HMCo #774s Mistral

"[1915-09-05] Sun 05: Fair. Leave Duck Is[land] early & run to Oyster Bay. Dine with Mr. Nichols and have conference about 40' class with W. B. Duncan, Geo. Cormack & Geo. Nichols. Later run to Port Jefferson for the night.
[1915-12-11] Sat 11: ... Set up #774 [Mistral] --- 2nd 40 footer in PM.
[1915-12-23] Thu 23: L[igh]t variable [in] AM. R[ain] & F[og] [in] PM. Turned over 2nd 40-footer [#774s Mistral]. ...
[1916-01-04] Tue 04: Fair & mild. L[igh]t W [wind]. ... Moved 2nd [#774s Mistral] boat ...
[1916-01-17] Mon 17: Strong NW to W [wind] & cold. 20deg. to 15deg. Launch 2nd 40 footer [#774s Mistral] in PM ...
[1916-01-18] Tue 18: Cold, W[est wind] & clear. Turned over 4th 40 footer [#776s Rowdy] [in] AM & hauled 3rd [sic, i.e. the 2nd, #774s Mistral, which had been launched the previous afternoon while the 3rd, #775s Dolly Bowen, had been turned over only the previous day] out at cove. ...
[1916-02-09] Wed 09: ... Completed 15 rowboats for 40' class.
[1916-04-19] Wed 19: ... Strong NW [wind] early, moderating in PM. Stepped mast of 2nd 40 footer [#774s Mistral] in PM. ...
[1916-05-11] Thu 11: SW to strong NW & warm. Tried 7th 40 footer Mistral [#774s] with Mr Pynchon in AM [Note: The 7th apparently referred to the 7th trial made of a NY40, not the 7th NY40 built.]. ...
[1916-05-12] Fri 12: Strong NW [wind and] fine. Mistral [#774s] left. ...
[1916-09-28] Thu 28: Have trial of 40 [footer] Mistral [#774s] in fresh SW breeze after having new[?] bowsprit[?] put on and larger jib. Also more[?] ballast[?]. Trial very satisfactory. Stormy[?] evening [?].
[1916-10-04] Wed 04: ... Mr. Pynchon here and have trial of Mistral [#774s] in light breeze. Very satisfactory." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1915 to 1916. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"No. 773 & Class [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s and #955s, #983s].
Oct[ober] 29 1915.
Frame spaces 16".
Planking 1 3/8/
Timbers at head 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 increasing both ways 5/64" per foot for 6 1/2ft, then parallel.
Deck 1 3/8". Upper side of deck is height marked (S).
Outside of keel plank 1" below rabbate (R).
Top of lead straight line, 28 1/2" vertically above bottom flat of keel. Forward end of [frame] # 17.
Make bottom of lead 1 5/8" deeper than figures." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Handwritten [in ink and pencil] notes in Offset Booklet HH.4.184.] October 29, 1915. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"NYYC 40 footers as changed 1916-17
OA. 58ft [0]in
Wl 40.76[ft]
Qbl 37[ft]
Beam 14ft 2 3/4in
Breadth w.l. 13ft 0 3/4in
Draft 8ft 3 1/4in
Freeboard 6ft 4in - 3ft 6in - 3ft 5 1/2in
Displ[acement] 811cuft = 9.33^3 = 51900lbs
Sail area actual 2074sqft
Sail area by rule 2155[sqft]
9.33 / 40.76 = .229." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Undated penciled note (ca. 1923?). Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDE04.)

"The following winter [1915-1916] proved a busy [one] and I had to carry on the work alone. Of the sailing craft, the eighty feet waterline steel schooner MARIETTE, the New York Yacht Club Forty Foot Class of eleven, the sixteen foot "Fish Class" of twenty-two [twenty-three boats built for the 1916 sailing season, plus three boats for the 1917 season, making a total of twenty-six], the Buzzards Bay Fifteen Foot Class of six, and several others were built." (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. 73.)

"In 1916 the one-design class of New York Yacht Club forty-footers was built. They were in some ways rather homely craft because the committee who ordered them originally told Captain Nat they wanted sort of sailing houseboats that could be run with a small crew. ... The Forties were originally designed, however, to be cruisers with good accommodations, which could be run with a small crew and racing was expected to be a secondary consideration, so the Forties at first had rather small sail area. After the first year their sail area was increased. They were the hottest racing class of their time, and were called The Fighting Forties and The Roaring Forties. It is said that they never reefed in a race, which I can well believe, having seen them hard pressed many times. So the Forties were used for hard, hot racing instead of sailing houseboats, and I mention this as many will not know why a racing class was built so wide, high sided, and tubby. The Forties were well-built yachts, nevertheless, and have turned out to be able, useful yachts, perhaps a little lively or corky in a seaway, but several of them are still in use and much liked. Two of them under yawl rigs have won the Bermuda race, and it is believed they were the last one-design class of yachts built that were that large or were built in any considerable number by the same builder. There were about fourteen of them built altogether ...
These yachts were fifty-nine feet overall, forty feet six inches on the water line, fourteen feet six inches beam, and eight feet draft, and they rated forty under the Universal Rule.
... Although Captain Nat made them rather homely and tubby some people have said that no one else could have developed such speed with as wide and roomy a model, ... " (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. 302-304.)

