HMCo #714s Pleione

"[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.
[1913-01-04] Sat 4: Part[ly] clear. Wind W to WNW. 41deg. 13 lbs press[ure], moderating in PM. ... began planking #714 [NY50 Pleione].
[1913-01-11] Sat 11: ... Cast lead for #714 [NY50 Pleione].
[1913-01-27] Mon 27: Began laying deck on #714 [Pleione].
[1913-02-06] Thu 6: Continued strong W to NW & cold. Launched #714 [Pleione] & hauled out at cove. ...
[1913-05-15] Thu 15: Eight of the 50 footers have been delivered and [have] left.
[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. ...
[1914-08-04] Tue 4: Overcast [with] mod[erate] N to E [wind]. Go [in #288p Helianthus] to see Astor Cup race, taking Charles, (?), Julia?, Dr. & Mrs. Lund, Adm[iral]l [John Richard] Edwards, Mary DeW[olf], Agnes & Nat. Resolute [#725s] won over Vanitie, Enchantress over Vagrant [#719s] & Plieone [sic, i.e. #714s Pleione]." (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.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF BRISTOL, R. I. July 24 1931. {1931/07/24} Dear Francis. ... The photo of "Pleione" came in good order, and I think it one of the finest yacht photos I have seen, and will do to hang up beside those of Westward. I have followed up Pleione's career as a schooner and have been very much pleased at it, and I hope she will take part in the NYYC Cruise this year." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 7: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"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.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND July 23, 1937. {1937/07/23} Dear Francis ... I even notice your fine new & comfortable cruiser for Mr. Strawbridge, did not impress you as did the old "50". For pleasure cruising I think I would prefer your new craft that has less draft, - smaller rig & less crew. - But, mind you, - I am not condemning the '50s', They appear to be popular and hold up well in racing. Your homeward trip in 'Pleione' must have been an interesting one indeed, - `though a little too exciting in the last part. I would very much prefered taking the shorter trip, - outside of the Cape than going thru the ditch, and you probably would have got in before the squall & darkness. Those jibs set flying from the end of the bowsprit, appeared to be "the thing" in racing years ago. But other than for racing - I learned years ago, - it is a [p4] (Sunday July 25.) {1937/07/25} good rule to get the things in-board and stowed away below before bad weather or darkness comes on. Certainly, - in your care the jib should have been taken in before any other sail was, ... Your affect, Father. " (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 13: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"Ans - April 19 1926 -- {1926/04/19} Tuesday Apr 13th 1926 {1926/04/13} Dear Father:-- ... A great many of the NYYC 50 footers seam to be having their rigs changed this winter. I do not approve of this but, I am dooing one my self [for Pleione #714s] for if I did not do it some one might even do a worse job of it. For the owner Mr Santry is bound to have a schooner, Under seperate cover you will find a bleuprint of it I do not at all approve of there racing freek schooners and tried to Perswade Mr Santry to adopt the rig numbered #1 which has the advantage of requiring no backstays, or sheats to tend when tacking but he wanted the sail plan #2 which of corse has more sail area for its rating. ... Yours verry effectionately Francis." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 2: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

"L. FRANCIS HERRESHOFF 20 LEE STREET MARBLEHEAD, MASS. Ans - July 24 {1931/07/24} ... Dear Father: I am sending you, under separate cover, a very nice photograph of the New York 50-footer Pleione, showing her with the staysail rig designed by myself. I don't know whether you have followed her or not, but in the last three years she has practically made a clean sweep of her class and on some of the N.Y.Y.C. cruises has generally won every cup which she competed for, often two a day -- one for her class and the other for the time allowance time for all schooners. ... Yours affectionately L Francis" (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 7: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

"September 23, 1931. {1931/09/23} Mr. N G. Herreshoff Bristol, R. I. Dear Father: ... Ex-Commodore Joseph Santry, the owner of the schooner rigged New York, 50 foot Pleione, is very anxious indeed to have a one-half model of any size of the Pleione made by you personally, and is willing to pay almost any price for the same. If you feel able to make this model this winter, I will appreciate it very much." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 7: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

