HMCo #712s Spartan

"[1912-10-21] Mon 21: Went to NY by train to see H.S. Vanderbilt. ...
[1912-10-22] Tue 22: Meeting of 50 footers occurs at noon. Returned home in PM.
[1912-11-13] Wed 13: Set up frames for #712 [Spartan].
[1912-11-18] Mon 18: Began planking #712 [Spartan], also #718 [Alerion III] for self.
[1912-11-22] Fri 22: Set lead mould for 719 [Vagrant II] on cradle. Ran lead for #712 [Spartan].
[1912-12-05] Thu 5: #712 [Spartan] planking all on. ... Cast lead for #718 [Alerion III] (2450 lbs.)
[1912-12-09] Mon 9: Turned over #712 [Spartan].
[1912-12-20] Fri 20: Finished laying deck of #712 [Spartan]. Cast lead for #713 [NY50 Iroquois II].
[1912-12-30] Mon 30: Violent S rain storm in PM. ... Launched & hauled out at cove #712 [Spartan]. ...
[1913-05-15] Thu 15: Eight of the 50 footers have been delivered and [have] left.
[1913-08-08] Fri 8: Fine. Leave [at] 8:45 ... & go out to see Kings Cup race. Won by [NY50] Spartan [#712s]. ...
[1913-08-23] Sat 23: Fresh SSW [wind]. Start at 11 for cruise to eastward. Go down Bay in company of Roamer [#215p] & Dianthus [#289p]. See start of race of 50 footers, then outside. Rough sea. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1912 to 1913. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Sept[ember] 24 1912.
Nos. 711 - 712 - 713 714 - 715 - 716 - 717 [#711s Ventura, #712s Spartan, #713s Iroquois II, #714s Pleione, #715s Grayling, #716s Samuri, #717s Barbara (and #720s Acushla, #721s Carolina II)].
50ft w.l. Class N.Y.Y.C.
Frame spaces 18".
Sheer height given is to under side of deck. Deck 1 3/4".
In making moulds deduct
for planking 1 3/4"
for timbers at head 2 1/2" increasing 5/64" per foot for full length
[Total] 4 1/4"
Keel to lay on top of lead, and 5 3/8" with rabbate 1 1/2" above bottom." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Handwritten (in ink) notes in Offset Booklet HH.4.179.] September 24, 1912. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"In the fall of 1912, we had orders for the noted New York Yacht Club Fifty Foot Class ..." (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. 72.)

"... the most important work of the Herreshoff Company for 1913 was the one-design class of New York Yacht Club Fifties for there were nine of this one-design class built that winter, which seems strange these days when a yacht of the same overall length recently built cost over two hundred thousand dollars. Although the Fifties were of about the best material and workmanship that ever went into yachts of their size, they were so efficiently built that it is said they only cost approximately seventeen thousand dollars apiece in 1913. The general dimensions of these Fifties were: L.O.A., seventy-two feet; L.W.L., fifty feet; beam, fourteen feet six inches; draft, nine feet nine inches. ...
The Fifties were raced very hotly the first two years but had few protests and no serious collisions. The author raced on 'Barbara' many races the first two years and can say that under their original rig they were fine, comfortable racing yachts when they had a crew of four or more professionals, but after World War I they were too expensive to run even if good crews had been available so several were changed to yawls or schooners, or leg-o'-mutton sloops. However, the Astor Cup for sloops has been won by one or another of them about nine times, ..." (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. 283-284.)

"The New York Yacht Club Fifties came out in 1913, and perhaps this was the largest class of sizeable one-design yachts the world has ever seen. There were nine of them with the dimensions of 72' LOA; 50' LWL; 14.5' beam; 9.75' draft. ... The Fifties raced very hotly the first few years and made some very close starts, and as I remember it there were few protests and no serious collisions. I raced on the one named Barbara [#717s] many times; she was handled by Bob Emmons who had owned Avenger and was to be the manager of the next cup defender Resolute. One or another of the Fifties won the Astor Cup nine times under a sloop rig, and, as Pleione [#714s] had won four Astor Cups under a schooner rig, this makes by far the greatest number of times these cups were won by vessels of the same model. In my opinion the Fifties were about the last high-grade, reasonably-priced yachts built. They were 72' OA, and of late years there have been several yachts built with this same length on deck that cost fifteen times as much while the cost of clothes, food and real estate has only increased some three times. Some of the reasons for this great difference in cost of yachts now and in the year the Fifties were built (and that year happened to be the year the income tax started) are as follows:
1. The Fifties were designed and built completely --- sails, spars, rigging, hull, and so forth, by one concern. The only things I can think of now that the builders did not make were the stoves, water-closets, and the larger rigging blocks.
2. Good plant management is the principal way of decreasing the cost of building yachts and, while this can only be learned by experience and the use of common sense, it is a fact that in those days there were two or three yacht yards that were well managed. One of the simple things of good management was to have all of the materials on hand before they were needed, and in those days the yacht yards carried an inventory of materials at least ten times as large as at present. This often allowed them to buy at considerable reduction in price.
3. The spirit, or enthusiasm and pride, of the workmen were important factors in building yachts quickly and well, and I do not know how this was arranged but, I do know that the workers were almost all paid different wages according to their accomplishments.
At present, almost all yachts are designed by one concern and assembled by another. This makes for never-ending complication and, as the designing concern is paid its commission based on the cost of the yacht, they seem to do little nowadays to simplify the construction. I have used the word 'assemble' to describe what was once called 'building a yacht' for today we even hear of yachts' keels being cast hundreds of miles away instead of the mold being set up on the stocks where the yacht is to be built, while the other parts of the yacht may be made by ten or more distant concerns. In the meantime, the art of yacht building, which has taken thousands of years to develop, is lost, and materials such as laminated wood and plastics are substituted in an effort to get around this lack of know-how, but the weight and cost of these materials is so much more than natural wood that the result is not very satisfactory.
As for the workers, they are paid alike and seem to try to make the job last as long as possible. Some of them who wouldn't know an adz if they stumbled over it, try pretty hard to master the new techniques and only time will tell if they will be successful. The modern worker hates all hand tools simply because he does not know how to sharpen or lubricate them, but I have known men who could swing a broad ax all day and every time the ax struck it would lop off a shaving you could cook a breakfast with. These men hewed so close to the line that to finish the job, be it straight, curved or rounded, it only took a few strokes with a well-sharpened plane whose sole was rubbed with paraffin. And that is how yachts were built in those times which is quite different from the present when workmen only want to work with materials they can finish with a power sander.
I have used all these words to try to explain why the New York Yacht Club Fifties cost only $17,000.00 while three or four modern yachts of the same length cost $250,000.00.
For crew the Fifties had a captain, two sailors and a steward but, even by their second year (and second year of the income tax) several of the owners complained about the cost of running them, and that was one of the reasons the New York Yacht Club Forties came into existence a few years later." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. An Introduction to Yachting. New York, 1963, p. 175.)