"BRISTOL. R. I. Sept. 7. [1915] --- Several members of the New York Yacht Club have decided to build a new 47-foot [sic] class of one-design racing sloops, to be ready for racing next Spring. Designer Nat Herreshoff arrived home this afternoon from Glen Cove, N. Y., where the final plans were decided. There are to be at least fifteen sloops in this new class, and among those who, it is reported, will build are Commodore George F. Baker, Jr., William Butler Duncan, George A. Cormack, George Nichols and Tarrant Putnam. Nat Herreshoff has the design ready for sloops of steel frame and wood planking.
The plan to have a new class of medium-sized sloops was formulated within the past month. The racing men of the New York Yacht Club discussed the project at Newport at the time of the Astor Cup races [August 5, 1915]. Nat Herreshoff was then commissioned to produce a fast design for this class. The work of construction will be started in the latter part of September, when the molds will be ready." (Source: Anon. "47-Foot Yacht Class. Nat Herreshoff to Build Fifteen Sloops for N. Y. Y. C. Members." New York Times, September 8, 1915, p. 11.)

"The members of the New York Yacht Club will have three fine classes of one-designed sloops for next season's racing, 30, 40 and 50-footers. The 30-footers then will be in their 12th season, the 50-footers in their fourth, and the 40-footers will be new. Commodore George F. Baker Jr recently appointed W. Butler Duncan, George M. Pynchon, George Nichols and George A. Cormack a committee to select plans, draw up rules and do all in their power to promote the new class.
This committee has selected the plans which are by Herreshoff and has announced that orders for six new boats have been received, and that six more can be ordered. These 40-footers undoubtedly will be a popular class, because as planned they are to be a good wholesome type of boat of moderate cost and economical to run.
The boats are to cost $10,000 each, and are to have only three professionals to a boat. It has been estimated by a well-informed yachtsman that the cost of running a racing yacht for a season can be figured on the basis of $1200 a season for each professional. This does not mean that each professional will receive $1200, but that the salaries, cost of upkeep of the yacht, prize money and other necessary expenses will amount to $1200 for each man employed. The 50-footers have six professionals, and they cost about $7300 a season, so that a 40-footer with three men should cost from about $3600 to $4000.
Like the regulations governing the 30-foot and 50-foot classes, the committee is to draw up rules limiting the size of crews, the number of suits of sails, hauling out, etc. This committee will make an announcement soon giving the dimensions of the 40-footers, the names of their owners and other particulars which will be of interest to yachtsmen." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen. New 40-Foot Class for N.Y.Y.C." Boston Daily Globe, October 31, 1915, p. 58.)

"The twelve new sloop yachts designed by Captain Nat Herreshoff for the New York Yacht Club's forty-foot class and built at Bristol, R. I., have all been completed. Several of them have been launched, and two --- the Squaw [sic, i.e. #780s Shawara as per Boston Globe of April 23, 1916, p. 65], owned by John S. Lawrence, and Oliver C. Jennings's Pauline [#782s] --- have had trail [sic, i.e. trial] spins on Narragansett Bay.
Those who have seen these new craft under sail say that they are both fast and able and surprisingly quick in stays. They are handsome vessels and will doubtless prove an interesting racing class for the New York Yacht Club. A special race has been arranged by the club for this class, to be sailed on Memorial Day over courses on Long Island Sound starting off Glen Cove.
Following is a list of all the yachts in the class and their owners:
Maisie [#773s], Morton F. Plant; Rowdy [#776s], Holland S. Duell; Mistral [#774s], George E. Pynchon; Jessica [#779s], Wilson Marshall; Zilph [#777s], James D. Hayes, Jr.; Black Duck [#778s], Arthur K. Bourne; Pampero [#781s], Dr. James Bishop; Pauline [#782s], Oliver G. Jennings; Dolly Bowen [#775s], Alexander S. Cochran; Shawara [#780s], Harold Wesson; Katharine [#783s], Arthur F. Luke; Squaw [#804s], John S. Lawrence.
Racing numbers will be assigned to the yachts when they are all in commission." (Source: Anon. "Dozen New Sloops Built For N.Y.Y.C. Special Race for Forty-Footers Owned by Leading Yachtsmen to Open Season." New York Times, April 27, 1916, p. 10.)

"... Five of the racing one-designed 40-footers, built by Herreshoff for members of the New York Yacht Club, have been taken by their owners from Bristol to the head of Long Island Sound for tuning up. These are the Rowdy [#776s], Black Duck [#778s], Shawara [#780s], Pauline [#782s] and the Dolly Bowen [#775s]. Several of the crews of the other sloops arrived at Bristol last week, including Capt S. B. Howell, former skipper of the cup sloop Defiance, who is to have charge of George M. Pynchon's Mistral [#774s]. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Daily Globe, May 7, 1916, p. 67.)

"... George M. Pynchon was an interested spectator at the trial spins of his new 40-footer Mistral off Bristol last Thursday [May 5, 1916], when Nat Herreshoff gave the sloop a searching test under full canvas. Mr Pynchon came over from New York in his power cruiser Marie with his skipper, Capt S. B. Howell. The Mistral was stiff and easily handled. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Daily Globe, May 14, 1916, p. 48.)