"L. FRANCIS HERRESHOFF 20 LEE STREETMARBLEHEAD, MASS. July 19, 1937. {1937/07/19} Dear Father: ... Near where the Persephone was anchored was the 50-footer Pleione which [p5] L. FRANCIS HERRESHOFF 20 LEE STREETMARBLEHEAD, MASS. -5- I designed a staysail schooner rig for several years ago. On board her were Commodore and Mrs. Santry. Friday afternoon they visited the Persephone and invited me to sail back to Marblehead the following day, which I was most pleased to do. We started out soon after a very bright, red sun had risen and sailed all the way to Marblehead without stopping, a distance of about 130 miles, using the auxiliary motor through Quickes' Hole and the Canal, (and where we slowed down when the wind was light) We carried west and southwest winds, light to moderate, and I was astounded at the speed of Pleione, as compared to Persephone. It seemed much more than the 10' of W L would make. I steered Pleione nearly all of the way and seemed never to get tired of the pleasant sensation her speed and livelyness gave. Besides being a wonderful model, she had a nearly perfect suit of English Ratsey sails and, of course, as her present rig was designed by me it added interest. We had no incidence of particular interest except passing a couple of power cruisers, who no doubt thought they were going eight or nine miles an hour. But after dark things were a little more exciting for me, for when we were within about five miles of Marblehead I was surprised that the Commodore elected me to bring her in, and, as he said, I should be able to smell my way in which, as it turned out I did. Soon after dark a heavy cloud bank came up from the west and I told them we would get something out of it, but they were sure we would get in before it. Overhead it was an eery-looking night, with bright moon occasionally shining below clouds. Pleione's binnacle light was so bright I decided to [p6] do without it, preferring to pick up land marks in the occasional flashes of lightning over the north shore. As we stood in we came to a row of white lights which none of us recognized and it took nerve to pass. It turned out to be a long seine net which luckily we passed right over. This had absorbed our interest so much that we had not watched the weather carefully when all of the sudden I noticed the clouds overhead moving around. I at once ordered down all sail, which luckily they succeeded in doing with the exception of the jib which was set flying, and when the squall struck we were spun right around in spite of what I could do at the helm. The jib raised the Old Harry for a while when they tried to take it in when we were before it, but the wind soon went down and we had her under control with the motor going. About this time the range lights ahead had disappeared. The binnacle light was out and the squall had blown the running lights out. The next thing we saw was a small sloop scudding off before it under bare poles. They probably didn't see us at all. As we stood in, the captain and crew, who were all Marbleheaders, were lookouts on the bow and kept running aft telling me we were headed for this rock or that and to bear one way or the other, but when it cleared Marblehead Rock was dead ahead right where it should be and we motored into the Harbor in a dead calm under a bright moon at about 10:30: or about 130 miles in 16 hours, which is pretty good considering the Canal and several hours of light weather. My reactions after this cruise are that the 50's are the best model and weight of ballast for coastal cruising of any [p7] yachts so far produced, and the various rules since the war have only set things back. ... Hoping all are well at Love Rock. Yours affectionately Francis " (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 13: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

"... 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. ...
Although 'Pleione' was built as 'Peerless' for H. L. Maxwell, she was named 'Pleione' and owned by C. C. Rumrill and E. T. Irvin during her first year.
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, and 'Pleione,' under a schooner rig designed by the author, has won the Astor Cup for schooners four times for her owner, J. V. Santry.
... 'Pleione' today seems as sound as when built, and when I examine her below I am amazed at the fine materials which are in her: some of her deck beams have the grain nearly parallel with the crown of deck from side to side. When 'Pleione' was changed to a schooner she had the first box section spars to be used on a yacht of that size, together with shrouds attached with tangs instead of being spliced around the spar, and many other features now universally used." (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.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 724:]
Peerless, 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. 19, 1913. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] May 19, 1913 at New York, N.Y. (C.H)." (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. Peerless.)

"Notice is hereby given that under chapter 107 Navigation laws of 1881 and a title of customs Regulations of 1908 and in pursuance of Authority granted by the Commissioner of Navigation on the application of the Herreshoff Mfg Co, owners, the name of sloop yacht 'Peerless' of burden gross 33 tons, official No. 211140 [sic], has been changed to 'Pleione'." (Source: Anon. "Customs Service. Office of Collector. Port of Bristol." Bristol Phoenix, May 27, 1913, p. 4.)

