HMCo #933s Rofa

"[1925-06-06] Sat 6: ... Launched Sch[ooner] 'Glendiva', 39' w.l. in evening. [Sic. This must be either #933s Rofa or #934s Harlequin, two 34ft w.l. schooners which were due to be delivered 'on or about June 1st, 1925'.]
[1927-10-04] Tue 4: ... 2 craft went ashore [in] early a.m. Aux. sch[ooner] Raffa [sic, i.e. #933s Rofa] & yawl Alice. Both hauled off by Bubble [#285p] & Sidney.
[1928-07-10] Tue 10: ... Have news of loss of Rofa [#933s] at sea while in ocean race." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1925 to 1931. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Aug[ust] 3 1925
Trial of 'Rofa' #933
Sister ship of 'Harlequin' [#934s], built for Mr. Henry L. Tiffany.
Fitted with Herreshoff folding propeller.
Upper 1/2 mi[le] course.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with best average speed being 8.87 mph]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Experiments Booklet '1911 Trial Trips and Experiments' under date of August 3, 1925. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"Scale of Model 1/2" = 1'.
Frame spaces 15".
S = sheer at top side of deck.
Deck 1 3/8" thick.
Planking 1 3/8" thick.
Timbers 2 1/8" x 2 1/8" at head, tapering 5/64" per ft each way for 6 1/2ft, then parallel." (Source: Herreshoff, A. Sidney DeW. [Penclled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.191.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"... In addition to a number of small racers, one-design 'S' knockabouts for Bar Harbor, and a 30-rater [possibly #931s Nassau], Herreshoff has under construction at Bristol two 50-foot overall cruising-schooners for members of the New Bedford Yacht Club. These yachts are building for George B. Knowles [#934s Harlequin], who recently sold his schooner Harlequin and for Henry L. Tiffany [#933s Rofa] for whom Herreshoff built the 44-foot waterline schooner [#743s] Haswell in 1915. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes From The Week's Log." Boston Globe, March 8, 1925, p. A33.)

"The first woman sailor ever to cross the ocean as a member of a working crew will be aboard one of the four yachts of 55 feet water, line or less that will sail from Ambrose Channel Lighthouse for Spain tomorrow at noon. She is Mrs. William Roos of Pelham Manor, wife of William Roos, owner and skipper of the Rofa, a schooner.
On the eve of the start of the 3,055-mile run among the smallest yachts ever to compete in an ocean event, interest in the race began to assume exceptional significance as yachting circles became aware of the severity of the test that confronts the intrepid contestants. ... Mrs. Roos in no sense will be a passenger; she will be one of the hands and stand watch with the men. ...
Mrs. Roos comes by her seamanship by tradition. She is the daughter of the late H. L. Slade, long a member of the New York Yacht Club and formerly an official of the Northern Pacific Railroad. ...
For the ocean race on the Rofa a special panel has been constructed to conceal Mrs. Roos's bunk and insure her privacy. Henry Howard, secretary to the Spanish Ocean Race Committee, declared yesterday that Mrs. Roos would approach the hazardous trip with less timidity perhaps than many of the men.
The Rofa, on which Mrs. Roos will be a hand, is also known as the Isabella. Mr. Roos desired to name his boat appropriately for the Spanish races and thought of the Queen of Spain, when Columbus set sail to discover what turned out to be America. However, racing regulations and changes of names require time, so that officially she is still listed as Rofa, though the name Isabella is painted on her sides.
If regulations require, the name Isabella which she bore passing Newport last Monday will be painted over and Rofa substituted. That still remains to be seen. Since Rofa is her official name, she is referred to by that designation. ...
The crews, barring such substitutions, obtained from official sources are as follows: ...
Rofa --- William Roos, owner and captain; Mrs. William Roos, Charles Townsend of Ipswich, Mass., Edwin R. Hotchkiss of Houghton, Mich., and a paid hand. ..." (Source: Anon. "Skipper's Wife Will Be in Crew Of Schooner in the Race to Spain. Mrs. William Roos, First Woman Ever to Cross the Atlantic as One of Working Hands, Ready to Start on the Rofa Tomorrow." New York Times, June 29, 1928, p. 18.)

"... Five schooners were named to start yesterday in the contest for the trophy offered by Queen Victoria.: ... and the Isabella, ex-Rofa, recently purchased by William Roos of the New York Athletic Club, a Herreshoff schooner, which has been given a rig entirely new in design, worked out by the owner from suggestions taken from ideas recorded by Mr [Manfred] Curry in his book. ..." (Source: Anon. "Large Yachts in Spanish Race Start off Sandy Hook Next Saturday." Boston Globe, July 1, 1928, p. B10.)