"The following are the numbers, names and the owners of the new 40s: 1- Black Duck, Arthur Bourne; 2- Dolly Bowen, A. S. Cochran; 3 - Jessica, Wilson Marshall; 4- Katherine, A. F. Luke; 5 - Maisie, M. B. Plant; 6 - Mistral, G. M. Pynchon; 7 - Pampero, Dr James Bishop; 8 - Pauline, O. G. Jennings; 9- Rowdy, H. S. Duell; 10 - Shawara, Harold Wesson; 11 - Squaw, J. S. Lawrence; 12 - Zilph, J. E. Hayes, Jr. To distinguish the 40s from the 50s, the numbers of the former will be in red, with the initials N. Y. Y. C. in diamond form, while the 50s will have black numbers with the initials N. Y. Y. C. in a semicircle." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Daily Globe, May 21, 1916, p. 48.)

"Two months' experience with the New York Yacht Club's forty-footers has convinced some of their owners, at least, and probably a majority of them, that there is something the matter with these rather homely and certainly snub-nosed craft. They do not steer easily, nor do they make as fast time as their owners and their designer, Captain Nat Herreshoff, expected them to do. Their practically straight up and down bows and width of beam seem to make rapid progress impossible, as compared with the sharper-nosed yachts of previous years.
Arthur K. Bourne, who owns and sails the Black Duck [#778s], was one of the first to ascribe the difficulty of steering the craft to the use of the tiller, and during the Interclub cruise had his tiller removed and a wheel substituted, with some improvement in ease of handling as a result. W. W. Swan, who had his first experience with them when sailing the Maisie [#773s], which has a tiller, said she was the hardest boat to handle he ever sat in, and he won two races with her at that. Other skippers who have sailed the forties have made similar complaints about the nerve-racking and strength-eating task of keeping the craft to their work when they have a tendency to go down by the head rather than cutting cleanly through the seas.
During Larchmont race week these skippers came to the conclusion, as a result of their experiences, that the trouble with the boats was that they needed a bowsprit and a fairly good-sized Jib in order to remedy the trouble. Now there is a definite proposition among the owners to make this change in them next season and Captain Herreshoff will think the matter out at their suggestion, during the cruise of the New York Yacht Club, in which all twelve boats of this design will be tested in a series of port-to-port races.
Arthur Luke, sailing his Katherine [#783s] in Massachusetts Bay waters, has reached the same conclusion as have those who have raced the forties in the waters of the Sound, and is out for a bowsprit and jib as a remedy for unsatisfactory conditions.
While Vice Commodore J. P. Morgan has not sailed one of them, he has watched their performances, and says he is content to stick to the fifties as relatively easier and faster boats on all points of sailing, so far as his observation goes though he has not expressed himself on the bowsprit question.
Captain Herreshoff told the men when the design was submitted that the yachts would be more satisfactory as economical cruising boats than racing craft, but particularly good for racing in rough weather, something which has not yet been experienced in the races in which they have been tried. Their owners and skippers generally agree that the forties will too first-rate bad weather boats as they are now rigged. But Sound racing is generally fair weather racing.
Whatever Captain Herreshoff's decision after the N. Y. Y. C. cruise, the owners, who make the rules for the class, will probably decide this Winter to have the yachts altered before the racing season of 1917, and rigged with a small bowsprit and jibsail. Therefore it is pretty safe to prophecy that next season will see a material difference of appearance in the yachts, which have furnished a lot of sport this season in spite of their crunched-in appearance and hard steering. The change cannot be made until the committee in charge of the class has its meeting, some time this Fall, to award the series prizes. They will then settle the matter of re-rigging which has caused more discussion among the Corinthians than any they have had to mull over for several seasons." [Note: In 1917, the NY40s appeared with a short bowsprit.] (Source: Anon. "Forty-Footers Faulty. Bowsprit and Jib May Be Added to New N. Y. Y. C Class." Boston Globe, August 11, 1916, p. 6.)

"Mistral, Maisie, and Jessica to Compete for Cups Saturday. ...
After the race Captains Wilson Marshall and George M. Pynchon will give a dinner to the Captains and amateurs who have sailed the forty-footers during the season at the Larchmont Yacht Club. ...
Such an assemblage [of participants] probably means that the diners will decide during the meal as to the changes which are to be made on the forty-footer, before the next racing season to make them easier to handle. The gossip is that the owners will decide to have a bowsprit put on the yachts and make some changes in the rigging which will make them less difficult to manipulate during the progress of a race, especially when there is light weather." (Source: Anon. "Yachts To Race Off Tie." New York Times, September 21, 1916, p. 12.)