"Another of the 50-footers has been sold and is to be made into a schooner by Herreshoff. This is the Pleione, originally owned by the late Chester C. Rumrill of the Eastern Yacht Club, then by E. Townsend Mullen, and was recently sold by John Bosset [spelling?] to a Rhode Island yachtsman." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." New York Times, July 22, 1923, p. 60.)

"... 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.)

"Pleione, formerly Peerless, the yawl-rigged New York 50 sold by the estate of the late Kenneth F. Wood to a Marblehead yachtsman, is still at Herreshoff's. While it has been reported that her new owner will alter her into a schooner and Herreshoff has drafted a new sail plan for the boat, alteration work has not yet been started and there is said to be a possibility that the change will not be made this season." (Source: Davis, Jeff. "Yachting Gossip." Providence Journal, April 5, 1926, p. ?.)

"Marblehead yachtsmen gave an almost completely spontaneous send-off to Joseph V. Santry's schooner Pleione when she departed from the Massachusetts Bay port, her home for 55 years, for the Mystic Seaport where she joins a growing list of important historical craft. She was escorted from the harbor by more than 40 craft, headed by the race committee boats of the Boston, Corinthian, and Eastern YCs, as salutes
were fired by these and other clubs and several yachts. The clubs and craft at mooring dressed ship and several hundred spectators watched from shore.
Pleione was built in 1913, one of the New York 50-footers designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, and is
probably the best preserved of this class, having received most tender care at Commodore Santry's hands. She was converted to the staysail schooner in 1926 by the designer's son, L. Francis Herreshoff. Pleione has carried the broad blue pennant of the Corinthian and the broad red of the Eastern. In her locker are a King's Cup, a Puritan Cup, three Astor Cups, six Cleopatra's Barge Cups, and three Norman Cups --- a mighty record for any yacht much less a schooner. Vale Pleione!
[Norman Fortier photo caption:] The schooner 'Pleione,' recently donated to the Mystic Seaport, Conn., being escorted by Joseph V. Santry Jr's 'Temptation'." (Source: Fowle, Leonard M. "Pleione Enshrined At Mystic Amid Ceremony." Yachting Magazine, November 1960, p. 191.)

"... Pleione, a converted New York Fifty built forty-six years ago from the great Nat Herreshoffs designs, was a power on these [New York Yacht Club] cruises until fairly recently.
'I'm afraid her racing days are over," said Santry. "She's still tight as a bottle and a grand old boat, but we use her now mostly for day sailing.' " (Source: Rendel, John. "Cruise Pauses in Marblehead For Astor Cup Regatta Today." New York Times, August 6, 1959, p. 23.)

"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:] you wanted special attention paid to Eaton, we gave it to him, at the start today in a strong breeze he got ahead of the gun on the port tack tried to pay off to get back, found he could not as three boats were coming for him on starboard tack, tried to come about too late & messed the whole crowd up & hit #715s GRAYLING, we sent him home at once, #717s BARBARA miscalculated & tried to cover #714s PLEIONE & they came together, the latter's topmast breaking off about four feet from the truck, Muir[?] on Ellis' boat [#713s IROQUOIS II] handled her very well ... & won a good race" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_43180. Correspondence, Folder 93, formerly 127. (1913 or later)-08-11.)
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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:] 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.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule-related table on two pages with dimensions LOA, LWL, overhang fore & aft, mean length, freeboard fore & center & aft, breadth deck & w.l., draft, cube-root (displacement), 1st mast mean length, 1st to 2nd mast, J, P1, H1, B1, G1, V1, T1, P2, P2a, H2, B2, Q2, Y2,T2, sail area, sqrt(SA), sqrt(SA - NYYC Rule) for #605s RELIANCE, #499s COLUMBIA, #725s RESOLUTE, #529s MINEOLA, #663s ISTALENA, #666s AVENGER, New York 50s (#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s), #411s GLORIANA, #685s ADVENTURESS, #617s COCK ROBIN II, #586s NELLIE, #709s JOYANT, #708s CORINTHIAN, #670s SENECA, Bar Harbor 31s (#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s), New York 30s (#626s, #627s, #628s, #629s, #630s, #631s, #632s, #633s, #635s, #636s, #637s, #638s, #639s, #640s, #642s, #643s, #647s, #648s), Newport 29s (#727s, #728s, #737s), #691s MORE JOY, #446s ALERION II, Buzzards Bay 550s (#733s, #734s, #736s, #738s, #741s), #617s COCK ROBIN II, #493s JILT, #732s SADIE, #460s KILDEE, Buzzards Bay 15s (#503s Class), Buzzards Bay 12 1/2s (#744s Class), #703s FLYING CLOUD, #669s ELEANOR, #722s KATOURA, #692s WESTWARD, #657s QUEEN, #719s VAGRANT II, #698s VAGRANT, #663s ISTALENA, and #743s HASWELL. With penciled note 'Measurements in ft & inches. Results in ft & decimals'. Undated (the youngest boat on this list is from 1914/1915 and this was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_00100. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 / 1915 ?).)
① ②

