HMCo #729s Scapa

"#729
Class R racing boat.
Same figures as #711 class but reduced to 0.45 of the size, for which use rool [sic, i.e. rule] of 5.4" = 1'.
Frame space 8.1"." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.179.] No date [April 1914?]. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"IT is understood that the restrictions governing the new Class 'R' boats which are to be built by members of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club this summer for competition on Long Island Sound for the new trophy put up by that club will stipulate that the boats must be cabin boats instead of open boats, and certain cabin restrictions will be imposed for this class by the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound.
This is a wise move, as the boats are big enough to make comfortable little cruisers, being from 38 feet to to 40 feet overall and it is well to provide such restrictions as will prevent a boat of this size being made into a simon [sic] pure racing machine. The three boats that are being built at Wood's from designs by Goeller have small cabins, as has another boat that is being built for a Lake Michigan yachtsman, and also one building at Herreshoff's. [Is the latter one a reference to #729s Scapa?]" (Source: Anon. "Concerning the New Class 'R' Boats." Yachting, March 1914, p. 170.)

"A new racer was launched at the Herreshoff boat yards, Saturday [October 23, 1915] morning. The craft, which was built for Cornelius Whitney, son of Harry P. Whitney of New York, over a year ago, has not been christened. She is 32 feet over all, double-planked and of mahogany construction." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, October 26, 1915, p. 2.)

"... The class R sloop, launched a week ago at Herreshoff's for the son of Harry Payne Whitney, has been under sail a number of times since she was put overboard. The litle sloop, which is evidently from the model of the one-designed 50-footers reduced, has been in charge of Capt Frank Martin of Cohasset in these tuning up spins. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Daily Globe, October 31, 1915, p. 58.)

"A recent addition to the local class R is the Herreshoff-designed knockabout purchased by Caleb Loring from Harry Payne Whitney. Although this craft was built a number of years ago, she has never been raced." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." New York Times, May 11, 1919, p. 60.)

"Caleb Loring's class 'R' sloop Scapa arrived at Marblehend last week, hor owner bringing the little craft around the Cape from Herreshoff's. The Scapa has been hauled out, weighed and measured and appears to be quite some smaller than the other sloops of the class." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Daily Globe, June 22, 1919, p. 61.)

"MARBLEHEAD. June 28 [1919] --- Although only 11 racing craft took part in the open regatta of the Eastern Y. C. this afternoon, the club's first event of the season, these few made up in good sport for the lack of numbers. ... Caleb Loring's Scapa, sailing her maiden race in Massachusetts Bay, was returned home a winner in Class R. The Scapa was purchased late this Spring by Mr Loring from Harry Payne Whitney and was designed and built a few years ago by Herreshoff. She is the smallest boat in the class." (Source: Fowle, Leonard M. "Scapa Shows Home in Maiden Race." Boston Daily Globe, June 29, 1919, p. 15.)

"Caleb Loring of the Eastern Yacht Club, who recently purchased through the agency of John G. Alden, from Frederick M. Hoyt, the sonder boat Skeezix, will install the 'Marconi' of that little racer in his Herreshoff-designed 20-rater Scapa." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Daily Globe, April 11, 1920, p. E5.)

"The Scapa, a Herreshoff design, the only open boat of the class which was brought to local waters last season by Mr Loring, is to use the mast formerly in Fred M. Hoyt's sonder boat Skeezix. This was the first 'Marconi" rig to make an appearance at the North Shore and is somewhat shorter than those of the Gossoon, Beta and Jacktar; but the Scapa is the smallest boat of the class and not nearly as powerful as the others." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen" Boston Daily Globe, April 18, 1920, p. E11.)

"The little Scapa, owned by Caleb Loring, which finished as runner-up to the Charles Francis Adams' Gossoon last year, is the smallest boat in the class as well as the most dangerous in all kinds of going. This Herreshoff production is 'Marconi' rigged this year, but with a very short mast.
In the Spring Mr Loring purchased of Frederick M. Hoyt the sonderboat Skeezix, which had the original 'Marconi' rig along the North Shore. The mast and sails of the Skeezix had been used to equip the Scapa with her 1920 racing rig, which evidently are going to be able to keep the little craft well up at the head of the class." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen. Sure to be Fine Racing in Class R." Boston Daily Globe, July 11, 1920, p. 53.)

"... The Herreshoff-designed Scapa, the only open boat of the [R] class, which under the skillful handling of Caleb Loring in 1919 and 1920 proved a very dangerous competitor at all times, especially so in a rough sea, has been sold to George McQuesten, a summer resident of Marblehead Neck. Instead of racing an 'R' boat next year, Caleb Lorlng will try his luck with one of the one-designed 'S' knockabouts. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, December 12, 1920, p. 45.)

"For the first time this season one of the older 20-raters was the winner this afternoon, Scapa, owned by George B. McQuesten, but sailed as in the race of July 4 by Joseph J. Moebs. Mr Moebs raced this 'R' the first part of last season, selling her for the 'P' Olympian late in July, 1922. He evidently has not lost his knack of handling the Scapa, for he brought her home with a minute and a quarter lead." (Source: Fowle, Leonard M. "Scapa Takes a Turn Winning. Old 20-Rater Tops Class in Corinthian Racing." Boston Daily Globe, July 8, 1923, p. 18.)