"Three [sic, i.e. two (only #711s Ventura and #712s Spartan had been launched by the time this article was published)] of the eight one design 50 foot racing boats that are to be built at the Herreshoff shops this winter for New York yachtsmen, have been launched and are at the Walker's cove yards waiting to be finished next spring. The boats are of peculiar design, having no bowsprit. They will have a single mast and topmast, but head sails will be limited because of absence of bowsprit. The boats are solidly planked with oak and are handsomely furnished in the interior in mahogany, and the work is well long before they are launched." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, January 3, 1913, p. 4.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 889:]
Spartan, sloop yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1913.
25 tons; 57 ft. x 14.5 ft. x 9.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] (consolidated) ([as] yacht) Apr. 25, 1913. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] May 14, 1913 at New York. ([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. Spartan.)

"... With the exception of Carolina [#721s], owned by Vice Commodore George Nichols of the New York Yacht Club, all the N. Y. Y. C. one-design 50-footers have changed owners within the last year. F. D. M. Strachan has sold his Harpoon [#720s ex-Acushla] to L. V. Lockwood of the N. Y. Y. C, Harry B Plant the Spartan [#712s] to Carroll B. Alker. Commodore Ralph Ellis of the Seawanhaka-Corinthian Yacht Club the Iroquois II [#713s] to Vice Commodore Paul Hammond of the same club, Frank B. Paine of Boston the Barbara [#717s] to Isaac B. Merriman of the N. Y. Y. C., the Pleione [#714s] to Kenneth F. Wood of Saylerville, R. I. and L F Crofoot of Omaha, a member of the Eastern Yacht Club, the Virginia [#716s] to Walter K. Shaw of the same club. These transfers were all made since the close of the 1923 season, while Clifford D. Mallory purchased the Grayling [#715s] from former Commodore J. P. Morgan early this year and in June former commodore Aemillus Jarvis of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club of Toronto purchased the Istalena [#711s] and had her converted to schooner rig. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes From The Week's Log." Boston Globe, December 2, 1923, p. 41.)

"The great New York fifty-footers, probably the fastest one-design sloops ever built in this country, ... have now been incorporated in what is known as Class M and will race against a new boat built at Herreshoff's for former Commodore Harold S. Vanderbilt named Prestige [#1058s], which embodies all the modern ideas that have developed in recent years for racing yachts and which is built to the limit of Class M. It will be the first meeting of the new and the old.
The fifties also have been modernized. These fine sloops, with a wealth of racing achievement behind them under the old clubtopsail rig, are now coming out under the Marconi sail plan for their supreme test against Prestige. ...
... Clinton H. Crane ... a naval architect who [is] the owner and the helmsman of one of the fifties ... [#715s Ibis ex-Grayling] ... analyzed the situation as follows:
'Racing in the M class in the coming Summer [of 1927] is a natural development from the previous racing in the popular New York Fifties. The class consisted originally of nine boats built by Herreshoff in 1913. Although of one design, these boats were built to the limits of the universal rule in displacement, quarter-beam length. &c, and were, in Herreshoff's judgment, the fastest model under the rule for a boat of that size, in fact, they turned out so well that the cup defender Resolute [#725s] was subsequently developed from their model.
'In the Summer of 1926 the class was pretty well scattered --- three of them converted into schooners [#711s Venture ex-Istalena and #714s Pleione ] or yawls [#720s Acushla], one [#721s Carolina] into an out-and-out Marconi rating (the same as the fifties did as cutters), and only one, Carolina, racing during the New York Yacht Club cruise. Efforts to revive the class and modernize the rig have been made from time to time. It was suggested that it might be interesting to assemble as many of the fifties as possible, to rig them with a modern Marconi rig and select a rating which would be suitable. The M, or 46-foot class, seemed a very logical class to choose.
'The ball was started rolling by Commodore Nichols and myself agreeing to rerig our fifties [#721s Carolina II and #715s Ibis ex-Grayling] to rate 46 feet and to invite former Commodore Vanderbilt to build a new boat [#1058s Prestige], also to rate 46 feet. Since then Charles L. Harding is rerigging Iroquois [#713s] and Wilmer Hanan is rerigging Spartan [#712s].
Fifties Have Great Record.
'The speed of the fifties is well known, but it is perhaps not realized by the yachting public how fast this one-design class has proved when raced under time allowance against the other racing yachts of the Eastern seaboard. The fifties came out in 1913 and since that date have won every Astor Cup for sloops but one and five out of nine races for the King's Cup where schooners also competed, but since the fifties came out no other sloop has won the King's Cup. With a modernized rig their admirers still feel they will make a good showing even against the new M.
'The new boat being designed for Mr. Vanderbilt by Starling Burgess should do much to show whether or not the developments in the R class have taught naval architects something which can be applied to larger yachts and whether or not as a result of this experiment the model of the fifties is entirely outdated. It will be the first open-class racing as distinct from one-design racing in sloops eligible for the King's Cup that has taken place in many years.
'It seems to me that if the ten-meter class invites some one to build an out and out ten-meter without restrictions other than those imposed by the international rule a similar most interesting experiment might be had in that class." (Source: Lawrence, Seabury. "Fifties Risk Their Prestige Against New Yacht Prestige. Famous Old New York Class to Stand or Fall Next Week in Test With Vanderbilt Craft, Built at Herreshoff's, incorporating Latest Ideas Developed in Racing Yachts." New York Times, June 24, 1927, p. 17.)

"... Next in size and in a way more important [than #1050s Katoura] is the new Prestige, by the same designers [Burgess, Rigg & Morgan] and builder [Herreshoff] for Harold S. Vanderbilt; rating at the top of the 45-foot class. To meet her, four of the old 50-foot one-design class --- Ibis [#715s ex-Grayling], Carolina [#721s], Chiora [#713s ex-Iroquois II] and Spartan [#712s] --- originally rating at 48.4 feet, were refitted with the leg o'-mutton rig and cut down to 45-foot rating, this making a very fine class. The coming season is likely to see one or two new yachts in the class, with others of the old 50-footers. ..." (Source: Stephens, W. P. "Yachting Showed Slow Recovery From World War." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 25, 1927, p. C5.)