"[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.)
① ②

"[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.)
① ② ③

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #714s Pleione 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.

• Pleione (HMCo-made index card)
• Pleione (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: Plieone [sic, i.e. Pleione]
Type: Cutter
Length: 50'
Owner: Rumrill & Irwin

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

• Pleione
• Peerless ex-Pleione
• 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: Pleione
Type: 50' sloop
Owner: E. T. Irvin & Chester C. Rumrill
Year: 1913
Row No.: 531

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 [sic, i.e. 10]
Year: 1912
E/P/S: S
No.: 0714
Name: Pleione
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. Wheel steering. Originally blt for Howard (?) Maxwell J. Bossett 1923 Santry
Notes Bray: Peerless = Bossett (?), Pleione = Santry ?
Last Name: Rumrill & Irwin

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 9." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 29, 2009.)

"See also: Mystic Seaport, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection (Coll. 138). 59 sheets of plans for re-rig of 72 ft. New York Yacht Club Fifty, PEERLESS (1913), design #313 by L. Francis Herreshoff for Burgess, Swasey & Paine. Dates on plans range from 02-20-1926 to 03-1955. 5 sheets are duplicates. SP.38.72." (Source: http://library.mysticseaport.org/manuscripts/coll/coll138.cfm, retrieved February 13, 2011.)

"Sail number 59 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.)

"See also Mystic Seaport Museum collection:
Deck cleat from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.13; maker: Herreshoff Mfg. Co.
Deck cleat from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.14; maker: Herreshoff Mfg. Co.
Deck cleat from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.15; maker: Herreshoff Mfg. Co.
Cleat from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.16; maker: Herreshoff Mfg. Co.
Gooseneck from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.38
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.43
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.44
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.45
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.46
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.47
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.48
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.49
Chock from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.50
Pad eye from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.52
Mast shroud from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.51; maker: George Lawley & Son Corporation
Anchor chain from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.20
Anchor chain cover from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.21
Lavatory from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.22; maker: T.... Co.
winch handle from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.24; maker: Wilcox-Crittenden
Backstay lever from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.25
Backstay lever from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.26
Backstay lever from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.27
Backstay lever from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.28
Cleat from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.31
Cleat from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.32
Boom crotch from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.33
Backstay lever from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.34
Retainer for backstay lever from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.35
Winch chain from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.19; maker: Herreshoff
Gammoning iron from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.3
Chain stopper for anchor chain from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.4
Winch from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.8
Winch from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.9; maker: Merriman Brothers
Winch from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.10
Winch from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.11; maker: Merriman Brothers
Winch from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.12; maker: Merriman Brothers
Sheet winch from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.17; maker: Sparkman & Stephens; Henry B. Nevins, Inc.
Winch drum from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.18; maker: Herreshoff
Backstay fairlead block from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.36
Cheek block from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.37
Cheek block from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.39
Cheek block from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.40
Cheek block from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.41
Cheek block from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.42
Life ring from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1967.343; maker: Plasti-Kraft Corp.
Starboard running light from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1967.341
Port running light from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1967.342
Pump from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.23
Deck pump from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.1
Pump plunger from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.2
Transom from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.67
Deck plate from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.29
Deck plate from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.30
Deck beam from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.5
Deck beam from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.6
Backstay fairlead block from NY50 PLEIONE; acc. no. 1974.207.7." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 13, 2017.)

"Built in 149 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $97/day, 502 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.