HMCo #688s Senta [Sentra]

"Nos. 688 - 689.
(Jamestown Class).
25ft w.l. cruising jib & mainsail.
Frame spaces 12".
Keel plank 2 3/4" --- 3/4" below rabbate.
Timbers moulded 1 3/16", sided 1 3/16" at head, and increasing in siding 3/32" per foot for 6ft, then parallel.
Planking & deck 15/16" (or full[?] 7/8").
Sheer height given is to top of deck." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.166.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 22 [1909] --- ... Progress marks the work of building the two new 25-footers for Jamestown yachtsmen to be raced in the P class of the Narragansett Bay Y. R. A. this summer. The boats are about half completed at the Herreshoff shops, and are referred to as cruisers by the members of the firm. They are going to have speed nevertheless and Nat Herreshoff feels that though they show stubby, short overhangs as compared with other lank flyers of the season, they will be fast. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, May 23, 1909, p. 41.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., June 26 [1909] --- The Herreshoff shops are nearly empty of new and old boats, as there is but one boat building in the shops at present, and that is for C. A. Childs of New York for the 31-foot class [#691s More Joy]. ... The Senta, a cruising craft for the Jamestown class of knockabouts recently turned out at Herreshoff's, was taken to her owner, Mr Whitlow of Jamestown Tuesday [June 22, 1909] after a successful trial. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, June 27, 1909, p. 40.)

"During the past summer two new boats have been tried out in waters about Jamestown, and extending to New London to the west and Buzzard's Bay on the east. They are the Senta [#688s], Mr. James Whitall [spelling?], and the Hyepus [#689s], Mr. Heckscher Wetherill, and they are called the Jamestown 25-footers by their designer and builder, Herreshoff. The picture of the Senta shows how these little craft look sailing. It will be noted that they differ from anything else in these waters, or in any other waters for that matter, for they are the first boats built under the 'universal' rating rule [of 1909] to take full advantage of that rule. They show what Herreshoff can do when given a free hand under the new rule.
Most people will say at first sight that he has produced the ugliest looking craft they ever saw, regular tubs, and when they sail they say they are slow. But all things are comparative. The owners of the two little cruisers are better pleased with them at the end of the season than they were at the start. They understood that they would not have racers, but cruisers, and cruisers were what they wanted. The only surprise, to quote Mr. Whitall, was that the boats proved to be so fast on the wind, and especially with a heavy sea. Under those conditions they proved wonders. At running and reaching they were not much, and a glance at the big, chunky hull with its short overhangs will explain that.
At Jamestown, where the old rule still prevails, as does elsewhere, the Senta and Hyepus, raced in class P, with a rating of 20.7 feet. Under the universal rule, as figured by Mr. Herreshoff, they would rate in class R, under 20 feet. It can readily be seen that if give the allowance which the universal rule gives to full-bodied, able cruisers, as against the long, slick [?] racers, the heavy Jamestown 25-footers would be invincible. No boat could give them the allowance to which they are entitled under the new rule.
The boats are 32 feet 3 inches over all, 25 feet on the water line, 8 feet 7 inches beam, and 5 feet 3 1/2 inches draft, according to the builder's figures. They carry 711 square feet of sail.
Like the New York 30-footers, these are little ships, all complete and ready for cruising. There is a mahogany deckhouse, about 8 1/2 feet long, affording 7 feet of headroom in the cabin, where [sic] in white and providing two Pullman folding berths with a capacity for two each. Forward is a pipe berth for the professional. There is a sink, stove, cupboard, toilet, and all other necessities of a little ship for a cruise. The boats have unusual freeboard, about 3 feet forward, and unusually short overhangs, about 4 feet forward and 3 feet 3 inches at. This short overhang and high freeboard with their beam give the chunky effect.
In speaking of these boats Mr. Herreshoff said they were the first he had really designed in 20 years. One must go back in yachting history to see just what he meant by this, and this search backward was aided recently, when on the cradle at the Newport Shipyard three generations of Herreshoff creations were shown, the Gannet, yawl of 1890 [#409s], the Gossip of 1905 [#630s ex Pintail, a New York 30 then owned by E. D. Morgan], and the Senta, of 1909. It could readily be seen that Herreshoff went back to the Gannet for his starting lines for the new class. Since the Gannet came out all his boats have been apparently designed on certain modifications of her lines. The Gloriana of 1991 and the wasp of 1892 seemed to be radical departures but they came from the Gannet class and lines: then everything has been a continuation or modification of the Gloriana idea. When that famous craft first appeared about every one said she was homely, but she did not act homely and now hers is the accepted line of beauty.
The universal rule, designed to encourage the building of safe, reliable and heavier boats, suitable for cruising and general knockabout work, and to penalize the long overhangs and slight bodies of the modern racers, has been built on to some extent, but not as Herreshoff has done in the case of those two boats. They show what the legitimate carrying out of the universal rule will bring about, a slower boat but one, which with the handicaps placed on the light boats can win against the present style of racer. The difference between 20.7 and about 19.5 tells the tale." (Source: Anon. "A New Type Of Craft. First Built by Herreshoff Under Universal Rating Rule. Senta and Hyepus of Jamestown Reliable for Cruising and Fast on the Wind." The News, Newport, Rhode Island. September 17, 1909, p. 10.)