"... Clinton H. Crane's Ibis [#715s ex-Grayling], will be out, probably under the charter of Hendon Chubb, as her present owner will be engaged in the preparations for the defense of the Seawanhaka International Challenge Trophy. The Spartan [#712s] is still owned by by Wilmer Hanan and with the revival of the class it is hard to believe that he will not race. ..." (Source: Anon. [Title?] Rudder, 1928, vol. 44, [p. 89?].)

"... Three of the 'Fifties,' built by Herreshoff in 1913, are coming out with new jib-headed rigs and auxiliary motors to sail as a one-design class in the Y.R.A. championship events. The boats are Ibis [#715s ex-Grayling], recently bought by Carroll B. Alker from Clinton H. Crane; Barbara [#717s], Henry G. Taylor; and Spartan [#712s], Herbert Hanan. Ibis has been out of commission for several years but Spartan and Barbara raced either in the "M" or handicap classes on the Sound last summer under Marconi rigs that had displaced their old gaff-headed sail plans. ..." (Anon. [Title?] Yachting, 1936, vol. 59-60, [p. 129?].)

"ROSLYN, L. I., Feb. 6 [1952] --- In a placid creek just behind the Old Mill on Main Street here is a buoyant colony of nine families who have solved the housing problem in a romantic way.
These hardy commuters, with their wives, dogs and cats, are among many boatmen in the metropolitan area who live on their craft the year 'round. In the winter, the boats here are tied up alongside the sagging old docks lining the Roslyn Slip.
... There are four sailboats among the immobile fleet: the forty-three-foot ketch Capella, Spartan[#712s], a long, lean Herreshoff New York Fifty converted to a yawl; Ibis [#715s], a sister ship now dismasted, and Rigadoon, a small schooner.
... George W. Davis, an engineer, and his wife, Marguerite, owners of Spartan, have lived on various boats, for ten years and outrank the rest in experience. Since the seventy-two-foot racer has ten bunks, Mr. Davis takes all his neighbors for week-end cruises in summer. ...
[Illustration:] Mr. and Mrs. George W. Davis in the galley of the cramped Quarters aboard the Spartan." (Source: Freeman, Ira Henry. "A Colony That Lives on Boats in a Creek Off Main Street in Roslyn, L. I." New York Times, February 7, 1952, p. 29.)

"When I purchased the yawl rigged former New York 50 Spartan several years ago she automatically became our year 'round home. This boat was a wonderful sailer and although we must of necessity have heat in order to live aboard during the winter, we were determined to do nothing which would alter her sailing qualities or, so far as possible, her accommodations to to obtain it.
Having lived aboard for many years, we had at least a nodding acquaintance with some of the problems involved in heating them. Our previous boat had been heated adequately with an oversize coal stove installed in the main cabin which held 100 pounds of coal and would heat the living quarters in the severest weather. There were several disadvantages however. Coal heat is not especially clean heat and the ash problem is severe, necessitating unremitting effort to keep the belowdecks presentable. On the Spartan there was no room for the coal stove in the main cabin had we wanted it there. Furthermore the cooking gas bottles on deck were installed in such a location that no chimney could be run through the deck from a cabin location. However aside from these prolems we had decided to try oil heat as it was bound to be less dirty and ashes would be eliminated.
Looking about for oil heating apparatus adapted to boat use, I found little to my liking. I therefore set out to adapt commercially available heating equipment to our requirements. Since only hot water heat seemed to fulfill these it was apparent that the whole system was dependent on finding a boiler that would fit into the limited headroom available. After much searching I located a secondhand miniature oil fired, fire tube boiler complete with oil burner which had started life supplying steam for a pants pressing machine. While both the boiler and the burner appeared to be in poor shape the price was low enough to make it worthwhile to take a chance. I purchased the unit, loaded it into the car and started for the shipyard. The thing looked so disgraceful that I awaited nightfall before unloading it. With the aid of flashlight and lantern I stripped off the old covering, removed layers of dirt, and found..." (Source: Davis, George W. "A Practical Boat Heating Unit." The Rudder, August 1953, Vol. 69, p. 69.)

"George Davis died of a heart attack at the age of fifty, at Roslyn, N. Y. He leaves his wife Marguerite and and son Paul, who is an engineer with General Electric at present working with the Air ... His engineering training and his ability to handle tools enabled him to he of great help to many people. With his wife George lived aboard boats for many years. His last home was the fine Herreshoff yawl, the Spartan, a seventy-two footer. ..." (Source: Anon. George W. Davis The Rudder, 1954, Vol. 70 [p. 43?].)

"Spartan," 73 feet, famous Herreshoff NY 50. rebuilt 1974. $2,500 weekly for six. Including crew, fuel, gourmet food, ..." (Source: [Anon?]. [Classified Ad.] Yachting 1975, vol. 137, [p. 383?].)

"Hopeless" --- that was the way most people described the remains of the Herreshoff yawl SPARTAN's mainmast after the August 17th Opera House Cup off Nantucket.
The New York 50's spar went over the side when an intermediate shroud let go in the gusty, northwest breeze. Shattered at the lower spreaders, the 82' hollow mast was also in splinters for the topmost 10'.
All the king's horses and men not being equal to the occasion, SPARTAN's owner, Allan Pease of New Britain, Connecticut, was lucky to find Hans Zimmer of St. Lucia, West Indies, instead. Formerly a yacht builder and shipyard manager in Europe, Zimmer now owns and skippers the yacht FLICA II, a Laurent Giles 12-meter. In Newport for the summer, Zimmer had a few weeks to spare before sailing FLICA south for the charter season.
With SPARTAN hauled out at the Essex Boatworks, Zimmer set up shop in the Boat Shed, a small and neighborly yard just north of Essex, Connecticut, on the Connecticut River. With the help of 20 Spanish windlasses, daughter Brigitta, a Skilsaw, an electric plane, and some epoxy, Zimmer pieced up and scarfed in the missing lengths. The new sections are again hollow except in way of the lower spreaders.
Three weeks and some 400 board feet of Sitka spruce later, SPARTAN once again has a mast she can carry with pride." (Source: Nicholson, Peggy. "Ready to Go Again." Wooden Boat #38, January/February 1981, p. 15.)

