' and 'Eleanor' came out in 1907, and the 'Eleanor' proved to be the fastest boat in this class, and among other prizes won the principal cup offered at the race given in honor of the Jamestown Exposition. 'Eleanor' not only was a beautiful little yacht with her bright mahogany topsides and varnished soft pine deck, but she was about the first of the modern shaped yachts and very similar to the later 'P' boats designed by Gardner and George Owen. In fact right down to the time of 'Ranger' there has not been a great variation from this model, although some designers born since the time of 'Eleanor' would try to make us believe this model was the result of tank testing. Apparently Captain Nat's reasoning powers were some thirty years in advance of tank development. 'Eleanor' was remarkably well kept, and, although only twenty-six feet three inches W.L. had two professionals ..." (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. 271.)

"The Eleanor, the 22-footer in Class Q, a sister to Dorothy Q. was taken from the east shop of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company on a low gear and taken to the maine railway at Walkers' Cove aud launched this morning. The boat, which was built for Francis Fayban of Boston, is a handsome craft, finished in mahogany with underbody of oak." (Source: Anon. "Notes and News of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, May 7, 1907, p. 2.)

"Francis Fabyans' class Q boat is ready for launching. After her trial she will be taken around the cape in time for the race of May 30 [1907] and will also participate in the Jamestown races. She is as fine a looking boat as Herreshoff has ever turned out, her deadwoods are of mahogany, and she is planked with a thin skin of cedar and the second planking below the waterline is of oak over oak frames. She has been named Eleanor." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, May 12, 1907, p. 52.)

"... Eleanor, built by Herreshoff for Francis B. Fabyan, is still at Bristol, where she will be tuned up before being brought around the cape.
This boat ... is finished bright, and ... has a long stem, without bowsprit. At first glance she appears more finely drawn than any of the others in the class. ..." (Source: Anon. "Gathering of Class Q." Boston Globe, May 19, 1907, p. 48.)

"The Eleanor, the 22-footer in Class Q, a sister to Dorothy Q. was taken from the east shop of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company on a low gear and taken to the marine railway at Walkers' Cove and launched this morning. The boat, which was built for Francis Fayban of Boston, is a handsome craft, finished in mahogany with underbody of oak." (Source: Anon. "Notes and News of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, May 7, 1907, p. 2.)

"No. 25419 --- For Sale --- The sensational winner of Class Q, the famous Eleanor, built last Spring by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Dimensions approximately, 41 ft. o. a., 25 ft. w. L, 9 ft. beam, 6 ft. draught. Lead ballast outside. Built in the very best manner with regard to cost. Mahogany planking. Her record is phenomenal, she being the Champion in her class of the Boston, Eastern, Corinthian and Manchester Y. Cs., and also of the Y. R. A. of Mass. She won several other prizes, having raced successfully in New York Ray and at Jamestown. A most consistent performer, winning under all conditions, and a very fine acting and steering boat. It is not often there is such a chance to secure a winner of this sort. Apply to Hollis Burgess Yacht Agency, 15 Exchange Street, Boston, Mass." (Source: Rudder, March 1908, p. 225.)

"Charles A. Childs, a member of the New York Yacht Club, has placed an order with Herreshoff to build a racing sloop yacht [#691s More Joy] for the 25 foot class that will be faster than the Eleanor, owned by F. T. Bedford. This new yachts is to be ready for racing by the latter part of June and will race in the events on Gravesend Bay. The boat will be built of mahogany and in model will be similar to the Adventuress [#685s], built for C. C. Rumrill. No expense is to be spared to make this boat the fastest in her class. The Thompson cup is for boats of this class. This trophy is held by the Atlantic Yacht Club until it has been won three times by the same yachtsmand and the series will be sailed on September 2, 3, and 5 [?]. Last year this trophy was won by the Eleanor, and until this new yacht was ordered it looked as if the Eleanor would practically have a sailover for the cup this year." (Source: Anon. "Yacht to Beat the Eleanor." New York Sun, May 5, 1909, p. 2.)

"... The Eleanor, one of the fastest sloop-rigged yachts on the Atlantic coast, has been purchased by Commodore I.E. Emerson of the Baltimore Yacht Club, and will be entered in Chesapeake bay races this season. The Eleanor was designed by Herreshoff and built at Bristol in 1907. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Boston Herald, May 9, 1910, p. 4.)

