HMCo #694s Shimna [Shima, Shimma]

"[1909-12-07] Tue 7: #694 [Shimna] planked." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1909. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"SHIMNA, fifty-three feet waterline [cutter], was built this year [1910], and [is] still racing in 1933." (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. 71.)

"Work on the two new boats being constructed at the shops of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, is well under way. One, composite sloop [#694s Shimna], is nearly completed, and the other is a steel schooner [#692s Westward] 95 feet on the water line. ... The two boats will be launched early in the spring." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, January 11, 1910, p. 2.)

"PROVIDENCE, R. I., May 24 [1910]. --- The Shima, a racing sloop of the forty-eight-foot class, built for Morton F. Plant, former owner of the schooner yacht Ingomar, was successfully launched at 8:45 o'clock this morning at Herreshoff's at Bristol. Nat Herreshoff is to give her a trial under sail next week. The Shima is the first racing sloop built at Herreshoffs the past Winter. She was put over board at high water from the south shed of the Herreshoffs.
The new racer is a boat designed and constructed to sail in the forty-eight-foot class of sloops, of which Avenger [#666s], famous for several seasons past in the hands of Capt. Robert W. Emmons, 2d. was one of the speediest. There are also the Humma [#553s], Altair [#539s], and other craft of the size to fit comfortably into the forty-eight-foot class, but the Shima will be at the top of the class, and if there is anything to allow on account of greater measurement, it will be for the Plant craft to give time allowance. She has a larger sail area by several hundred square feet than the Avenger.
The general dimensions of the Shima are as follows: Length over all, 76 feet; length on the load water line, 53 feet 6 inches; breadth of beam, 14 feet 6 inches, and draught, 15 feet 5 inches.
The craft is of the keel type, with a hollow midsection, a short underbody, and moderate-length overhangs. In fact, the Shima is built to the limit of the New York Yacht Club rule of measurement, with big area of canvas. The method of construction was on the improved Herreshoff style, and the yacht is composite in construction, having steel frames and wooden planking. She has a small rail rising above the line of waterways, and will be steered with a tiller. Her top sides are painted a dark green.
Capt. John Barr, a nephew of Capt. Charles Barr, the former skipper of cup defenders, is the sailing master and both Capt. Barr and his crew are in Bristol, helping make the boat ready for tuning up for racing this season. The builders and a few friends watched the Shima take the water. Her mast was stepped to-day." (Source: Anon. "Sloop Shima Launched. Morton F. Plant's New 48-Foot Racer Takes to Water at Bristol." New York Times, May 25, 1910, p. 10.)

"Bristol Notes. ... The Shima, Commodore Morton F. Plant's racing sloop of the 48-foot class, which was launched at Herreshoff's last Tuesday morning [May 24, 1910], has been in the hands of the riggers over since and will be ready the first of the week for a spin under sail. The Shima is an odd looking sloop with her topsides in olive green. The owner, Mr Plant, found another boat of the same dimensions abroad which took his fancy, and gave his Herreshoff sloop the same name. Shima will sail in the class with the Avenger, Humma, Altair and others. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, May 29, 1910, p. 51.)

"Notes from the Week's Log. ... Morton F. Plant's new class L racing sloop Shima was launched by the Herreshoffs last Tuesday [May 24, 1910]. She is composite in construction, and the general dimensions are as follows: 76 feet over all, 53 feet 6 inches water line, 14 feet 6 inches beam, and 15 feet 5 inches draft. In the racing she will meet the Avenger. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, May 29, 1910, p. 51.)

"The 55-foot racing sloop Shima, built by Herreshoff for Morton F. Plant, was launched at Bristol last Tuesday week[sic]. She will race against Avenger, now owned by Vice-Commodore Harry L. Maxwell, of the Larchmont Y. C. Captain John Barr, a nephew of Capt. Charles Barr, will be her skipper." (Source: Anon. "Sloop Shima Launched." Forest and Stream, June 4, 1910, p. 903.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 877:]
Shimna, sloop yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1910.
34 gross tons, 21 net tons; 58 ft. x 14.3 ft. x 9.1 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) May 27. 1910. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] July 8, 1910 at New London, Conn. ([Record at:] N[ational] A[rchives, Washington]).
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) May 16, 1911. Owner: same. Master: same.
Surrendered [license] Dec. 5, 1911 at Boston. ([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. Shimna.)