"At 72 feet overall, the New York 50s were among the largest Herreshoff sailing hulls to be built upside down and entirely of wood construction. They were built in a kind of production line. While one hull was being planked, the previous one, turned upright, was having its interior and deck installed. This same two-boat cycle was repeated all during the winter and spring of 1912-1913, until the last of the nine New York 50s slid overboard from the North Construction Shop's launching ways.
Like all but the smallest Herreshoff-built wood-hulled racing yachts, the New York 50s were double-planked and diagonally strapped with metal, which gave them unusual strength for their weight. ..." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 103.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] HH.5.02148 (029-054). Blueprint preliminary general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile titled 'Sloop. WL about 50ft. Scale 3/8in = 1ft. Sept[ember] 16 - 1912'. Marked in pencil 'Standard Arrangement for 50ft Class [New York 50 class: #711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s and #721s]'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0143. WRDT08, Folder 12, formerly MRDE02. 1912-09-16.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with weight calculations titled '50 w.l. Sloops. Measured at 51.5[t] LWL (LWL is 2 1/2 inches above the designed w.l. of 50!). Sept 22, 1912. From finished model. Nos. 711-12-13-14-15-16-17-20&21 [#711s VENTURA, #712s SPARTAN, #713s IROQUOIS II, #714s PLEIONE, #715s GRAYLING, #716s SAMURI, #717s BARBARA, #720s ACUSHLA, #721s CAROLINA II]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_00890. Folder [no #]. 1912-09-22.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with weight calculations titled '#711 & class. 50 w.l. Sloops. Referred to designed w.l. of 50ft. Scale 1/2in. From finished model. Nos. 711-12-13-14-15-16-17 [#711s VENTURA, #712s SPARTAN, #713s IROQUOIS II, #714s PLEIONE, #715s GRAYLING, #716s SAMURI, #717s BARBARA, #720s ACUSHLA, #721s CAROLINA II]. Sept 22, 1912'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_00910. Folder [no #]. 1912-09-22.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections on partially very creased paper titled 'No 711 & class [#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s]. Scale 1in & 1/12in. Sept[ember] 24, 1912'. Wth calculations showing required lead of 37410lbs at .576 of 50ft w.l." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_03790. Folder [no #]. 1912-09-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint table titled 'Program - Construction No. 711 Class. 1912-1913' with a detailed building time schedule for #711s VENTURA, #712s SPARTAN, #713s IROQUOIS II, #714s PLEIONE, #715s GRAYLING, #716s SAMURI, #717s BARBARA with planned dates and durations for 'Begin Work on Keel and Foundation', 'Setup Frames and Lead Mould', 'Begin Planking and Cast Lead', 'Turn Over and Set on Lead', 'Launch', 'Begin to Rig' and 'Delivery'. Including some penciled-in dates. (Note that actual building times turned out to be substantially shorter than initially envisioned.) Undated, between September 13, 1912 when these boats were contracted for and October 14, 1912, the first date on this plan." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_03440. Folder [no #]. No date (between 1912-09-13 and 1912-10-14).)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan 76-111. Photostat construction plan with inboard profile, plan view, sections and scantlings titled '72ft overall, 50ft w.l., 14ft 6in beam, 9ft 9in br' for the NY50 class (#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Photostat Construction Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0164. WRDT08, Folder 15, formerly MRDE02. 1913-04-21.)
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"[Item Description:] thanks for your letter, would prefer a small boat [these will be #723s DEFENDER and #724s COLUMBIA] either with no dead weight & with a good deal of initial stability or if we have to have the ballast, then air tanks, not with bulkheads, think the small boat you speak of with a small deck over forward would work out all right, then if you give her a small mainsail & with a jib on a traveller, they would have a good little craft & as they both can swim very well, they could not come to much harm, George Cormack said he would see you tomorrow morning & talk it over with you, [Edmund] Randolph seems to think that the wire serving that has been put on his [#712s SPARTAN] mast will hold, maybe it will but I doubt it." (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_43140. Correspondence, Folder 93, formerly 127. 1913-08-01.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with pinpricks and radials titled '711 Class [#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s]. 50 footers. Oct[ober] 2 1913'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0392. WRDT04, Folder 34, formerly MRDE08. 1913-10-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Columbia University in the City of New York. Department of Physics' stationery:]
During the past winter I have been making some experiments to determine the best method of taking off the lines of the yachts which will compete in the America's Cup Matches this coming summer. Through Mr. Cormack I obtained permission to use the fifty-footer SPARTAN [#712s]. He is very anxious now to have you compare the results which we obtained with your drawings. I am therefore sending you blue prints showing the nine transverse sections of the submerged part of the yacht. The positions of these sections relative to the bow are shown on the rough profile sketch accompanying this. Their distances from the bow were as follows:
Sections. Distance from bow - feet. Area of half sections - square feet.
[tabulated data] [p. 2] The sections which I have marked I and XI are, of course, at the water line points and have zero areas. Section I comes thirteen feet and Section XI 63.50 feet from the bow. The areas of these sections as I found them are as given above.
Applying Simpson's rule, these give a displacement of about 1170 cubic feet, smaller than the figure 1204 which you sent me last summer.
I should be very glad to learn how these lines will compare with your drawings as it is rather important to determine the reliability of our method. You may be interested to know that our measurements were made with a surveying transit which seems to give results of the very nighest accuracy. Some error may have arisen in the case of this Fifty-footer owing to the fact that the line of the stem was twisted slightly to starboard so that it was a little difficult to determine the exact centre of the yacht and we were unable owing to its position to make measurements on both sides.
I am hoping to be able to come down to Bristol in about two weeks and talk these matters over with you in person. Mr. Cormack is still very much interested in the method which you proposed for taking off these lines and I personally am very anxious for new ideas.
Very sincerely yours, ... [See 2004.0001.0083 and 2004.0001.0084, blueprint sections and profile of SPARTAN that were sent with this.]" (Source: Webb, Harold C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_67570. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F01, formerly MRDE15. 1914-04-02.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint sections titled in pencil 'SPARTAN [#712s] H. W. Webb'. See letter about experiments taking lines off yachts competing in upcoming America's Cup matches dated April 2, 1914 sent by Harold W. Webb which references this and was sent wtih this." (Source: Webb, Harold W. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0083. WRDT08, Folder 9, formerly MRDE15. No date (1914-04-02).)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint profile titled in pencil 'SPARTAN [#712s] H. W. Webb'. See letter about experiments taking lines off yachts competing in upcoming America's Cup matches dated April 2, 1914 sent by Harold W. Webb which references this and was sent wtih this." (Source: Webb, Harold W. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0084. WRDT08, Folder 9, formerly MRDE15. No date (1914-04-02).)
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"[Item Description:] have sent order for new mast for #712s SPARTAN as Mr. Whitney did not let me have the one made for #717s BARBARA, hope you will be able to get it out by May 20" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_43220. Correspondence, Folder 93, formerly 127. 1914-04-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Last page of a letter signed by Webb and suggesting to leave the details of the design to NGH and measuring a fifty-footer [#712s SPARTAN?]." (Source: Webb, Harold C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_67680. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F01, formerly MRDE15. No date (1914-05 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Webb's error in calulating #712s SPARTAN's measurement; pantograph" (Source: Webb, Harold C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_67670. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F01, formerly MRDE15. 1914-05-13.)
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"[Item Description:] am sending you one of the new course protractors for [#288p] HELIANTHUS, I tried it out on the cruise on the [#712s] SPARTAN and found it really very satisfactory, how would a boat of the type of the 29 footer [Newport 29] I saw in Bristol the other day work out at 38-foot W.L.?" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_43250. Correspondence, Folder 93, formerly 127. 1914-08-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§51: Work Order [For] #711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s. [When wanted] Soon. Plow steel wire (1912-10-05)." (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.)
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