... The Brooklyn Yatch [sic] Club's Challenge Cup, now held by the Harlem Yacht Club, has been challenged for by John G. Alden of the Corinthian Yacht Club with his Herreshoff knockabout Navahoe. This craft was formerly the Senta, and is on her way to local waters from Essington, Penn. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes From The Week's Log." Boston Globe, May 23, 1920, p. 53.)

"... John G. Alden was not successful in lifting the Brooklyn challenge cup from the Harlem Yacht Club with his Herreshoff sloop Senta [#688s] in the match sailed last week against Stuyvesant Wainwright's sloop Butterfly [#586s ex-Nellie]. The course sailed by the two yachts was 285 nautical miles. Starting from City Island, the turning mark was Vineyard Sound Light Vessel, and the way back was outside of Long Island to a finish off the Atlantic Yacht Club at Sea Gate. The Butterfly's time was 42 hours, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, that of the Senta 53 hours, 33 minutes and 6 seconds. Although beaten by elapsed time by 10 1/2 hours, the Senta was allowed by the much larger Butterfly approximately seven hours. The Butterfly, also a Herreshoff craft, is 52 feet over all and 38 feet waterline, while the Senta is only 35 feet over all and 25 feet waterline. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, August 8, 1920, p. 53.)

"No. 889 --- For Sale --- Herreshoff auxiliary keel sloop 33 ft. by 25 ft. by 9 ft. by 5 ft. 2 in.; the roomiest boat of her size available; double planked; outside lead ballast; narrow trunk cabin; good cockpit; a one cylinder Lathrop engine installed late in 1923 drives boat at 5 1/2 m.p.h.; pipe berth, toilet, ice chest, galley, etc., forward; four berths in cabin; full headroom; very able; has run from Newport to Marblehead (outside the Cape) in ordinary summer weather in 27 hours. Easily handled by one man, but has comfortable accommodations for five. Apply to John G. Alden, 148 State St., Boston, Mass. [With photo. Though not identified by name her dimensions and 1923 Lathrop engine identify her as #688s Senta.]" (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Rudder, April 1924, p. 73.)