"... When Mr. Plant had the Elena built he turned the Shimna over to the builder, Mr. Herreshoff, and Mr. Herreshoff sold her to Mr. Robert Treat Paine, 2d, of Boston, who believes that she is even faster this year than she was when Mr. Plant raced her. ..." (Source: Anon. "The Schooner Elena Again Victorious over the Westward." August 10, 1911, p. 11.)

"... Charles K Cummings, recently elected rear commodore of the Eastern Yacht Club, has purchased through the agency of John G. Alden the Class L racing sloop Avenger [#666s] from Henry L Maxwell of the New York Yacht Club. Thus next Summer there should be interesting racing between the Avenger and Commodore Paine's sloop Shimna [#694s]. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, April 12, 1914, p. 60.)

"Another of the yacht's for which that enthusiastic yachtsman, Morton F. Plant, was responsible has gone the way of worn-out yachts. Shimna, one-time flag-ship of the Eastern Yacht Club, has been sold by Commodore Robert Treat Paine of that club to a ship wrecker of this city, and she has been brought to these waters to be stripped of her valuable lead and metal fittings and then converted into a houseboat, for which sort of craft there is an unusual demand in the waters of the Sound. Her hull is good enough to stand the installation of power, so that she will be a remarkably good houseboat. Though built for racing, she has proven a wonderfully comfortable cruising craft, as those who have enjoyed the hospitality of her owner know.
Shimna was built especially to defeat Robert W. Emmons's sloop Avenger, which had been having wonderful success in winning the Astor, the King's, and other cups. Shimna, built in 1910, was designed by Capt. Nat. G. Herreshoff, but was never a success, though she did win a number of races. But she was no phenomenon, and so Mr. Plant disposed of her to Commodore Paine of Boston, where she flew the flagship pennant of the Eastern Club as she had previously flown that of the Larchmont. Francis B. Crowninshield of Marblehead sailed her in many races against Avenger after both went to Eastern waters. ... [Note: Shimna would continue to race and in August 1932 was raced in Class M by Frank C. Paine, the designer of the America's Cup yacht Yankee, and participated in the cruise of the New York Yacht Club.]" (Source: Anon. "Shimna to be a Houseboat. Former Flagship of Eastern Yacht Club Sold to Shipwrecker." New York Times, Ocober 7, 1917, p. ?.)

"NO. 560 --- FOR SALE --- At New York. This fast and handsome Herreshoff sloop would convert into a handsome schooner, yawl or ketch. A boat with a record of twelve firsts out of thirteen starts, would still be a very serious contender for the King's and Astor cups with a sloop rig. Accommodations include a large double stateroom aft and spacious saloon midships. Beautifully built in true Herreshoff fashion. Must be examined to be appreciated thoroughly. See Ford & Payne, Agents, 41 East 42nd St., New York City. [Though not identified by name, the text and accompanying photo clearly describe #694s Shimna." (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Rudder, March 1926, p. 104.)

"NO. 560 --- FOR SALE OR CHARTER --- 53' W. L. handsome fast keel cruising sloop. Built by Herreshoff, the wizard of Bristol. Exceptionally well constructed. Large forecastle and galley forward. Next aft is a large main saloon sleeping four. Then a splendid double stateroom. Two toiletrooms. Chartroom, etc. Equipment complete and in good condition. Apply to FORD, PAYNE & SWEISGUTH, 41 East 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. [Though not identified by name, the text and accompanying photo clearly describe #694s Shimna, which subsequently was owned by Frank C. Paine and sailed in the 46ft M-class during a number of New York Yacht Club races in the early 1930s." (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Yachting, May 1931, p. 38.)

"... In the meantime Frank Silva and his brother John, noting the awakened interest in a Cape Verde packet service bought the old auxiliary sloop Patsy [#1074s] at New London and had her towed to Providence for refitting, as the first boat of a proposed new line. The sloop, a former Class M racer, was built by Herreshoff, at Bristol, in 1928, and measured 82 feet over all with a beam of 15 feet. At about the same time the brothers bought Avenger [#666s], another Herreshoff sloop which had been built back in 1907. The Silvas figured they could convert the boats to carry 20 or 25 tons of freight and as many as a dozen passengers each, and counted heavily on fast passages. Refitting work was well under way when the United States entered the war. Several fittings from Vanitie, Weetamoe, Yankee and Ranger, were worked into the refitting of both boats, and the mast from Shimna [#694s], once owned by Chandler Hovey, of Boston, was to go into Patsy, when the Government clamped down on all such ventures.
Future prospects are not too bright. Many there are who believe the Providence to Cape Verde packets will not return to the Atlantic sea lanes. The Providence Portuguese colony well remembers the old schooners aboard which they traveled to this new [?] land..." (Source: Hanks, Carlos C. "No More Packets to the Cape Verdes." Yachting, May, 1944, p. 108.)