"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule-related table on two pages with dimensions LOA, LWL, overhang fore & aft, mean length, freeboard fore & center & aft, breadth deck & w.l., draft, cube-root (displacement), 1st mast mean length, 1st to 2nd mast, J, P1, H1, B1, G1, V1, T1, P2, P2a, H2, B2, Q2, Y2,T2, sail area, sqrt(SA), sqrt(SA - NYYC Rule) for #605s RELIANCE, #499s COLUMBIA, #725s RESOLUTE, #529s MINEOLA, #663s ISTALENA, #666s AVENGER, New York 50s (#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s), #411s GLORIANA, #685s ADVENTURESS, #617s COCK ROBIN II, #586s NELLIE, #709s JOYANT, #708s CORINTHIAN, #670s SENECA, Bar Harbor 31s (#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s), New York 30s (#626s, #627s, #628s, #629s, #630s, #631s, #632s, #633s, #635s, #636s, #637s, #638s, #639s, #640s, #642s, #643s, #647s, #648s), Newport 29s (#727s, #728s, #737s), #691s MORE JOY, #446s ALERION II, Buzzards Bay 550s (#733s, #734s, #736s, #738s, #741s), #617s COCK ROBIN II, #493s JILT, #732s SADIE, #460s KILDEE, Buzzards Bay 15s (#503s Class), Buzzards Bay 12 1/2s (#744s Class), #703s FLYING CLOUD, #669s ELEANOR, #722s KATOURA, #692s WESTWARD, #657s QUEEN, #719s VAGRANT II, #698s VAGRANT, #663s ISTALENA, and #743s HASWELL. With penciled note 'Measurements in ft & inches. Results in ft & decimals'. Undated (the youngest boat on this list is from 1914/1915 and this was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_00100. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 / 1915 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan 74-75. Blueprint detail plan titled 'Quick Working Shackles for Blocks Hal & Double Sheets. Job 1-336. Mentioned vessels include: #711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s, #773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s, #891s, #955s, and #983s." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (Newman, H.F.) (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0184. WRDT08, Folder 17, formerly MRDE06. 1923-03-12.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I thank you for yours of the 5th inst. regarding the rig for the '50's' [and thus for #721s CAROLINA].
One-design racing in this Class seems to be at a low ebb. Mallory [owner of #715s MYSTIC ex-GRAYLING] plans to stick 8 feet onto his present mast and to leave the fore triangle as at present, thereby, I should think, producing a result that is neither one thing or the other. Hanan, to whom expense means nothing, has proposed leaving 'SPARTAN' [#712s] as she is, but wants permission to carry seven paid hands. Paul Hammond still owns 'Iroquois' [#713s], and I believe hopes to sell her, but is holding her at a very high price. Shaw [owner of #716s ANDIAMO ex-SAMURI], I understand, has ordered from someone in Boston a mast some 10 feet longer than my Marconi. Whether or not he has ordered the rest of the rig, I do not know, but he is not a racing man and what he does or does not do is of little importance to the Class. Hanan, who has been cruising in the West Indies, is expected home in a few days when I hope to see him and make some arrangement for the coming Summer. [incl. envelope]" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_30220. Subject Files, Folder 27, formerly 10-15. 1925-03-09.)
① ② ③