"That the New York Yacht Club forty-footers will appear as a rather different type of vessel next season, with better steadying qualities in their rig, has been decided by the owners of the craft. Just what the change will be has not been settled definitely. The first of the experiments with the improvements in view was made last Friday in Bristol Harbor. George M. Pynchon's Mistral [#774s] was the yacht tested, a small bowsprit having been attached, which gave her a material increase in headsail.
Thus rigged, and with Captain Nat G. Herreshoff, the designer of the type, she was tried out against Oliver G. Jenning's Pauline [#782s] with the original rig, in a fifteen-mile spin up and down Narragansett Bay. In the thrash to windward over the first leg of the course Mistral, in her new rig, led Pauline by about an eighth of a mile, and Captain Herreshoff decided that she steered somewhat easier with this increased headsail.
In the matter of speed there was little gained, however, for on the return leg, with both yachts running free in a quartering 20-knot breeze, the Pauline picked up on Mistral and beat her to the finish by a few seconds. As these two yachts sailed a remarkably even set of races during the Summer, they were thought to be very acceptable craft for testing the new rig.
The result, however, leaves the question of what must be done to improve their sailing qualities and particularly to make them easier to steer in as much doubt as before this trial. Further experiments may be made, this Fall with A. F. Luke's Katharine [#783s], Mr. Luke having been one of the first to suggest the use of the bowsprit as a means of solving the trouble." (Source: Anon. "Want Forties Improved. New York Y. C. Owners Test Craft With Bowsprit Attached." New York Times, October 15, 1916, p. 17.)

"Herreshoff has been trying out the 40-footers. Mistral, G. M. Pynchon's yacht, was rigged with a bowsprit 5 feet 11 inches long and when tried carrying a jib and fore-staysail she handled very easily. Later more lead ballast was added to Mistral, and she defeated Pauline in two trials, Pauline carrying her old rig." (Source: Anon. "Spokes from the Rudder Wheel." Rudder, November 1916, p. 532.)

"... Most of [the New York Forties] are white, with green underbodies, cut off by a narrow red ribbon, and a gilt stripe next the covering board. Banshee [#782s, ex-Pauline], owned by Roger Maxwell, is slate grey, with these trimmings. Mistral [#774s] is blacksided and looks very smart, with a gilt stripe and a white line separating the black from the green underbody. ..." (Source: Snider, C. H. J. Adventures of the Venture. Toronto, 1923, p. 10, 12.)

"... Owners of the New York 40-footers will attend a class dinner tonight at the New York Yacht Club, 37 West Forty-fourth Street, at which racing plans for the season will be discussed. Those to be present will include Harry L. Maxwell, owner of Banshee [#782s, ex Pauline]; Holland S. Duell owner of Rowdy [#776s], which was the winner of the class championship last season; C. Spencer Goodwin, who recently purchased Pampero [#781s]; J. B. Dunbaugh and W. H. Hoffman, joint owners of Shawara [#780s]; and W. B. Bell, owner of Mistral [#774s]." (Source: Nowell, George. "Sloop Squaw Sold." New York Times, April 14, 1925, P. 21.)

"The sloops or the New York Yacht Club 40-foot class, noted as having produced some of the keenest sport in the history of the racing game, will be an important factor on Long Island Sound and in Eastern waters this coming season. It is expected that five or six of the 'Roaring Forties' will race regularly with the Long Island Sound fleet and that as many more will be out at times with the Marblehead and Buzzards Bay racing squadrons. With these two divisions joining on the New York and Eastern Yacht Club cruising runs, the showing of the 40-footers should be the best in years.
Basically the Long Island Sound flotilla of 40s will consist of the Shawara [#780s], winner of the class championship last season, Banshee [#782s ex-Pauline], Mistral [#774s] and Rowdy [#776s]. To these, however, will be added at times the Pampero [#781s ex-Pampara], now owned by Chandler Hovey. with headquarters on Buzzards Bay, Sally Ann [#779s ex-Jessica], the property of Spencer Borden Jr of Fall River, Squaw [#804s], purchased last Fall by F. T. Baker of Philadelphia, and a new 40-footer [#955s Marilee] building by Herreshoff for Edward I. Cudahy of the Beverly Yacht Club, which also will have her home port on Buzzards Bay.
Shawara, the black sloop which Harry L. Maxwell's Banshee for the championship of the class last year, will have another crack skipper added to her Corinthian crew this year in C Sherman Hoyt, a helmsman, who has been identified largely with the six-meter class in recent seasons. Capt Hoyt purchased a half-interest in the sloop from Rear Commodore J. B. Dunbaugh, and will race Shewara this year jointly with W. H. Hoffman, the other owner.
The aquatic firm of Hoyt and Hoffman ought to make things interesting for the others in the 40-foot class. These able shippers will alternate at the wheel of the black sloop and it is certain that she will be excellently sailed. On the other hand the new marine partnership will find plenty of opposition provided by Harry Maxwell on the Banshee, George Cutler with Mistral, and Holland Duell at the helm of the Rowdy, to say nothing of those other fast ones, Pampero, Sally Ann, and Cockatoo [#775s ex-Dolly Bowen] which will loom up at times as contenders. ..." (Source: Anon. "Interest in 40-Footers." Boston Globe, March 22, 1926, p. 22.)

"N.Y.Y.C 40-Ft.Class.
[#773s] N.Y. 45, Typhoon, H.C. & E. H. Leslie
[#774s] N.Y. 46, Mistral, William B. Bell
[#776s] N.Y. 49, Holland S. Duell" (Source: Anon. "Racing Numbers Long Island Sound Yacht Racing Association." Rudder, August 1928, p. 102.)