"A rehabilitated 'Q' boat, Eleanor, out of Plattsburg, New York, manned by four youngsters and an adult from Camp Red Cloud, ran away with the first long distance race ever sailed on Lake Champlain. Sponsored by the Mallet's Bay Boat Club of Burlington, Vt., and sailed July 5th and 6th [1940] in airs as unpredictable as they were light, the contestants made slow time and there was a spread of nearly seven hours between the first and last bat at the finish. The course, 63 miles in lenth, formed a triangle which sent the boats from Mallett's Bay, on the Vermont shore, southeast to Burlington Harbor, thence south and west to and around Juniper Island, thence northwest to Plattsburg Harbor, on the New York shore, and finally, to the finish line inside Mallett's Bay. The contestants made better time on the last and windward leg of the race with a freshening breeze. The summaries: ... [This appears to be a reference to #669s Eleanor.]" (Source: Anon. "Lake Champlain's First Long Distance Race." Yachting, 1940, vol. 68, [p. 103?].)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook. This booklet had two lives: In 1907-1908, 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 it was used for winter storage records, listing name of boat, owner, storage location, billed amount, and dates of storage. Listed were for the winter of 1907/1908: #235p MIST, ORIANA, #571s LARIKIN, EAGLET, #453s VAQUERO II, #580s TRIVIA, #663s ISTALENA, COSSACK, #666s AVENGER, #220p ATALA (for sale), #207p MIRAGE, #224p EUGENIA, #146p AUGUSTA, #247p SEA URCHIN, #105p COSETTE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA, #481s SPALPEEN, DUCHESS, #669s ELEANOR, #460s KILDEE, #647s CAPRICE, #408s PELICAN, #243p SWIFTSURE, #617s COCK ROBIN, #177p VANISH, #446s ALERION, and #591s IROLITA I, for the winter of 1908/1909: #666s AVENGER, #663s ISTALENA, #481s SPALPEEN, #580s TRIVIA, #617s COCK ROBIN, COSSACK, #177p VANISH, #242p #242, #243p SWIFTSURE, SKIP, #446s ALERION, CHEWINK II, DUCHESS, #571s LARIKIN, #460s KILDEE, #679s PEPITA, EAGLET, #408s PELICAN, #453s VAQUERO, #146p AUGUSTA, #224p EUGENIA, COYOTE, #264p SARAH WEBB, #207p MIRAGE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA I, CASSANDRA 27ft Launch, and #263p CASSANDRA 34ft Launch, and for the winter of 1909/1910: #252p WANECHE (no further boats were listed). At some later time, the same book was turned upside down and inscribed with a new title in ink '200Ft Submarine Destroyer [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser]. Data + Calculation Book. Herreshoff Mfg Co.' on its now-new front cover (formerly its back cover), followed by weight data estimates and calculations for this submarine destroyer." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.087. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Submarine Destroyer 200-Footer. 1907-1908, 1908-1909, 1909-1910, 1918-06.)
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

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'Model to be used for 22 rating. No 668 [#668 DOROTHY Q] at scale b& d 11 1/4/12 of 1/12in. … O.a. 26.25[ft]. w.l. 26.4[ft]. (1st model for 57ft of Sept[ember] 23 [19]06 changed in keel only). 1907 [DOROTHY Q was contracted for on January 24, 1907]'. With calculations arriving at total displacement of 168.5cuft = 10770lbs and wetted surface = 238.5sqft, numerous rating and weight calculations and further calculations added on June 3, 1907 '#669 [ELEANOR]. No one on board w.l. 26ft 0 1/2in (1 5/16in light). ... Disp[lacement] = ... 154.1[cuft = 9862lbs]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01590. Folder [no #]. 1907-(01 ?).)
①

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'No 670 [#670s SENECA]. 27 Rating. From model originally made Seot[ember] 23, [19]06 for 57ft class, not used. Altered for #668 [DOROTHY Q], 22 rating and again for #669 [ELEANOR]. Scale length 1in per ft. Breadth & depth 13/12 of 1in per foot. Length w.l. 32ft 3 1/4in. L = 28.02. 1907 [SENECA was contracted for on February 6, 1907.]'. With two sets of calculations, the first crossed out and the second one marked 'After oiling & adjusting [the pantograph] arriving at a total displacement of 268.5cuft [= 17184lbs] and a wetted surface of 325[sqft]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01570. Folder [no #]. 1907-(02 ?).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'No 668 [#668 DOROTHY Q]. 22[ft] rating. Scale sections 1/8in x 15/16. Length 1/8in. Feb[ruary] 4, 1907'. With calculations and note 'Required 6210lbs with c.g. at .563 of w.l. ...' and concluding with note '6210lbs at 24.08 frame'. Also with note 'For #669 [ELEANOR] 390lbs added. ...' but this note crossed out and corrected to 'Same as #668'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_08950. Folder [no #]. 1907-02-04.)
① ②