"PICKED UP 800 MILES OUT
Six Taken Off in Darkness by the Tuscarora Tell of Mishap as They Land Here.
MRS. ROOS IS RETICENT
But Fellow-Voyagers Say Wife of Captain and Owner Was Coolest Aboard --- She Returns Smiling.
On June 30 [1928] four gallant little schooners, the smallest that ever competed in an ocean race, manoeuvred across the starting line at Ambrose Channel Lightship for a daring voyage of 3,055 miles to Santander, Spain, the winner to lift the Queen Victoria Cup. Brilliant sunshine and blue skies favored the start of the race and a distinguished audience, with Senior Alejandro Padilla, the Spanish Ambassador, a guest on J. Pierpont Morgan's Corsair, waved their farewells to the departing amateurs.
The fifteen-ton schooner Rofa, smallest of the four yachts, owned by Captain William Roos of Pelham Manor, had at the helm Mrs. Roos, experienced yachtswoman and the first of her sex to ship as member of a crew in such a event. Yesterday afternoon, in a downpour, Mrs. Roos and the others of her crew docked from the Anglo-American oil tanker Tuscarora, whose captain is A. W. Hart, at the Standard Oil pier in Bayonne. They had been rescued, as reported in The Times yesterday, 797 miles east of Ambrose Light after a squall had snapped both masts.
Taken Off at Night. Adrift on their frail craft, with a square sail rigged up on the stump of a mast, the Rofa was barely able to keep out of the trough of the sea. They were taken off by Captain Hart at night, several hours after one of his crew observed Very signals from the yacht. The Tuscarora towed the Rofa for nearly five hours but the yacht broke adrift in a rainstorm and probably sank.
Unaware of the imminence of a storm the crew had hoped to continue to Spain with their makeshift rig but on the urging of Captain Hart, who warned them of a northeast storm fast approaching, they reluctantly abandoned the forty-five-thousand-dollar yacht, leaving behind most of their personal belongings.
The crew were exceedingly modest about their adventure and Mrs. Roos's only worry seemed to be that the newspapers would 'sensationalize' the story of their dramatic rescue on conditions bordering on the miraculous. Her husband was taken off at Quarantine and went to Pel-ham Manor for an automobile to take Mrs. Roos home. The other members of the crew, as well as the officers of the Tuscarora, said Mrs. Roos was the coolest one of the rescued party. Her work under stress of the accident, they said, was 'as good as any man's.'
The members of the crew beside Mr. and Mrs. Roos and the cook were Walter H. Schoeler, 31 years old, of the brokerage firm of Auerbach, Pollak and Richardson, 30 Broad Street; Edwin R. Hotchkiss, 21, of Houghton, Mich., graduate of the Michigan College of Mines, class of 1928, and Charles Townsend, 27, a salesman, of New York.
Good Weather Till July 6.
According to Mr. Roos, the weather was excellent up to July 6, the date of the accident. The schooner made 90 miles the first day, 120 the second, 140 the third, 107 the fourth, 165 the fifth and 175 the sixth.
'It was at 10:15 A. M. on July 6, when we were 807 miles east of Ambrose Light, that the mishap oc-currred,' said Mr. Roos. 'Squalls struck with terrific force from the south. The mainsail, foresail, fore-stay sail and jib were set and we were making good headway. The squall caught us with terrific force before we could shorten sail. The mainsail was the first to go. It broke off with a great crash about eighteen feet from the deck. The fifty feet of mast tumbled into the sea, carrying the heavy gear with it.
'Six minutes later the foremast was split to the deck and carried the foresail and headsail down with it. The boom fell athwart the cabin, crushing it in and while we had a narrow escape, nobody was injured.
'Townsend was at the wheel when the crash came and in a jiffy the rest were on deck cutting away the gear. The snapped masts floating in the water threatened to crash into our side as they were pounded along by the waves.
'Everybody worked like beavers chopping away the gear and freeing the floating masts. Then we set up a low rigged square sail which steadied the Rofa.
'The squall lasted twenty minutes and the weather was calmer for the rest of the day. As darkness began falling we were aware that we had to get some assistance and we discharged six Very rockets. The Tuscarora several miles off sighted our rockets at about 8 o'clock and sent a boat with Second Mate A. Connyers alongside.'
A hawser was made fast to the Tuscarora and after listening to the advice of Captain Hart, the crew left the Rofa. Mrs. Roos was smiling when she stepped on board the rescue ship.
Won't Talk of Experience.