"MATTAPOISETT, Mass., Aug. 4. --- Scudding through a wind-swept sea, with flung spray and blown spume, the New York Yacht Club fleet arrived here this afternoon from Newport. ... Just after the fleet left Old Brenton Reef Lightship, off Newport, the mechanical element in yachting began to break before the ambitious human one. Mistral, a Forty owned by W. B. Bell and sailed by Corney Shields, who divides his time between banking and winning yacht races, lost her mast. She was towed back to Newport. ... [The NY-40 #955s Marilee was also dismasted on this run and lost her owner overboard and the NY-40 #782s Chinook lost her hallooner, 'which burst like a paper bag.']" (Source: Robbins, James. "2 Yachts Dismasted and 2 Men Swept Overboard as Yankee Leads N.Y.Y.C. Fleet." New York Times, August 5, 1930, p. 17.)

"... Schooner Rissa sold to C. Maurice Holland for Seward DeHart. New York 40 Mistral sold to DeHart for William B. Bell. ..." (Anon. [Title?] Rudder, 1940, vol. 56, [p. 159?].)

"... Seward de Hart's New York '40' Mistral, which has done lots of cruising Down East, is an entry in the Marblehead-to-Halifax ocean race this month. The start is set for July 23 and sponsors of this battle with tides, fog and the Atlantic expect better than thirty entries. ..." (Source: Anon. [No title.] MotorBoating, July 1949, p. 66.)