"1940. ... John Silva bought three old Herreshoff sloops, the Avenger [#666s], Patsy [#1074s] and Shimna [#694s], with the intention of starting a packet line from Providence to the Cape Verde Islands, but the war prevented that and two of them, Avenger and Patsy, have been laid up at Warren ever since. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 96-97.)

"Bryant, Sumner F., Station 14VM. Waterford, Conn. 207197 Shimna." (Source: U.S. Coast Guard (publ.). Merchant Vessels of the United States (including Yachts). 1952, [p. 758?])

"Ed. Note: The fine but sadly brief flurry of activity in the M Class had been started by Harold S. Vanderbilt in his W. Starling Burgess-designed PRESTIGE (1927), fifty-four feet on the water. No more than six boats can be said to have been built to the class, but by re-rigging the old Herreshoff SHIMNA, 1910, and a couple of NY Fifties, there was good racing. Francis Herreshoffs ISTALENA was apparently the fastest by a narrow margin under even conditions, but PRESTIGE was always raced with determination." (Source: Streeter, John W., editorial note. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 44.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph sections with pinpricks titled 'No. 666 [#666s]. From finished model. Scale 1/2. W.L. 53.00[ft]. Jan. 27, 1907 AVENGER'. With calculations arriving at a total displacement of 1218cuft = 77860lbs and a wetted surface of 825sqft. Also calculations [apparently added later] '#694 [SHIMNA]. Displacement 1218[cuft]. [add] Estim[?] on[?] Keel 8[cuft]. [Sum] 1226[cuft]. [Subtract] Light of design[?] 31[cuft]. [Total] 1195[cuft = 76480lbs]'. Also some calculations marked 'Lloyds'. On verso (with 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Established 1861. Incorporated 1879' letterhead) more calculations marked 'International rating'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0389. WRDT04, Folder 34, formerly MRDE08. 1907-01-27.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled '#666 [AVENGER] Lead. Also #694 [SHIMNA] as deepened (Oct[ober] 1905). Scale 1in & 1 1/2. Jan[uary] 28, 1907'. With calculations and note 'No. 666. Required 41000lbs lead with c.g. at .5835 of w.l. l.w.l. 53ft. Frame spaces 15in. ....'. With another note 'For no. 694. with addition of 8 12/ to bottom of lead. Required 42750lbs with c.g. of .572 or original 53ft l.w. ...'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_08590. Folder [no #]. 1907-01-28.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.00469 (001-048). Photostat construction plan with sections and inboard profile titled 'No 666 [#666s] AVENGER. No 694 [#694s] SHIMNA' with note '#694 - 10/22 [19]09'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Photostat Construction Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0194. WRDT08, Folder 15, formerly MRDE02. 1907-05-02.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled undated calculations on a printed circular from the Industrial Trust Company of Providence, R.I., dated January 9, 1909. Listing plan numbers '79-40 Boom socket, 79-38 Gaff saddle, 79-42 Gaff end, 79-46 Boom hanging, 144-43, 144-44, Bowsprit cone 79-41'. Analysis of vessels referenced by these plans and considering date of the circular suggests these notes may have been made in relation to the design of #694s SHIMNA." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Letter. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_02050. Folder [no #]. No date (after 1909-01-09).)
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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:
§119: Work Order [For] #694s. [When wanted] 1st May. Rigging [5 pages] (1909-10-20 & 1909-10-21)." (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:] Penciled tabulated data (rating, oa, lwl, qbl, L, B, d, cube-rt(D)/wl, cube-rt(displacement), displacement, sq-rt(S), S, and others) comparing #663 [ISTALENA NY57] [65 rating in two sizes], 'Model', SHIMNA [#694s], and 'L Class' [in different sizes]. On verso of a printed card by Callender, McAuslan & Troup Co. Untitled, no further notes, undated (SHIMNA was built in the winter of 1906 / 1907.) Filed with other material from the 1910s." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Tabulated Data. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_00620. Folder [no #]. No date (1910s ???).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th Street' stationery:]
Would you please to get out a topmast for the 65's --- AURORA [#667s], ISTALENA [#663s] and WINSOME [#664s]. It has been decided to have a spare topmast in case one should carry away. Would you please let me know the cost and how long it will take to finish.
Will you please tell Mr. Hathaway that we will need a new forestaysail and a jib for AURORA. There is no immediate hurry for these as it is the intention to use them later in the season.