At quarantine yesterday she refused to be photographed. When the ship docked all she would say was:
'I don't want this thing to be made sensational.' She was in excellent humor but was averse to discussing her experience. She was anxious to have it known that she did not suffer in any way as the result of her experience and the only reason she received reporters was because it had been reported that she was ill and exhausted. She praised the work of Captain Hart and his crew.
Mrs. Roos, who is about 36 years old, is an experienced sailor, having cruised a great deal with her husband since they were married ten years ago. She took a small vessel up the Mississippi during the flood to Chicago and was greeted there as having performed a difficult feat.
Captain Hart's Record. Captain Hart's seamanlike record of the rescue, as told in his log, was as follows:
'July 6th at Latitude 41.07 N. Longitude 56.53 W. distress signals were reported on our port beam. I hauled down and manoeuvred my vessel to a steamer and asked what their trouble was and received a reply that the vessel was dismasted and then I asked if they wished to abandon it and in reply was asked to tow them into port. I told them that it was most imprudent to attempt to tow with crew on board but would transfer them to my steamer and then attempt to tow the yacht. They were loath to abandon their vessel but after I warned them that a northeast storm was reported approaching they eventually decided to transfer.
'We had them safely on board the Tuscarora and the yacht in tow by 10 P. M. The weather at this time was moderate wind, high swell and hazy.
'At about 2 A. M. the following morning the yacht broke adrift and the weather then being thick with heavy rain it was not possible to pick her up again. On heaving in our tow line we found a part of the foremast still attached, the mast having carried away at the deck. Nothing further could be done and I felt certain that the yacht must have sunk, so we proceeded on our voyage to New York.'
Mr. Schoeler said that there was less than fifty gallons of gasoline on board, the auxiliary engine having been sealed by the Spanish Race Commission when the race started. The Rofa also carried food for three weeks. ..." (Source: Anon. "Rofa Crew Drifted Helpless In Squall. Masts of Racer to Spain Snapped, but Only Storm Warning Kept Them From Going On." New York Times, July 11, 1928, P. 3.)

"... We shall not see a fourth competitor in this class, for she is still up at City Island, her owner and his wife and crew working madly to get her ready in time for the start. Rofa, or Isabella, as she had been re-christened, measured 39 feet w.l., 50 feet o.a., 13 feet, 7 inches beam, and 6 feet draft. So far, everything is orthodox, with the distinction that Rofa was a Herreshoff hull, and that any boat which 'the guileful Nathanael' designed is a dangerous competitor in a race.
But above deck Rofa betrayed the influence of Manfred Curry more than that of the wizard of Bristol. As I never saw her and as her spirit departed the body six days after the start of the race, I draw on William H. Taylor's story in the Herald Tribune on the day after the start for a picture of what Rofa's rig was like. Said Bill,
'Isabella's rig is absolutely unique, and merits a description, if a comprehensible description can be given without the aid of a drawing. She carries two light masts, raked like those of a Chesapeake Bay bugeye. From each masthead a wire rope is stretched to the deck, and on this a boom is pivoted, the forward end of it extending to the mast. On each of these booms are two sails, each pair of sails taking the place of regular fore-and-aft sails. The forward one of each pair, which is tacked down to the forward end of the boom, overlaps the after sail on the same boom, which is tacked down to the point where the boom pivots on the stay from the masthead. Her headsails look like the conventional jib and jumbo from a distance, but are also tacked down to a similar boom, pivoted on the forestay, which comes to her stemhead. All of which is very technical and mystifying, no doubt.'
Those of Rofa's competitors who heard of these mysteries boiled them down to the succinct phrase, 'trick rig,' and with this in mind a further word from the sage of the Herald Tribune is worth reading: 'The only catch is that some structural weakness, undetected in designing and staying a new type of rig, may develop and bring the sticks down around her crew's ears. Which is probably the reason Isabella has kept her propeller on while the others have removed theirs for the race.'
As a prophet my favourite yachting reporter was anything but bad. In light airs Rofa (or Isabella), which started an hour and twenty minutes after the rest of us, made such good time that on the third and again on the fourth day of the race she was abeam of Mohawk. Mohawk disappeared to the southward and on the fifth in freshening wind walked forty miles ahead of Rofa. But for one day more the experimental boat sailed well and behaved in no manner to justify the charge that her rig was trick. Then she was dismasted in a rain squall, as will be seen from William Roos's description of the accident which appeared in the magazine Yachting:
'On the morning of July 6 it seemed to be clearing. About 10:15 a.m. the man at the wheel called, 'It is going to rain; get me my oilskins,' Mrs. Roos threw them out to him. Then he called again, 'Better close the slide; it is going to rain.'