"The year 1916 saw the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. launch a dozen New York 40s for members of the New York Yacht Club. The boats were alike in shape and rig, but owners could select from several interior arrangements. Soon, because of the intensity of their racing, they became known as the 'Fighting Forties.'
Designed as roomy flush-deckers --- some yachting writers criticized them as 'sailing houseboats' --- the New York 40s lacked the grace of their predecessors, the New York 50-footers ..., but were less expensive to operate, requiring fewer paid hands and less costly boatyard maintenance. Given their overall dimensions and freeboard, it is doubtful if a designer other than NGH could have created such good-looking hull shapes. The New York 40s have some hollow in their bows, a handsome sheer, and nicely sculpted transoms; they remind one of the Cup defender Resolute [#725s], foreshortened to fit within a 59-foot overall length.
Although not planned for ocean racing, one boat of the class, Memory [ex #778s Black Duck], rigged as a Marconi yawl, entered the Bermuda race of 1924 --- and won! Perhaps because of the publicity accorded Memory, two more boats, Marilee [#955s] and Rugosa II [#983s] ... were ordered shortly afterward. ..." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 82.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary dimensioned sailplan with hull profile of a raised deck gaff sloop with long polemast and topsail and no bowsprit. Titled '39ft w.l.' With calculations arriving at a total sail area of 1739sqft (1949sqft including topsail). Compare with HMCo Plan HH.5.02173 (029) titled '39ft WL Class' of August 1915 marked 'Not used' which shows the same boat but with shorter overhangs. Believed to be an early preliminary design for what would become the New York 40 Class (#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s). On verso another sketch of a different (unidentified) hull profile." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0226. WRDT04, Folder 21, formerly MRDE08. No date (1915-08 or earlier?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary dimensioned sailplan with hull profile of a raised deck gaff sloop with club topsail and bowsprit. Titled '39ft w.l.' With calculations arriving at a total sail area of 1574sqft (1788sqft including topsail). Compare with HMCo Plan HH.5.02173 (029) titled '39ft WL Class' of August 1915 marked 'Not used' which shows the same boat but with shorter overhangs. Believed to be an early preliminary design for what would become the New York 40 Class (#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0227. WRDT04, Folder 21, formerly MRDE08. No date (1915-08 or earlier?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary dimensioned sailplan with hull profile of a raised deck gaff sloop with polemast and no topsail or bowsprit. Titled '39ft w.l.' With calculations arriving at a total sail area of 1562sqft. Compare with HMCo Plan HH.5.02173 (029) titled '39ft WL Class' of August 1915 marked 'Not used' which shows the same boat but with shorter overhangs. Believed to be an early preliminary design for what would become the New York 40 Class (#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s). On verso two other sketches of a different (unidentified) hull profile." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0228. WRDT04, Folder 21, formerly MRDE08. No date (1915-08 or earlier?).)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.02173 (029) (marked 'Not used on the original). Blueprint preliminary general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile. Titled '39ft w.l. Class. Scale 1/4in = 1ft. Aug[ust] 1915'. Believed to be an early preliminary design for what would become the New York 40 Class (#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s). On verso two other sketches of a different (unidentified) hull profile." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0007. WRDT08, Folder 1, formerly MRDE08. 1915-08.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.02173 (029) (marked 'Not used on the original). Blueprint preliminary general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile. Titled '39ft w.l. Class. Scale 1/4in = 1ft. Aug[ust] 1915'. With penciled alterations including longer overhangs, lower freeboard and a half-section. Believed to be an early preliminary design for what would become the New York 40 Class (#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s) and showing the first sketch which made the 39ft Class a 40ft Class." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0048. WRDT08, Folder 5, formerly MRDE10. 1915-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter marked 'Copy' on gothic-font 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.' stationery re New York 40 Class (#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s):] Dear George:-
I am sending you two plans [probably HMCo Plan HH.5.02174 (029) and HMCo Plan HH.5.08072 (096-112)] for the proposed 40ft Class. That with stub ends and raised deck which you saw last week and another having less freeboard and longer overhangs. This is intended for a form with a little deeper deadrise floor and more ballast and would have a cabin floor area nearly equal to that in the first design. I think this will please the eye better.
You will notice I have arranged for one state room and the saloon aft, which I think would be a much better arrangement, since they would really be used but little to live in by the owners.
The rig is as we talked of the other day and I think would be very satisfactory and practical for a boat of this class.
The 'stub end' would take the same size rig by haying a short bowsprit, or a similar rig a little smaller.
I have been looking up about the cost of such boats, and it appears by comparison with the shop cost of others near this size built in recent years, we could not make the cost for a small class at less than Ten Thousand Five Hundred ($10,500.00) dollars each. If we had a larger number or a good amount of work of any kind to keep our shops properly employed and so keep the percentage of overhead charges down, am quite sure we could offer a lower figure. [p. 2] I hope to hear from you soon, as we do need the work, and it takes some time to develop plans and get the raw material.
Mr. Tod is intensely interested about the challenge from ATLANTIC, and will, without doubt, start with his yacht [#722s KATOURA] in good order.
Yours sincerely, ...
NGH/NBS [N.G. Herreshoff / Newell B. Sheldon]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Cormack, George A. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_00540. Folder [no #]. 1915-08-27.)
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"[Item Description:] Hull sections with pinpricks and calculations titled '40ft w.l. Approx. disp[lacement] 775 - D^(1/3) = 9.17. With scantling calculations using the fundamental factors and formulas as set forth by NGH's Rules for Wooden Yachts. Waterline length and visual comparison with sections in construction plan strongly suggest this to be related to the NY40 class [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s]. Undated, ca. September 1915?" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Midship Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0399. WRDT04, Folder 34, formerly MRDE08. No date (ca 1915-09).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter marked 'Copy' on gothic-font 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.' stationery re New York 40 Class (#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s):] Dear George:-
I am glad to know there is so much interest in the new class and there is so good prospect that it will go through:-In reply to Pynchon:-
1. Of course, the low sided boat could he raised and it would give more room, but the freeboard shown on sketch is already higher than the [New York] fifties, and the displacement greater in proportion than the fifties. To get the room shown in a 40ft water line boat I have already gone to an extreme. For an individual boat to suit only the owners taste it is all right, but for a one design class to be popular, I think I have proposed as bulky a boat as would be wise to. If greater cruising accomodations are required 40ft water line is too small.
2. If I were to build a boat of this size for my own use I would certainly put in a wheel with the binnacle on a stand; this means a greater first cost and possibly not quite so fine steering in mild weather. If a tiller was to be used, a portable binnacle would be best and it could be set where most convenient.
3. I would suggest that the owner have his option of an after stateroom or an arrangement shown on sketch. I like the arrangement shown best. [p. 2] 4. I intended having main and topmast preventers on one tackle and a few other details in rig, appropriate to a boat of this size, a little different than the ordinary custom.
In the first three months we would probably not complete over three boats, after that, if a large number were ordered we could probably turn out one every ten or twelve working days.
Hoping you are quite well, and that I will see you soon, I remain,
Yours sincerely, ...