"[Item Transcription:] Thank you very much for yours of the 13th inst. regarding 'CAROLINA' [#721s].
Her present leg-o'mutton rig with the curved mast is now barred by the rules so that I cannot use it. My thought in regard to the proposed changes was that it would produce a rig of considerably smaller actual area than the present one. Webb figured rating at 45.5 as against 48.4 with present rig. This worked out would amount to 9 seconds per mile in favor of the reduced rig.
Owing to the break-up of the [NY50] Class, it would be necessary to sail 'CAROLINA' at her rating on the cruise, and on the Sound would probably be required to sail against 'SPARTAN' [#712s] --- my sole competitor --- boat for boat in order to test the relative efficiency of the two rigs, 'SPARTAN' probably retaining her present one. She had a lot of new sails last season and is in first class shape, while my light sails except for the two spinnakers are about gone.
I figure that even with the change, my present leg-o'mutton mainsail might be cut over to answer for what little racing there will be. It would be somewhat small, but otherwise as good as any other sail I would be likely to get. If you think the experiment would be of any value, will try to arrange it with [SPARTAN's owner] Hanan; otherwise will sail with present rig." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_30050. Subject Files, Folder 27, formerly 10-15. 1925-04-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] On stationery from 'The New Colonial [Hotel in] Nassau Bahamas': much disappointed not to be with you today but this port is much wrought up over small pox in Florida & is strictly quaratined so I plan to return to N.Y. direct via first steamer probably on Tuesday.
Starling [Burgess] has designed a new rig for Mr. [Walter K.] Shaw for [#716s] ANDIAMO [ex-SAMURI] about as follows: [dimensioned sketch of marconi rigged NY50]. Mr Shaw asked Mr. Hanan [owner or #712s SPARTAN] & me [owner of #721s CAROLINA] to join him. I told Mr. Hanan I planned to sail CAROLINA with her 1919 rig with only moderate changes. He asked if I would assume rating so as to sail him even which I said I would not. He asked me to get you to design him a new rig for SPARTAN leaving[?] the time scale in mind. I gave him your address & told him to write you himself. What he wanted to do was to prevent my getting a better rig from you than himself. It looks as if the [New York] 50's would not be rigged one design this summer but would race every one for himself. Starling's rig will cost about $7,500 which is more money than I have to spend. I hope to race with 4 paid hands a loose footed jib & no jib topsail. Butler [Duncan] thinks the idea no good against Starling's rig. Can it be done? Have written this in five minutes as mail is closing on NASSAUVIAN [the 160ft LOA mailboat carrying mail between Nassau and Miami]." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_29920. Subject Files, Folder 26, formerly 10-15. 1926-01-23.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] I am glad to hear from George Cormack this morning that he highly approves the details regarding your prize [the Herreshoff Medal] as you have worked them out, and that it will be presented to the Club at the May meeting. I feel sure it will be received with great enthusiasm.
I will mail you tonight a blue-print received from Bristol showing the outline of 'CAROLINA's' [#721s] new rig. I am a little worried about the size of the jib --- not that I anticipate any serious trouble in trimming it, but because I fear the added strain on the runners and, more particularly, their chain plates.
The sketch shows a single spreader. As we already have the double spreaders and the rigging to go with them, is it worth while to make the change? The staying plan is, of course, not worked out on this sketch. Would you sketch me out your suggestion? Aside from Mr. [Walter K.] Shaw [owner of #716s ANDIAMO ex-SAMURI], who may go on the [NYYC] cruise and sail for the important Cups, it seems doubtful whether I shall have any competition, so I am hesitating a little between this rigging and your suggestion of use of the regular mast fore triangle with a triangular mainsail. In this latter case, could a wire jack stay along the after side of the mast be set up tight enough with a turn buckle in the deck to hold the mainsail from the spreaders up? Below the spreaders, regular mast hoops or a lacing could be used. Possibly above the masthead, a few hoops could also be used, that the sail could be hooked as it is hoisted by a man aloft, in such a way that they would clear themselves as it is lowered? A scheme such as this would obviate removal of the iron work on the mast and scarring it up by screwing on a track.
I do not feel it worth while to make any very serious effort to compete with Mr. Shaw, for, while I shall doubtless feel badly at the time if he walks off with the Astor and King's Cups [Nichols and CAROLINA would win the 1926 Astor Cup for sloops], the chance of his starting for them is extremely problematical. Two years ago, you will remember, he brought out his boat for a season's racing. He was involved in a protest the second time he started, and the newspapers reported his time at the finish some seconds differently from what he had timed it himself. The difference in time did not involve any difference in position, but the two circumstances combined so annoyed him that he started in only one more race that season and, if my memory serves, dropped out of that. I very much like the man personally and admire his experiments, but what he really enjoys is sailing and making port to port passages, and he is sufficiently independent in thought not to race unless he happens to feel like it when the time comes, even though he has spent a lot of time and money in preparing to do so.
Ralph Ellis [former owner of #713s IROQUOIS II] has been playing with the idea of buying back a 50 Footer, but has telegraphed me that he will not come to any decision until his arrival from California the latter part of May, and probably will not do so.
Mr. Hanan [owner of #712s SPARTAN] has talked of coming out and may very likely do so for a short time, but is not preparing a serious racing season.
Am much interested in the new 'PLEASURE' for Mr. Mallinckrodt [#1002s AIDA], and was glad to hear from Charles [Nystrom], who was here yesterday, that you had sent him instructions about her. Mr. Mallinckrodt brought me a list of second-hand boats which he was considering, but it did not seem to me that any of them was quite satisfactory to his needs, so I persuaded him to give an order for a new one, and naturally feel much interested and, to some extent, responsible.
My kindest regards to Mrs. Herreshoff.
I hope you have arranged 'PLEASURE's' [#907s] insurance to your satisfaction. If there is anything more I can do about it, please let me know." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_30530. Subject Files, Folder 27, formerly 10-15. 1926-04-29.)
① ② ③

"[Item Description:] I was glad to get your note this morning, it looks to me as if you would have to rig CAROLINA [#721s] to suit yourself when you get home, I have not been able to get down to Bristol & the yard is so busy with VAGRANT [#719s] & RESOLUTE [#712s] that no one has time to work out the details, the enclosed cutting from the [New York] Times tells of the reception of your [Herreshoff] prize by the [N.Y.Y.] Club, you will note there was passed a resolution favoring the preparation of scantling tables, I understand this was at the instigation of several people who are considering the building of sizable racing schooners & who have a fear of being out built by ..." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_29780. Subject Files, Folder 26, formerly 10-15. 1926-05-24.)
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"[Item Transcription:] GAME COCK' [#932s] should have arrived in Bristol last night or at least some time today. I asked Charles [Nystrom] to have her hauled out immediately on arrival, and want to put her over Monday morning. I want to get the best racing bottom I can for the races off Newport on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Generally speaking, would favor simply rubbing her down and not painting, but believe she has almost no paint on her bottom. Would much appreciate it if you would look her over and give directions as to what should be done for my account.
I now hope to take the night train from New York Sunday and to arrive in Bristol Monday morning. Janie is coming with me to visit friends in Newport while I race, so we will probably have breakfast in Providence and come down shortly after. Am looking forward to seeing you.
CAROLINA's [#721s] success on the cruise under your rig has persuaded Clinton Crane, who has bought GRAYLING [#715s], Harry Maxwell and Hanan [#712s SPARTAN] to do something similar for next season, and has also, I understand, shown Harold Vanderbilt and others the advantages of the sloop rig. I hope the Yard will get some work out of this latter interest, but understand Harold has already been talking with you about it, so you doubtless know more than I do." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_29720. Subject Files, Folder 26, formerly 10-15. 1926-09-09.)
①