This was nothing new, as it had been raining, off and on, all night. I reached for the slide, and as I did so we heard our foremast break, and a second later our mainmast. The boat had not heeled over enough to be noticeable inside. The man at the wheel said that she did not put her rail under. It was a sudden puff and a rain squall that was over in five minutes. No one lost any time getting on deck when we heard the masts break.'
That evening, when the deck had been cleared and a square-sail had been bent to the stump of the foremast about twenty feet above Rofa's deck, the British steamer Tuscarora was sighted and signalled and came alongside. All hands and valuable instruments were safely transferred to the steamer, and the Rofa was taken in tow at better than ten knots. Although the limit speed of a boat of Rofa's dimensions is not more than nine knots, the little yacht gamely tagged along for four hours. Then a slack towline, which, when hauled in, revealed at its end the stump of the foremast, informed the good skipper of the Tuscarora that he need worry no more about the Rofa. As she has never been sighted from that day to this it is assumed by the cognoscenti that she sank. ..." (Source: Loomis, Alfred F. Ocean Racing. New York, 1936, p. 180-182.)

"1925. ... Herreshoff's had all the firm could handle. By the end of March the seven [sic, i.e. five?] S boats for Bar Harbor [#909s Mab, #910s Albatross, #911s Elinor, #912s Emily II, #913s Spray] were nearly finished, they were building two of the Herreshoff 15-footers to be used at Newport [probably #997s Nabob II and #998s Nancy]; the Alden designed S boat [#931s Nassau] for a Chicago yachtsman was planked and ready to be turned over and set on her keel; twelve 14-foot sailing skiffs [#924s-#929s, #935s-#938s, #946s, #947s, #950s, #951s], the same as N. G. Herreshoff had taken to Florida the year before but with centerboards instead of fin keels, had been shipped to the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, and they had orders for two 50-foot auxiliary schooners, Harlequin [#934s] and Rofa [#933s], for New Bedford men. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 25.)

"[Item Description:] Typed 'Specifications, Attached to and Foring a Part of Contract Number 933 [#933s ROFA], Between the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Rhode Island, and Mr. Henry L. Tiffany of New Bedfored, Massachusetts. Specifications for the Construction of a Class of Two Thirty-Nine Foot Waterline Keel Cruising Schooner Yachts [#933s ROFA and #934s HARLEQUIN]'. 5 pages." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Specifications. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.019. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 933s. No date (1925-02-10).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections and displacement and center of buoyancy calculations for #933s ROFA [and #934s HARLEQUIN]." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.019. Pantograph Hull Sections. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 933s. 1925-02-13.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Since telegraphing you last night that there was time enough to make another model [for #932s GAMECOCK], I have again talked with Tom [Brightman].
He has, as you know, a considerable amount of small work on hand in addition to the two 38 foot schooners [#933s ROFA and #934s HARLEQUIN]. As he has laid out his schedule, he plans to get this small work completed and out of the way in six weeks, and then to concentrate on the 'R' boat. With all his preparations made in advance he thinks he can actually build her in five weeks. He said he assumed you would want her double planked with Philippine mahogany and yellow pine dead wood, and a cedar or pine deck covered with canvas. If this is not correct, will you let me know so that I may advise him accordingly. I personally like a wooden deck better than canvas covered, but for a boat of this size and type, assume the latter is more practical." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_30180. Subject Files, Folder 27, formerly 10-15. 1925-02-24.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink) trials booklet titled '1911. Trial Trips and Experiments'. Relevant contents:
§55: #933s ROFA Trial Run best average speed 8.87mph (1925-08-03)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator) and Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_04280. Folder [no #]. 1911-06 to 1926-05.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Yours with sketch of 'ROFA' [#933s] came duly to hand. Think I understand her rig quite clearly excepting possibly the handling of the odd sails.
It struck me that the sails & yards projecting forward of the stays might be sort of awkward with sheets off to keep clear of in a dark stormy time and when you mentioned the tall slender masts with stays from their tops to deck on which the sails hoisted, I began to have my doubts of any slender masts supporting even jib headed sails in very much wind. Her owner must have been thinking about gin pole down strains[?] & forgotten the belly pull of any sail attached to its whole length or height. Well I am sorry for she was probably a good boat. I believe she will be towed in yet. Let me know what you think of the episode. It wouldn't surprise me much to hear of something similar from 'NINA'. We are just plenty busy with the Barnacle. Easterly half done & am occupying it. Its been squally with showers for two weeks past but hasn't interfered as yet with the house work tho it has with MELODY on the ways for overhauling. Some one stole that fine dinghy of Bentons whom where it was lashed over his cabin top at New Venice. A few days ago some boys brought her onto the beach where TALLAHASSEE laid & proceeded to paint her another color and were quite taken aback when we walked over & took her away from them as they were evidently not the thieves and youngsters at that & tho they evidently knew about it probably. Let them go with a good scolding.