The boats have sailed twice, both times in hard winds. The time at the finish does not indicate how evenly they seem to be matched. I think they have got WINSOME going again. Can you give me any time as to when SHIMA [sic, i.e. #694s SHIMNA] will be ready to sail?" (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_24240. Correspondence, Folder 71. 1910-06-01.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Hanan & Son, Front, Bridge & Water Streets, Brooklyn, New York' stationery:]
The luff pole on the 'SHIMMA's'[sic, i.e. SHIMNA?] [#694s] club topsail is so limber and it bends in a breeze so far back that the club topsail will not stand. Please make another luff pole for her about one inch bigger in diameter than the old one. Of course this extra size would only be needed from about two feet below the Scotchman to about five feet above it. 'SHIMMA' does not seem to be sailing as fast as she should, and I am rather disappointed in her performances. She seems to be able to get away from AVENGER [#666s] a little running before it with a spinnacker or on a broad reach, but close hauled or to windward 'AVENGER' seems to be just as fast as 'SHIMMA'.
Was 'SHIMMA's' designed waterline only 52.33? It seems to me that she is above hear lines at the present time, and I thought possibly she would be to windward faster, if more lead was added to her keel. Even with her extra beam, she does not seem to be quite as stiff as [p. 2] 'AVENGER', and when a puff strikes her, she rolls down, and does not seem to have any stopping place. SHIMMA' only rates 54.60, but has to give 'AVENGER' time allowance from the top of the 55 foot class. Would you advise lengthening the topmast enough to bring her rating up to the 55 feet, and if so how much could it be lengthened?
We have had 'SHIMMA' hauled out twice, but as the putty keeps squeezing out of the seams, she has not yet had, what I call, a good smooth racing bottom, and I noticed yesterday that the seams were squeezing out l/8 of an inch in many places, and the paint on her bottom seems to foul quickly.
As we are having some new sails made, I would like to get your answer in regard to lengthening the topmast as soon as possible, also any other information you could give that you think would improve her speed.
Yours very truly, ...
P.S. --- 'AVENGER' now rates 53.40. We allow her 4.32 seconds per mile. Ship luff pole to Larchmont, N.Y." (Source: Hanan, A.G. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22930. Correspondence, Folder 67, formerly 135. 1910-07-05.)
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"[Item Description:] glad to hear you have another big schooner to build [#706s ELENA], but almost feel sorry that [#657s] QUEEN & [#692s] WESTWARD will both be candidates for the junk heap, should have thought that [Morton] Plant would have built her to Lloyds so that if he wanted to he could have taken the board out & raced her abroad later on, hear you took back [#694s] SHIMNA, think George F. Baker Jr might buy her if someone went to see him, but dont mention my name" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_42790. Correspondence, Folder 91, formerly 127. 1910-12-09.)
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"[Item Description:] saw in the paper you had been in Bermuda, will try to get to launch of [#706s ELENA], racing here is dead, #667s AURORA, #664s WINSOME & #663s ISTALENA all laid up, nothing in sight except P boats, have tried to get someone interested in #694s SHIMNA, but everyone is so hard up that there is nothing doing" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_42860. Correspondence, Folder 92, formerly 127. 1911-04-12.)
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"[Item Description:] #663s ISTALENA for Pynchon, #664s WINSOME for Lippit and #667s AURORA, owners are beginning to discuss new class of big boats if existing ones can be sold, new ones need to be fast, able to be handled and cost not more in operation than current ones, do away with current breaking of topmasts, please advise even if you recommend smaller boats, four new boats are possible, NGH reply on verso: depends on what you want, younger people with smaller boats concentrated on racing, older people with larger people, exagerrations developed in the P-class [a reference to #709s JOYANT et al] are not at all attractive to me and I would be sorry to have such craft repeated in larger classes and hope rules will be modified accordingly, current large P-boats with long overhangs and short keels cannot be good sea boats and it will be very hard to steer them in a sea, #666s AVENGER and #694s SHIMNA are very perfect models but could be outbuilt to give more speed, hollow wooden masts better than steel masts unless in very large craft, topmast being liable to accidents should be separate, PS: ISTALENA has shrunk but very little but I think it would be well to put her afloat very soon" (Source: Pynchon, George M. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_23990. Correspondence, Folder 70. 1911-06-06.)