"[Item Description:] [on 'Eleven Thomas Street' stationery, indicating this to have come from George Nichols:] Mr. [Clinton] Crane has sent me a sketch of the [marconi] rig he designed for #715s GRAYLING, rating, staying arrangement, #721s CAROLINA II, with Crane [#715s IBIS ex-GRAYLING], Maxwell [#717s BARBARA], Hanan [#712s SPARTAN] and possibly Ralph Ellis [#713s IROQUOIS II] against me next season I shall have to be careful [incomplete, possibly not completely scanned, part of a group of documents pinned together with George Nichols to NGH letter of October 30, 1926 being the topmost letter]" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_200. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. 1926-10-30.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I hope you have had a comfortable trip down and are getting settled.
I enclose letter received from Tom [Brightman]. He wrote me that Mr. Hanan [owner of #712s SPARTAN] had inquired what rig was to be put on the 50's for the coming season, and what the rating would be. I wrote Tom that I believed 46 feet had been decided on as a rating, and that you had sketched out a couple of rigs for me. You will note from the letter that he wants to know if he may show these to Mr. Hanan. When I wrote him before, I told him I should have to get your permission before I showed them to anyone.
I assume Mr. Crane has sent Mr. Hanan copy of his sketch, as I know they have been in some correspondence; but at any rate, feel quite sure he would be willing to do so." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_16730. Correspondence, Folder 44, formerly 143. 1926-11-29.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten signed letter:] I am very glad to have your letter of the 2d [December 1926] and to know that you had such a comfortable trip and found things also comfortable in your new cottage [at Coconut Grove].
I have written Tom [Brightman] to say that if Mr. Hanan wants to order his new rig [for #712s SPARTAN] from the Herreshoff Company, he can have it made according to one of your plane.
The award of your medal is in the hands of the Flag Officers and will probably be acted upon at their meeting on the 14th of this month. I should assume that it will go to a schooner this year, and probably to either VANITIE or ADVANCE, but as each of these and also RESOLUTE [#725s] were disqualified once, it is possible that either VAGRANT [#719s VAGRANT II] or WILDFIRE [#891s] may show a better record. [The Herreshoff Medal for 1926 was awarded to VANITIE.]
Sincerely yours, ..." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_16720. Correspondence, Folder 44, formerly 143. 1926-12-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Crane ordered design as matter of information from L. Francis Herreshoff but Harold Vanderbilt was not interested possibly because great overall length, low ends and canoe stern did not appeal to him, am glad you feel it not all up with the NY50s yet, they will sail in 46ft rating class, promises to be keen class, Clinton Crane #715s IBIS ex-GRAYLING, Harding bought #713s IROQUOIS II, Hanan #712s SPARTAN, have not seen new Scantling Rules, hope you will criticize them, NYYC had nothing further to do with them, ABS took it up from that point and the Rules are theirs, incl. NGH reply: comparing ex-NY50s against coming M class and Harold Vanderbilt's new Burgess boat [#1058s PRESTIGE], my present study uses as much of your two rigs [for #721s CAROLINA II], new sails are faster than old ones even if old ones set equally well possibly because new canvas is more air tight, experiment by filling pores of old sails with some fine material could be carried out with R-boat or converted NY50s but require considerable time spent by 2 well matched crews to get clonclusions, detailed suggestions for CAROLINA, advise to dispence with quarterlifts entirely and have a single boom lift instead, if lazy lines required when cruising have eyes each side of mast only about 25ft up to hook blocks into and from there to boom, this arrangement saves a whole lot of trouble from the sailbattens, I made this change on #907s PLEASURE and found it vastly better [part of a group of documents pinned together with George Nichols to NGH letter of October 30, 1926 being the topmost letter]" (Source: Nichols, George (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_230. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. 1927-02-28.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Printed circular, two sheets of paper:] New York Yacht Club The Cruise 1927
Additional Racing Instructions Run From Huntington To New London—16Th August
In case of no wind at Huntington at the proposed time of the Start on the 16th August, the following signals will be made by the Flagship: etc. ... [Plus printed circular:] New York Yacht Club
List of yachts, measurement certificates of which were on file with the Race Committee on August 1, 1927, which will be valid for the Cruise.
SCHOONERS: C Class
C 2 OHONKARA [#827s]
C 7 VAGRANT [#719s]
C 3 VANITIE
D Class: D 25 ADVANCE
D 7 CONSTANCE
D 22 WILDFIRE [#891s]
D 5 LYNX
E Class: E 4 AURELIA
E 9 QUEEN MAB [#698s]
E16 SHAWNA
F Class: F3 CURLEW
F 4 MARY ROSE [#954s]
F 1 PLEIONE [#714s]
F 11 CACHALOT
G Class: S.C. 11 CLYTIE
S.C. 12 NADJI
S.C. 9 NOKOMIS
S.C. 6 SEVEN SEAS
G 1 WANDERER IX
G 7 MALABAR VII
H Class: H 3 FLYING FISH
H 2 ADVENTURER
KETCH: H 7 ANGELICA
SLOOPS
J Class: J 1 KATOURA [#1050s]
L.0. Class: L.0. 1 GEORGIA
L.0. 4 GREY DAWN
L.0. 5 MIRAGE
L.0. 3 NIMBUS
M Class: M 5 CAROLINA [#721s]
M 3 CHIORA [#713s ex-IROQUOIS II]
M 38 DOLLY
M 4 IBIS [#715s ex-GRAYLING]
M 1 PRESTIGE [#1058s]
M 6 SPARTAN [#712s]
10 Meter Class: 10M 9 BLAZING STAR
10M 7 BRANTA
10M 4 CYTHERA
10M 11 DRAGON
10M 8 ESQUILA
10M 6 NARCISSUS
10M 14 NAUTILUS
10M 10 RAEBURN
10M 12 REDHEAD
10M 10 REVENGE
10M 13 SHAWARA
10M 3 SYNTHETIC
10M 1 TWILIGHT
10M 5 VALENCIA
N Class: N 2 ALICE
P Class: P 1 BUTTERFLY [#586s ex-NELLIE]
50 Class: N. Y. Y. C. 52 ANDIAMO [#716s ex-SAMURI]
40 Class: N. Y. Y. C. 42 COCKATOO [#775s ex-DOLLY BOWEN]
N. Y. Y. C. 50 MARILEE [#955s]
N. Y. Y. C. 46 MISTRAL [#774s]
N. Y. Y. C. 47 PAMPERO [#781s ex-PAMPARO]
N. Y. Y. C. 45 TYPHOON [#773s ex-MAISIE]
N. Y. Y. C. 49 ROWDY* [#776s]
30 Class: N. Y. 1 ALERA [#626s]
N. Y. 7 ALICE [#632s ex-TABASCO]
N. Y. 9 AMORITA [#635s ex-ADELAIDE II]
N. Y. 15 BANZAI [#640s]
N. Y. 4 INTERLUDE [#629s ex-MAID OF MEUDON]
N. Y. 5 LENA [#630s ex-PINTAIL]
N. Y. 11 ORIOLE [#637s]
N. Y. 13 PHANTOM [#648s ex-MINX]
N. Y. 17 PHRYNE (Rig changed to jib-headed mainsail.) [#643s]
Q Class: F. I. S. 3 CHANCE [#1059s]
F. I. S. 1 CYRILLA II [#1054s]
F. I. S. 2 JUDY [#1055s]
F. I. S. 4 MAMEENA [#1060s]
YAWLS M Class: N. Y. 51 REVERY [#720s ex-ACUSHLA]
M 1 RUGOSA II [#983s]
... August 1, 1827. [Compared to the equivalent list from 1924 the number of boats has increased from 49 to 73, while the number of Herreshoff-built yachts has shrunk from 37 to 32 or 44%.] [Incl envelope from Race Committee NYYC to NGH, labeled in red 'Rating & allowance' and postmarked August 4, 1927.]" (Source: NYYC. Correspondence (circular) to Members. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_73330. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F07, formerly MRDE15. 1927-08-01.)
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"[Item Description:] Brokerage listing (File No. 1302) for #712s SPARTAN. Dimensions, particulars (Rig: New York 50 Class Sloop, Location: Lindstrom, Stamford, Conn, Price: $6500). Remark 'Marconi rigged'." (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 #712s Spartan even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Kleinhans, Lewis. "New York 40s and 50s." In: Schoettle, Edwin J. Sailing Craft. New York, 1928, p. 229-243. (3,032 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No known copyright restrictions. Class description and history. New York 50 sailing regulations.
• van der Linde, Claas. [Layered Comparison of Model and Plan to Demonstrate Shortening of New York 50 by Two Feet after the model had been made.] February 25, 2022. (747 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Claas van der Linde. Clinton Crane, in his 1952 'Yachting Memories' (p. 102) wrote 'In the New York Fifties [NGH] shortened the stern to bring them inside the amount which the new owners were willing to pay, so that they were never as good looking as they might have been.' This shortening by 24 inches can be seen by overlaying the construction plan with the model which then clearly shows the model's slender stern extending beyond the boat's plan profile. At HMCo vessel profiles for a plan were usually created by simply placing the model onto the plan and then tracing a pencil around the model's outline. It appears that the extended stern on this drawing was then simply erased --- hence the spot of lighter color at the transom. This is a layered document which allows clicking on and off overlaid transparent layers to reveal different parts of the image.
• McClave, Ed. "Bending Spartan's Frames." Wooden Boat #58, May/June 1984, p. 107-112. (1,026 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Wooden Boat Magazine. Restoration progress report. Vessel history. Very good technical description of frame bending technique and calculations.
• Anon. "Around the Yards." Wooden Boat #198, September/October 2007, p. 15-16. (263 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Wooden Boat Magazine. Restoration progress report.
• Elk, Jim. "Building Spartan's Mast." In: Herreshoff Marine Museum (Publisher). Proceedings. The Classic Yacht Symposium 2008. Bristol, R.I. 2008. (6,009 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Jim Elk / Herreshoff Marine Museum. The building of an eight-staved hollow wooden mast. Emphasis on spars for the NY50 Spartan, but much of it of general interest regarding Herreshoff wooden spars.
• Mills, Bill. "Hollow Spars for Spartan." In: Herreshoff Marine Museum (Publisher). Proceedings. The Classic Yacht Symposium 2008. Bristol, R.I. 2008. (4,887 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Bill Mills / Herreshoff Marine Museum. Detailed description of Herreshoff hollow spar making methods, together with modern approaches to replicate the historical product. Emphasis on spars for the NY50 Spartan, but much of it of general interest regarding Herreshoff wooden spars.
• McClave, Ed. "The Restoration of the HMCo 'New York Fifty' Spartan." In: Herreshoff Marine Museum (Publisher). Proceedings. The Classic Yacht Symposium 2010. Bristol, R.I. 2010, p. 149-158. (914 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Ed McClave / Herreshoff Marine Museum. Restoration progress report. Replacement wood and metal choices. Obtaining molding profiles suitable for replication from original panels. Buttress threaded hanger bolts. Flat-head fin-necked bolts. Destructive load testing for critical parts. No cast bronze in critical functions. Block making. Unavailability of reliable forged bronze shackles. Invaluable research at Herreshoff Marine Museum, Mystic Seaport Museum and Hart Nautical Collections. Restrive access to 'over-protective' museums. Moving along the R-words: Repair, Refurbishment, Reconditioning, Rebuilding, Restoration, Reconstruction, Replacement, and Reproduction.
• Bray, Maynard. "Spartan. Every Inch a Greyhound." Mendlowitz, Benjamin. "Nantucket's Opera House Cup." (Excerpt). Wooden Boat #219, March/April 2011, p. 59-67. (1,437 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Maynard Bray (text) and Benjamin Mendlowitz (photos). Restoration report.
• McClave, Ed. "Spartan. 72' Herreshoff New York Fifty. HMCo #712 (1913). Restored 1981-1988 & 2006-2011 by MP & G LLC, Mystic, Conn." Slide presentation, http://mpgboats.com/PhotoGalleries/Restoring%20Spartan/index.html, retrieved March 13, 2013. (10,048 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Ed McClave. Restoration report. Slide presentation with numerous annotated images. A 'how to restore a Herreshoff-built vessel' report.