"Former Local 'Rs' Have Scattered to Many Racing Centers. ... The Scapa, a Herreshoff production of 1920 [sic, i.e. 1914], was also purchased for the local class by Caleb Loring, but the greater portion of her racing was under the colors of George E. McQuesten. In the Spring of 1925 the Scapa was purchased by Charles H. McGinn, Boston, who bought the Ruweida IV from Sydney A. Beggs that Fall, both boats thereby passing out of the racing." (Source: Fowle, Leonard. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, November 24, 1923, p. B14.)

"... George E. McQuesten has sold the Herreshoff designed 'R' Scapa. raced in the Marblehead class for the last four or five years, to Charles H. McGinn of the Boston Yacht Club. The Scapa's new owner will use the boat for afternoon sailing at the North Shore. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, June 7, 1925, p. A62.)

"... Romany, owned by Ernest Heineman, and Svek, owned by Sam Clarke, defended and won the Nutting and Gehrmann Trophies. ..." (Source: Anon. [Title?] Yachting, 1944, vol. 76, [p. 117?].)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled cost estimate notes 'R [class]. OA 36. wl 22.75. B 8. B-wl 7. d 5.4. D 12.5. S 600' and 'Price: double planked and furnished except him[?] & char[?]. Add. 4D + 80 D 2/3 + S = Price'. This is apparently NGH trying to devise a formula for determining price. On printed card from the Franklin Institue announcing its Annual election on January 18, 1911. (The only R-boat built before 1925 was #729s SCAPA from 1914 but her dimensions do not fit these particulars.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01830. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled '#729 [SCAPA]. R class racer reduced from #711 class. Scale 1 1/2in & 3in = 1ft. April 18, 1914'. With calculations and note 'Required 4300lbs = 6.06cuft. Result volume 6.01cuft = 4270lbs, centre of gravity at 27.91 frame space'. [Handwriting may not be NGH's." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_08190. Folder [no #]. 1914-04-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§83: Work Order [For] #729s. [When wanted] June 1. Memo. Rig same as #733s class (1914-05-17)." (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:] delighted with model of #721s CAROLINA which is now in our living room, if #729s SCAPA would were only bigger she would still be the best R-boat, what would she do as a 6mR with 100 sq ft less sail [penciled, apparently in NGH's hand, at the top: SCAPA 465 sq, CYGNET 540 sq], Paul Hammond asked for help and I would be glad to help tune up and coach him if he in turn would give the business his undivided attention, he plans to have #874s CYGNET in commission by middle of April" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18760. Correspondence, Folder 51, formerly 54. 1923-03-17.)
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"[Item Description:] your letter to Paul [Hammond] was just right, he does not resent criticism offered to him in a friendly spirit, my question re SCAPA [#729s] referred to her model [which was also used for the NY50s] rather than the actual boat, CYGNET [#874s] had her mast stayed so that it was rigid, Fife boats has somewhat flexible masts that in a fresh breeze threw a slight and fair curve into the spar, is it worthwhile for me to try something similar in CYGNET?" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18780. Correspondence, Folder 51, formerly 54. 1923-03-21.)
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"[Item Transcription:] It is some time since I have written you. About half a year ago I was going to draw an 'R' boat for you. On account of several other things coming up I never got very far with the design.
Don't you think now that, if you are still interested in an 'R' design, we had better wait until your new 'R' boat [#1053s PUFFIN] and Mr. Welch' new 'R' boat [LIVE YANKEE] have been tried out; and, too, I will try to make observations of Mr. Paine's new boat. In the meantime, if this meets with your approval, I will send you some photographs of the latest 'R' boats.
Just now I am making some plans of a semi-cruising sloop, 27ft 9in on the water line for the man who now owns the 'R' boat SCAPA [#729s]. I am going to try to make this new boat rate in the 'R' class and am certainly sorry there is a limit to the amount of benefit the rule at present allows for displacement; otherwise I believe this boat could be made a wholesome cruiser with more sail area than the rule now allows so that she might race on even terms with the present type of 'R' boat.
If any changes are contemplated, for the Universal Rule I wish they could change the rule back to the way it was originally, then large displacement, bulky boats would be allowed large sail and could race with some chance with their leaner sisters which, of course, would be required to have much less sail area.
Yours very truly, ..." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Letter to Morgan, Junius S. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.2. Correspondence, Folder 34, formerly 183. 1927-05-24.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #729s Scapa even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Scapa (HMCo-made index card)
• Scapa (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: Scapa
Type: J & M
Length: 35'
Owner: Whitney, H. P.

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

• Scapa
• Echo ex-Scapa
• Cyane ex-Scapa
• Romany ex-Scapa
• 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: Scapa
Type: 22' 8" sloop
Owner: Harry Payne Whitney
Year: 1920
Row No.: 601

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: Jan.
Day: 02 [sic, i.e. 22 ?]
Year: 1913 [sic, i.e. 1914]
E/P/S: S
No.: 0729
Name: Scapa
OA: 35'
LW: 27' 6"
B: 6' 7"
D: 5' 7"
Rig: J & M
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: $3,500.00
Notes Constr. Record: R. Class. ? ? 1919
Last Name: Whitney
First Name: H. P.

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

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

"Built in 639 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $5/day, 11 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

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