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"[Item Description:] English vs Universal rule, need your advice re #709s JOYANT and #708s CORINTHIAN to prevent extreme changes to measurement rule, racing between #706s ELENA and #692s WESTWARD, #657s IROLITA ex-QUEEN quite as fast, Baker and Dodge consider building in #666s AVENGER and #694s SHIMNA class, incl. NGH reply: International Rule inferior to Universal Rule because too many measurements are taken, thus restricting design and because it leads to yachts to as well suited to general yachting purposes, JOYANT and CORINTHIAN show how well our rule works (fine showing of JOYANT due to good handling), alternative rating formulae, WESTWARD vs ELENA vs QUEEN, SHIMNA has not been beaten yet and it will be hard to do so" (Source: Cormack, George A. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_24300. Correspondence, Folder 71. 1911-08-26.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table titled 'Comparison of 55 Rating' and listing data for o.a., w.l., q.b.l., L, B, d and four rating-related terms for SHIMNA [#694s], 'Proposed (1)', 'Proposed (2)', 'Proposed (3)', and '65 Rating ISTALENA [#663s]'. (This is probably for #191109es Unbuilt 15mR Boat which NGH started to design in September 1911.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01330. Folder [no #]. No date (1911-09 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Re new class of boats [#191109es Unbuilt 15mR?] for next season: Mr. Baker has shown me the specifications of the new boats and I sincerely hope the new class will go through succcessfully. I am sorry that I could not join them, as I am above all things, a racing man and would like to be in a class of that sort, which I am sure will last for a number of years. The boats, however, are too small for my purposes and perhaps it would be just as well for the sport, to keep our present [New York 57] class intact, if possible, and thus have both classes racing next year, which with the big schooners, would make the most active yachting year the New York Yacht Club has ever known.
I am glad you got the business and wish you all success with it.
Are the new boats to be exactly like [#694s] SHIMNA?
I am sorry you had so much trouble in hauling out 'ISTALENA' [#663s]. I should think it would pay you to do a little dredging down in the cove, and with a little heavier cradle. I have been with you now for so many years that I do not like to go elsewhere." (Source: Pynchon, George M. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_27980. Subject Files, Folder 11. 1911-09-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§4: Work Order [For] #694s. [When wanted] 1 May. Rigging [3 pages] (1909-10-22)
§7: Work Order [For] #692s, #694s and stock. [When wanted] Soon as possible. Manila rope (1909-11-04)
§8: Work Order [For] #692s, #694s and stock. [When wanted] Soon as possible. Roebling plow wire rope (1909-11-08)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_04730. Folder [no #]. 1909-10 to 1914-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] As lately there has been talk about changing the rule for rating measurement for yachts and, if changed, to make it a 'sail area rule', I have tabulated some of the data on file with the Race Committee and enclose a copy thinking that it might be of interest. [NP] The tabulation shows the relationship between RM and the square root of sail area, as well as between racing length and the cube root of displacement. From the tabulated figures it would seem that rating measurement might be determined directly from the square root of sail area, as shown in column headed 'X', which is about 0.85 for sloops and 0.78 for schooners, provided a consistent relationship was maintained between L (see column Y) and also between the square root of sail area divided by the cube root of displacement (see column Z). [NP] As displacement is an element troublesome to determine, it would seem as if it might be possible to use Coefficient times (LWL x beam x draft), in place of displacement. She Coefficient is shown in the column headed 'Coef.' which is approximately 0.16 for sloops and 0.18 for schooners. [NP] The product of dividing the square root of sail area by the cube root of displacement is shown in column '2', and the result is approximately 5.3. [NP] It would seem from a study of these figures that a simplified rule might be obtained.
[Incl. blueprint table titled 'Relation between R.M. and sq-rt(S.A.) & L, also between sq-rt(S.A.) & cube-rt(D) in Racing Formula for Rating Measurement for Sloops New York Yacht Club. September 1919. H. de B. Parsons, 22 Williams Street, New York.' and providing comparative data for N.Y.Y.C 30 (New York 30 Class), #709s JOYANT, ALEDA, NAHMA, JOSEPHINE, ALICE, DORELLO, #685s KALINGA (ex-ADVENTURESS), MEDORA, DORELLO II, N.Y.Y.C 40 (New York 40 Class), N.Y.Y.C 50 [New York 50 Class), #666s AVENGER, #694s SHIMNA, #625s DORIS, N.Y.Y.C 65 (New York 65 Class).]