"... Our first attempt to race around Long Island was made years ago by John Alden and myself in a very small Herreshoff cruiser, the Vega [sic, i.e. Navahoe ex-Senta], recently acquired by the former [sic]. She was in type and behavior much like a small lightship and was completely outclassed by our larger competitors. We were somewhat bothered by parting the wire luffrope in the mainsail, but our real adventure came after the finish off Sea Gate. We were young, eager and perhaps foolish, but concluded that as a stunt we must complete the circumnavigation of the Island by sailing up from Sea Gate through the East River and Hell Gate and back to where we had started off New Rochelle. All went well until after negotiating the worst of Hell Gate at night with a fair tide and wind, the latter left us flat and we were nearly swept upon the rocks at Little Brothers Island. John's valiant efforts with the spinnaker boom just nudged us off. Once again breathing freely, we sailed on into the Sound and patted our chests in pride at having made the complete circuit of the Island under sail alone. I remember we were two pretty tired young men when we dropped anchor at Larchmont. ..." (Source: Hoyt, Sherman. Sherman Hoyt's Memoirs. New York, 1950, p. 208.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.02136 (029-041). Blueprint deckplan and inboard profile titled 'Preliminary Drawing of 25ft Cruising Yacht. March 5-1909' and marked in pencil 'Nos 688 - 689 [#688s SENTA and #689s HYEPUS]'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0012. WRDT08, Folder 2, formerly MRDE08. 1909-03-05.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'From finished model. Nos 688 - 689 [#688s SENTA and #689s HYEPUS] Jamestown 26ft Class. M[ar]ch 20 [19]09. 25ft lwl. Frame spaces 12[n]. Scale 3/4in. qbl 20ft 10 1/2in = .83 lwl'. With list of particulars 'O.a. 32.o[ft]. Lwl 25.0[ft]. qbl 20.87[ft]. ... Mean length 25.94[ft]'. With calculations arriving at a total displacement of 217.3cuft or 13920lbs and a wetted surface of 243sqft." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01320. Folder [no #]. 1909-03-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled midship section sketch on sans-serif 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.' stationery titled '1909 Jamestown 25ft Cruising Class. Nos 688-89 [#688s SENTA and #689s HYEPUS]'. With list of particulars 'Approx. O.A. 32[ft. lwl 25[ft]. qbl 23.7[ft]. Beam 8.5[ft]. B 8.0[ft]. d 5.33[ft]. …' and list of scantlings 'Frame spaces 1.1 [apparently from Herreshoff Rules for Wooden Yachts] 12in. Keel plank 2.85 2 7/8[in] ...'. " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Midship Section. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01350. Folder [no #]. 1909-03-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Nos. 688 [#688s SENTA] - 689 [#689s HYEPUS]. Scale 3in & 1 1/2 per ft. M[ar]ch 21 1909'. With calculations and note 'Nos. 688 & 689. Frame spaces 12in. ... Required 7220lbs lead with c.g. at .552 of l.w.l. 7220cuin = 17570lbs ...' and concluding with note 'Result. 17320cuin at 17.335 frame space = 7115lbs at .553 of l.w.l.'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_08730. Folder [no #]. 1909-03-21.)
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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:
§109: Work Order [For] #688s, #689s. [When wanted] May. Rigging [3 pages] (1909-03-29 & 1909-03-30)." (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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"[Item Description:] Brokerage listing (File No. 28) for #688s SENTA. Dimensions, particulars (Rig: Jib and mainsail, Engine: Lathrop, 2 cyc., 6HP, Location: Lawley's Yard, Neponset (Boston), Price: $3200). Remark 'Exceptionally roomy and able boat. Does not leak when sailed hard'." (Source: Gordon Munroe, Yacht Broker (creator). Broker Listing. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.111. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Brokers Listings. No date (mid-1930s ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table showing LOA, LWL, Beam, Draft, QBL, Stem, [symbol], sft[?] and Displ[acement] for KATOURA [#722s], WESTWARD [#692s], VAGRANT, QUEEN MAB [#698s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RESOLUTE [#725s], WINSOME [#664s], 2nd IROLITA [#658s], DORIS [#625s], AVENGER [#666s], 50 Footers [#711s], ADVENTURESS [#685s], IROLITA [#591s], FLYING CLOUD [#703s], BELISARIUS [#1266s], NEITH [#665s], AZOR [#578s], NAULAKHA [#687s], SENECA [#670s], NY30s [#626s], SENTA [#688s], DOROTHY Q [#668s], FLIGHT [#607s], PLEASURE [#907s], QUAKERESS [#676s], KILDEE [#460s], and the 12 1/2ft Class [#744s]. With formulas for mean length L, Draft limit by rule and freeboard at three positions. Undated, on verso of NYYC invitation dated December 11, 1933 but listing of BELISARIUS which was built in 1934/1935 indicates that this was written at that time or later. Filed close to and possibly related to what appears to be an early version of NGH's 'Observations on the Proportions of Sailing Yachts' from July 1936." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Tabulated Dimensions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03040. Folder [no #]. No date (1936-07 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Brokerage listing (File No. 887) for #688s KIM ex-SENTA. Dimensions, particulars (Rig: Auxiliary Gaff Sloop, Engine: 4 cyl. 2cyc. Palmer from 1930). Remark 'Self-starter'." (Source: Belknap & Paine, Yacht Brokers (creator). Broker Listing. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.111. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Brokers Listings. No date (1937 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled offsets table titled 'Jamestown 25 Footer. No 688 [#688s] SENTA. No 689 [#689s] HYEPUS. 10-28-64'. On verso offsets for Bow and Stern." (Source: Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. (?) (creator). Penciled Offsets. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_02300. Folder [no #]. 1964-10-28.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #688s Senta [Sentra] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Wetherill, Samuel. "A June Cruise in Senta." Yachting, August 1922, p. 61-62, 100-101. (2,180 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No. Travel report describing a delivery voyage from Philadelphia to Newport on behalf of Senta's new owner John Alden.

• Senta (HMCo-made index card)
• Senta (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: Sentra
Type: J & M
Length: 25'
Owner: Whitehall, J. M.

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

• Senta
• Kim ex-Senta
• 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: Senta
Type: 25' aux. sloop
Owner: J. M. Whitehall
Year: 1910
Row No.: 615

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: Mar
Day: 5
Year: 1909
E/P/S: S
No.: 0688
Name: Senta
OA: 32' 3"
LW: 25'
B: 8' 7"
D: 5' 3.5"
Rig: J & M
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: 3150.00
Last Name: Whitehall
First Name: J. M.

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.

"Launched June 21, 1909 as per N. G. Herreshoff Design Notebook held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 12, 2012.)

"Built in 108 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $29/day, 129 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area 711 sq ft.]" (Source: Anon. "A New Type Of Craft. First Built by Herreshoff Under Universal Rating Rule. Senta and Hyepus of Jamestown Reliable for Cruising and Fast on the Wind." The News, Newport, Rhode Island. September 17, 1909, p. 10.)

"[Displacement (217.3 cubic feet).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. [Design Notebook.] Bristol, R.I., March 20, 1909. Original handwritten document held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, R.I.)

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