NGH/NBS [N.G. Herreshoff / Newell B. Sheldon]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Cormack, George A. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_00570. Folder [no #]. 1915-09-03.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.02161 (029-067). Blueprint general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile titled 'Preliminary Plan for 40ft Class [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s]'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0011. WRDT08, Folder 2, formerly MRDE08. 1915-09-23.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections on verso of 'Office of Voluntary Meteorological Observer, U.S. Weather Bureau' stationery titled '40ft NYYC Class [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s]. Sept[ember] 25, 1915. Scale 1/2in. W.l. 40.00ft. From finished model'. With calculations arriving at a total displacement of 754cuft = 48280lbs and a wetted surface of 598sqft. Also calculations showing changes in displacement when immersed 6in deeper and less deep." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_06390. Folder [no #]. 1915-09-25.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Lead for 40ft NYYC Class No. [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s]. Scale 1/4 & 1/16. Oct[ober] 1915'. With calculations and note '773 Class 40 footers. Desired 23650lbs lead with c.g. .5760 of w.l. ...' and concluding with 'Result --- With top of lead straight line parallel to bottom flat 2.44 above it c.g. 24.14 frame = .57 of w.l. Weight 58306lbs ...'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_08150. Folder [no #]. 1915-10.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections on verso of 'Office of Voluntary Meteorological Observer, U.S. Weather Bureau' stationery titled '40ft NYYC Class [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s]. Oct[ember] 22, 1915. Scale 1/24in. 40.00ft w.l.. (From finished model). Q[uarter] beam length 36ft 4in'. With no further notes or calculations." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_06460. Folder [no #]. 1915-10-22.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled dimensioned sketch of a shackle and upper part of a block with note 'Merriman Bros. Dec[ember] 10, 1915. Arrangement of Shackle & Bolt for Upper Runner Tackle Block #773 Class --- 40-footers [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s and #804s]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00190. Folder [no #]. 1915-12-10.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.12148 (146-034). Photostat sailplan titled 'NYYC 40ft Class [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s]'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Photostat Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0195. WRDT08, Folder 15, formerly MRDE02. 1916-01-05.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Columbia University in the City of New York. Department of Physics' stationery:] I have taken the following as the average water line for the 40-footers [New York 40s: #773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s]
Length over all 59 ft.
Overhang forward (forward point of measurement - center of pin through topmost stay) 10.45
Overhang aft 8.30
L.W.L. 40.25
This seemed to be a very fair average for a number of the boats. Where the chains were absent, we used an equivalent weight of lead, so that I feel certain that these figures will be satisfactory.
Can you send me at your early convenience, the displacement, draft and quarter beam length corresponding to the above established plane? [p. 2]
I was very much interested in your criticism of my suggested method for determining sail areas. As far as I had been able to learn, the gaff angle was nearly constant, while the boom angle varied, and my conclusions were based on this supposition. I do not see any easy method of determining this area if the reverse is the case. To determine the actual area at the time of measurement still seems out of the question, as the method of measurement should be as much as possible independent of weather conditions.
Thanking you again for your letter,
Yours sincerely, ... [With penciled note by NGH:]
At 40.25ft w.l. Displ. 772cuft (= 49408lbs). Draft 8.05ft. At 40.76ft w.l. Displ. 811cuft (= 51904lbs). Draft 8.13ft.]" (Source: Webb, Harold W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_02570. Folder [no #]. 1916-06-01.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Columbia University in the City of New York. Department of Physics' stationery:] I am in receipt of your letter of June 4th, giving the displacement and draft of the 40-footers [New York 40s: #773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s] at L.W.L, 40.25. Could you send me also the quarter beam length at this L.W.L.? With these one-design boats, I should prefer to have the quarter beam length as determined from the plan rather than to trust to actual measurement.
Thanking you for your trouble,
Yours very truly, ... [With penciled note by NGH:]
36ft 3in at 40.25[ft] w.l.
36ft 2 3/4in at 40.00[ft] w.l.]" (Source: Webb, Harold W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_02590. Folder [no #]. 1916-06-05.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with pinpricks titled 'NYYC 40 footers (773 Class [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s ]). Reduced to scale of 3/8in per ft. For NYYC Model. Oct[ober] 20, 1916'. No further notes or calculations." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_03870. Folder [no #]. 1916-10-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Seven mimeographed pages with race results of the Cruise of the New York Yacht Club of 1922. Races: Astor Cups off Newport, R.I. on August 2d, 1922. 1st Run Newport to Mattapoisett on August 3, 1922. 2dt Run Mattapoisett to Vineyard Haven on August 4, 1922. 3rd Run Vineyard Haven to Provincetown on August 5, 1922. 4th Run Provincetown to Gloucester on August 7, 1922. 5th Run Gloucester to Marblehead on August 8, 1922. Among the finishers were schooners #719s VAGRANT II, #698s QUEEN MAB ex-VAGRANT I, #663s IROLITA ex-ISTALENA, #827s OHONKARA and #772s MARIETTE, New York 50s #721s CAROLINA, #711s ISTALENA ex-VENTURE, #720s ACUSHLA ex-HARPOON and #717s BARBARA, New York 40s #776s ROWDY, #777s ZILPH, #804s SQUAW, #774s MISTRAL, #779s SALLY ANN ex-JESSICA, #781s PAMPERO and #773s MONSOON ex-MAISIE, New York 30s #629s COUNTESS ex-MAID OF MEUDON, #648s MINX, #632s ALICE ex-TABASCO, #640s BANZAI, #637s ORIOLE and #630s LENA ex-PINTAIL, as well as cutter #586s BUTTERFLY ex-NELLIE." (Source: NYYC (creator). Race Results. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72340. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F01, formerly MRDE15. 1922.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled note on verso of a trade card by Engineering News Record, advertising the 171-page book Accounting and Business Methods for Contractors:] NYYC 40 footers [#773s, #774s, #775s, #776s, #777s, #778s, #779s, #780s, #781s, #782s, #783s, #804s] as changed 1916-17
OA. 58ft [0]in
Wl 40.76[ft]
Qbl 37[ft]
Beam 14ft 2 3/4in
Breadth w.l. 13ft 0 3/4in
Draft 8ft 3 1/4in
Freeboard 6ft 4in - 3ft 6in - 3ft 5 1/2in
Displ[acement] 811cuft = 9.33^3 = 51900lbs
Sail area actual 2074sqft
Sail area by rule 2155[sqft]
9.33 / 40.76 = .229
---
AU REVOIR [#681s] C.b. - 1908
From original calculations:
Oa 50ft 0in
Wl 38ft
Beam 14ft 0in
Breadth w.l. 12ft 10[in]
Freeboard 4ft 0 3.4[in] - 2ft 7 1.2in - 2ft 7 1/4in
Displ[acement] 433cuft = 7.56^3 = 27800lbs
7.56 / 39 = .195
Outside lead 10500 lbs
Sail area 1352sqft
Note: Yacht was 1 1/2in deep in water when equipped - indicating hull & aux. power was heavier than estimated (about 40cuft = 2560lbs) [Undated (research shows the advertised book on the trade card to have been first published in 1923 and followed by a longer version in 1931)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_06980. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1923 ?).)
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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 Description:] newspaper clipping from the New York Herald Tribune, undated (August 2, 1925), titled '[#774s] Mistral Sails to Eas[clipped off] In Contest for [clipped off]' describing the Stamford Yacht Club's Annual Regatta on August 1, 1925 and mentioning #932s GAMECOCK, sent by Junius S. Morgan on August 3, 1925" (Source: New York Herald Tribune (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_30610. Subject Files, Folder 28, formerly 10-15. No date (1925-08-02).)
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"[Item Description:] newspaper clipping from the New York Herald Tribune, dated August 9, 1925, titled '[#774s] Mistral Leads Forty-Footers on the Sound' describing the Knickerbocker Yacht Club's Annual Regatta on August 8, 1925 and mentioning #932s GAMECOCK, sent by Junius S. Morgan" (Source: New York Herald Tribune (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_30620. Subject Files, Folder 28, formerly 10-15. 1925-08-09.)
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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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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #774s Mistral even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Davis, Charles G. "Racing on a Forty-Footer." Yachting, December 1921, p. 265-268, 309. (3,596 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No. Wonderful account of New York 40 racing during the eventful 1921 cruise of the NYYC, written by yacht designer, artist and author C. G. Davis, who had sailed on #773s Monsoon ex-Maisie.
• 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.
• Sauerbrey, Florence. "The Fighting Forties." Maritime Life and Traditions #18, Spring 2003, p. 50-61. (5,411 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Class description and history. Vessel biographies. Lines plan. Construction plan. Sail plans (sloop and yawl).