[Incl. blueprint table titled 'Relation between R.M. and sq-rt(S.A.) & L, also between sq-rt(S.A.) & cube-rt(D) in Racing Formula for Rating Measurement for Schooners New York Yacht Club. September 1919. H. de B. Parsons, 22 Williams Street, New York.' and providing comparative data for Sound Schooner Class, VENONA, MILADI, SIMITAR, AMORILLA, #698s QUEEN MAB (ex-VAGRANT I), TIMANDRA, FLYING CLOUD, RADIANT, #663s IROLITA (ex-ISATLENA), TAORMINA, KATRINA, PRINCESS, IRIS, MURIEL, #719s VAGRANT, #772s MARIETTE, SAVARONA, ARIEL, SEA FOX, ENDYMION, #435s CORONA (ex-COLONIA), INVADER, ENCHANTRESS, #706s ELENA).]
[Incl. envelope postmarked Oct 2 (1919) and labeled in pencil by NGH 'Letter from H. deB Parsons about sailarea rule'.]
[Incl NGH reply:] Your very interesting letter of 2nd inst came while I was away on a little cruise, and since my return I have been so very busy that I have not found time to make a study of the tables you inclosed.
There are some good reasons for using sail area as a foundation for rating and I have been much interested in the scheme for several years, and, in fact, spent considerable time in the winter of 1914-15 in making a thorough study of the subject and formulating rules and restrictions necessary with using the sail area rating.
Your study considers existing racing yachts which, with only few exceptions were built since the present measurement rule went into effect. In my studies I also condiered the possible modifications in form and proportions that would arise under the sailarea rating.
To prevent abnormal and unwholesome types being constructed, I found it absolutely necessary to make restrictions or limitations in a number of elements, to wit over all length, and cube root of displacement, in relation to square root of sailarea, freeboard in relation to mean length ((oa+l2)/2), draft up water in relation to square root of sail area but modified in larger sizes for conveniences[?] of navigation.
So by[blank?] in safeguarding the sailarea rating I found it was necessary to take practically the same number of measurements as we do now. Therefore the gain in making a change from our present formula (C * ((L*sq-rt(S) / cube-rt(D)) to (K * sq-rt(S) is a doubtful one.
The problem of getting the most speed with least driving power or crew, would be an interesting one, but if it becomes necessary to enact restrictions & limitations to keep yachts in wholesome form you are really driving designers to work to stereotyped proportions.
If a few slight changes were made in our present [Universal] measurement rules and our present formula (C * ((L*sq-rt(S) / cube-rt(D))used without any limitations it would be good enough for universal adoption and without time limit as it has already been well tried out." (Source: Parsons, Harry DeBerkeley (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72930. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F05, formerly MRDE15. 1919-10-02.)
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"[Item Description:] Brokerage listing (File No. 1031) for #694s SHIMNA. Dimensions, particulars (Rig: M-Class Sloop, Location: Lawley, Price: $7000). With photo carrying a Marconi rig and sail no. M 18." (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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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #694s Shimna [Shima, Shimma] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Shimna (HMCo-made index card)
• Shimna (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: Shimna
Type: Cutter
Length: 53'
Owner: Plant, M. F.

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

• Shimna
• 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: Shimna
Type: 53' cutter
Owner: Morton F. Plant
Year: 1910
Row No.: 625

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: 5
Year: 1909
E/P/S: S
No.: 0694
Name: Shimna.
LW: 53'
B: 14' 5"
D: 9' 5"
Rig: Cutter
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: 21500.00
Last Name: Plant
First Name: M. F.

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 L." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 7, 2009.)

"LWL = 53ft as per Construction Record and 52.33 as per penciled note by N.G.H. on Letter by A. G. Hanan to N. G. Herreshoff, dated July 5, 1910 in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 12, 2019.)

"Built in 231 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $93/day, 337 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area 3745.7sqft.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Penciled note by N.G.H. on Letter by A. G. Hanan to N. G. Herreshoff, dated July 5, 1910. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"[Displacement 1195cuft = 76480lbs.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Penciled note (probably made in October 1909 when SHIMNA was designed) on pantograph hull sections taken off the original model in January 1907. 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.