• Spartan (HMCo-made index card)
• Spartan (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: Spartan
Type: Cutter
Length: 50'
Owner: Randolph, E.

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

• Spartan and Samuri
• 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: Spartan
Type: 50' sloop
Owner: Edmund Randolph
Year: 1913
Row No.: 643

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: Sept
Day: 13
Year: 1912
E/P/S: S
No.: 0712
Name: Spartan
LW: 50'
B: 14' 7"
D: 9' 9"
Rig: Cutter
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: 14250.00 [sic, i.e. 14520]
Notes Constr. Record: Single head rig. Hanan
Last Name: Randolph
First Name: E.

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.

"Sail number NY 6." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 29, 2009.)

"Was extensively rebuilt by MP&G and relaunched on December 4, 2009." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 6, 2009.)

"Sail number 56 in 1916 with the numeral in black and the initials N.Y.Y.C. in a semi-circle half way around the numerals and above as per the New York Herald of May 17, 1916, p. 13." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 11, 2012.)

"In 1930 Lloyd's Register listed H. W. Hanan as owner of not only Spartan, but also the NY-30 Nautilus, steam yacht Comfort ex-Enaj III (89-4ft LOA, built by HMCo in 1909), high speed launch Convenience ex-Helvetia II (49-6ft LOA, built by HMCo in 1903), and 3-masted aux. schooner Dauntless ex-Karina (200ft LOA, built in Port Richmond, S.I. in 1911)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 26, 2015.)

"Built in 108 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $134/day, 693 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Sail area 3416 sqft from untitled two-page rating-rule-related table handwritten (in ink) by N. G. Herreshoff with multiple dimensions for the most important Herreshoff-designed yachts. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDE15, Folder [no #]. Undated (the most recent boat dates 1914/1915 and the table was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 16, 2020.)

"Displacement 1169 cubic foot [= 74,816 lbs] from untitled two-page rating-rule-related table handwritten (in ink) by N. G. Herreshoff with multiple dimensions for the most important Herreshoff-designed yachts. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDE15, Folder [no #]. Undated (the most recent boat dates 1914/1915 and the table was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 16, 2020.)

"Displacement is about 74,000 lb. of which about 35,500 lb. is the lead ballast." (Source: McClave, Ed. "The Restoration of the HMCo 'New York Fifty' Spartan." In: Herreshoff Marine Museum (Publisher). Proceedings. The Classic Yacht Symposium 2010. Bristol, R.I. 2010, p. 149-158.)

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