• Mistral (HMCo-made index card)
• Mistral (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: Mistral
Type: Cutter
Length: 40'
Owner: Pynchon, George M.

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

• Mistral
• 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: Mistral
Type: 40' cutter
Owner: George M. Pynchon
Year: 1916
Row No.: 448

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Month: Oct.
Day: 14
Year: 1915
E/P/S: S
No.: 0774
Name: Mistral
LW: 40'
Rig: Cutter
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: 10,000.00
Notes Constr. Record: Single head rig. no bowsprit. Cabin C.
Last Name: Pynchon
First Name: G. M.

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

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

"Fitted at HMCo with a bowsprit in 1916 to alleviate severe weather helm (as per Maynard Bray)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 5, 2008.)

"See also: Henry M. Devereux Collection, Coll. 120, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc., 120.43 Comparison study of NY 40's MISTRAL, TYPHOON and RUGOSA II Designer, Nathanael G. Herreshoff, Delineator, Henry M. Devereux; Design #214; Builder, Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.; Circa 1926." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 24, 2010.)

"#774s Mistral
Class number: 2
Sail number: 6
Setup: 1915-12-11 Sat
Turned over: 1915-12-23 Thu
Moved to lower west end of shop: 1916-01-04 Tue
Launched from shop: 1916-01-17 Mon
Hauled out at cove: 1916-01-18 Tue?
Completed rowboat: 1916-02-09 Wed
Stepped mast / rigged: 1916-04-19 Wed
First trial: 1916-05-11 Thu (7th NY40 that was trialled)
Sailed off: 1916-05-12 Fri." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 6, 2011.)

"Sail number 6 in 1916 with the numeral in red surrounded by the initials N.Y.Y.C. in diamond form as per the New York Herald of May 17, 1916, p. 13." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 11, 2012.)

"Sail number NY 46 in 1928 as per Rudder, August 1928, p. 102." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 3, 2015.)

"As is common with many boats, different (and over time increasing) displacements were reported for the New York 40s. A measurement certificate for #804s Squaw, dated June 30, 1916, in the collection of the Hart Nautical Museum at M.I.T. listed a displacement of 755 cubic feet equaling 48320 lbs. In about 1932 NGH was asked to calculate the ballast ratio of #983s RUGOSA II and penciled down a number of back-of-an-envelope calculations which have survived in the Herreshoff Archives of the Herreshoff Marine Museum (HMM Subject Files, Folder 37 new, 27 old). There he noted that the mean displacement of the original NY40 class boats as measured by H.W. Webb in July 1925 at a LWL of 40.75 was 811 cu.ft. equaling 51800.0[sic, i.e. 51900] lbs. The mean weight of the original NY40 ballast keels NGH noted as having been 23800 lbs plus an extra piece forward of 724 lbs for a total of 24574 lbs. To this was added another 800 lbs in the winter of 1916/17 for a total of 25374 which translated into a ballast ratio of 48.8%." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 16, 2017.)

"... Seward De Hart, owner of NY 40 Mistral [#774s] from 1940 to 1953, when he took ownership of NY 40 Memory (formerly Black Duck) [#778s]." (Source: Gay de Hart (niece of Seward de Hart). Private Email to Claas van der Linde, May 7, 2021.)

"Mistral. Yacht Broker Jurek Peilk used to sail on Mistral and last saw her sailing off to Europe under the new ownership of a German around 2002. [This is probably wrong and a reference to the 75ft LOA, 63.5ft LWL schooner Mistral, designed by L. Francis Herreshoff and built by Britt Brothers in 1937.]" (Source: http://rowdystory.com/rowdy-blog/, retrieved May 8, 2021.)

"Built in 95 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $105/day, 546 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Displacement at 40.25ft w.l. and Draft 8.05ft = 772cuft = 49408lbs. Displacement at 40.76ft w.l. and Draft 8.13ft (i.e. 1in deeper) = 811cuft = 51904lbs.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Penciled note on letter by NYYC measurer Harold W. Webb dated June 1, 1916. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

" … Displ[acement] 811cuft = 9.33^3 = 51900lbs ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Undated penciled note (ca. 1923?). Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDE04.)

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