"N/A"

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) memorandum:] Bristol, R.I.
May 20th 1908
Measurement of ELEANOR, #669.
Yacht had no inside ballast, but had a little equipment over the required amount, possibly 75lbs. Water was not smooth enough to make a very accurate measurement.
The following were taken
Length overall 38ft 2 1/8in
Forward overhang 6ft 10 5/16in
Aft overhang 5ft 1 1/4in
Sum 11ft 11 9/16in
Length of water line 26ft 2 9/16in
At 1/4 beam ...
Rig was not measured. over [p. 2]
The yacht is light of the designed draft --- the difference being forward and assuming the rig at 820sqft as designed the yacht is over the limit a small amount.
I am of the opinion that from 250 to 300lbs of ballast should be added near the mast to bring the rating under 22.
I should have added weight and measured again but the sailing master was anxious to get away.
[Signed] Nathl. G. Herreshoff." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_02370. Folder [no #]. 1908-05-20.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Orders from N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§79: Work Order [For] #668s, #669s. [When wanted] Last of April. Rigging [2 pages] (1907-02-15)
§81: Work Order [For] #668s, #669s. [When wanted] Last of April. Blocks (1907-02-17)." (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.)
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:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule-related table on two pages with dimensions LOA, LWL, overhang fore & aft, mean length, freeboard fore & center & aft, breadth deck & w.l., draft, cube-root (displacement), 1st mast mean length, 1st to 2nd mast, J, P1, H1, B1, G1, V1, T1, P2, P2a, H2, B2, Q2, Y2,T2, sail area, sqrt(SA), sqrt(SA - NYYC Rule) for #605s RELIANCE, #499s COLUMBIA, #725s RESOLUTE, #529s MINEOLA, #663s ISTALENA, #666s AVENGER, New York 50s (#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s), #411s GLORIANA, #685s ADVENTURESS, #617s COCK ROBIN II, #586s NELLIE, #709s JOYANT, #708s CORINTHIAN, #670s SENECA, Bar Harbor 31s (#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s), New York 30s (#626s, #627s, #628s, #629s, #630s, #631s, #632s, #633s, #635s, #636s, #637s, #638s, #639s, #640s, #642s, #643s, #647s, #648s), Newport 29s (#727s, #728s, #737s), #691s MORE JOY, #446s ALERION II, Buzzards Bay 550s (#733s, #734s, #736s, #738s, #741s), #617s COCK ROBIN II, #493s JILT, #732s SADIE, #460s KILDEE, Buzzards Bay 15s (#503s Class), Buzzards Bay 12 1/2s (#744s Class), #703s FLYING CLOUD, #669s ELEANOR, #722s KATOURA, #692s WESTWARD, #657s QUEEN, #719s VAGRANT II, #698s VAGRANT, #663s ISTALENA, and #743s HASWELL. With penciled note 'Measurements in ft & inches. Results in ft & decimals'. Undated (the youngest boat on this list is from 1914/1915 and this was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_00100. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 / 1915 ?).)
① ②

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #669s Eleanor even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Eleanor (HMCo-made index card)
• Eleanor (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: Eleanor
Type: J & M
Length: 27'
Owner: Fabyan, F. W.

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

• Eleanor
• 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: Eleanor
Type: 26' 3" "Q" boat
Owner: F. W. Fabyn
Year: 1907
Row No.: 189

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: Jun [sic, i.e. Jan]
Day: 25
Year: 1907
E/P/S: S
No.: 0669
Name: Eleanor
LW: 27'
B: 7' 10"
D: 6' 0"
Rig: J & M
K: y
Ballast: O. Lead
Amount: 4665.00
Notes Constr. Record: Q Class Mahogany.
Last Name: Fabyn
First Name: F. W

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.

"Universal Rule Class Q." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 7, 2009.)

"Sail number Q-35." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 13, 2012.)

"Built in 102 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $46/day, 106 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area (820 square feet, old sail measurement).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Rating of Yachts under the New Rules Passed by Conference of Yacht Clubs Dec. 2nd." Bristol, R.I., December 6, 1908. Original handwritten document held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, R.I.)

"[Displacement (169 cubic feet = 10816 lbs).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Rating of Yachts under the New Rules Passed by Conference of Yacht Clubs Dec. 2nd." Bristol, R.I., December 6, 1908. Original handwritten document held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, R.I.)

"Displacement (10,250 lbs) from Herreshoff-supplied measurement certificate for 1907 as quoted in Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, June 21, 1908, p. 39." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

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