Have had a few little sails but hardly worthwhile drying sails for, motor continues to run A.1. However Saint Gardens[?] & his two children dropped in to see us the other day. On their[?] way home from Nassau having spent several weeks on his boat which he keeps at Marsh Harbor Abaco. Talks now of taking over his mother's property just below here & making it his home & bringing TRAMP back into the flock again. We should be glad to have him do it. Bob & his men are at work on ARLEGA as it is Sat. half holiday. He has plenty of other work on and besides ours. Tell us all the news we get some from the N.Y. Times. Yacht news we have to wait for in the monthlies. The Bermuda races evidently did not have any too good a time this year. All hands send best wishes to you both." (Source: Munroe, R.M. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_42310. Correspondence, Folder 88, formerly 121. 1928-07-14.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Yours of July 19th was duly r[e]c[eive]d & enjoyed. I had somewhat expected to hear of ROFA's [#933s] being picked up by this time. It was a shame to have abandoned such a craft in mid Summer weather with no material damage done her. One of her crew is a school mate of Vincent Gilpin, and with him expects to cruise in early fall with Howard in 'ALICE' to Grenada V.I. G. Whites he will find out all about ROFA [#933s] later on. A Nassau darky whom we have known for may years is now mixing concrete for the Barnacle. I got him a job Winter before last as foremast hand on the twin boat to ALICE, CARIB II on a Bahama cruise, and now am getting all the particulars of that trip. ALICE has been handicapped by cutting down of sail and before even trial was given her, had the poorest of setting sails and none too well handled. CARIB had just the same treatment, almost exactly except that the owner ran her ashore in bad situations three times and got her off by sheer luck each time. We are getting along fairly well with the house, running the concrete plate piece today with squally weather. Another week and will be safe from any gale. I have Miss Bisbee helping to finish up the story of Coconut Grove & hope to have that off my mind shortly and get a sail occasionally. The children have been using SUNSET lately but MELODY is now in commission again.
The little motor on SUNSET still continues to function at about the first turn of the flywheel. New piston rings, that's all. Finished the concrete pouring with little hindrance from squalls. Tho a first class water spout formed & continued off Cocoplum[?] for nearly 10 minutes this p.m. We are building a very solid concrete chimney into the new S.W. wall of the extension which with the library tied into the N.E. end will further strengthen the Barnacle against gales to a large extent.
Returning to subject of Ocean racing. I cannot see where such sport as exemplified bu this last one, can work out satisfactory to most of the contestants. There is too much chance of conflicting winds and weather in such a long race and leaving the losers[?] little or no chances to get square with the winners at all which is not the case in most sports or games. [Starling] Burgess will very likely now run into lots of orders for a type similar to NINA. When you & I & lots of others know it to be a pernicious one & not worth of the full that will be made over it. Luck in light head winds did the trick for him. You probably noticed that in the hard S.W. breeze fore the shift N.E. that NINA while running off was boarded by a sea which completely swept her for & aft. Suppose that had been winter, real winter weather.
All wish to be remembered to you both ..." (Source: Munroe, R.M. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_42290. Correspondence, Folder 88, formerly 121. 1928-08-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I just experienced a conflicting mix of up of hurricanes a little different from any we can remember of which kept the Weather Bureau and ourselves pretty darn busy from early yesterday until a few hours ago. Not that any great danger was apprehended, but we didn't want to feel foolish afterwards if failing to take all precautions. Last week one of the twisters came up from the Windward Islands passed just west of Nassau & struck this coast about Fort Pierce. Not much damage until it reached the Carolinas tho giving everyone a scare. About the same time another one was reported nearly at the same source but not of much intensity, but we kept it in mind all the same & finally it was detected last Sat. trying to sneak in past Jamaica. At their usual rate of progress, we leisurely prepared, and Sunday a.m. thought that there would be nothing doing of consequence before the following night but persuaded Wirth & Patty & their party to give up an intended sail in Melody to the banks. Bob Irwin however had a stag party for ARLEGA and promising not to go far started with wind E.S.E. under power & sail while I went aboard SUNSET to snug her up and had just knotted the last lashing when I had to dive into the cabin out of a squall that until the slack of the mooring took up, hove the little boat down to her plank sheer & held her there. Irwin had gotten about a mile outside the beacon when struck by the same wind and had a lively time getting his sail in & then rather foolishly anchored instead of getting back to his moorings soon as possible. When he did there was some fun getting there but he finally accomplished it. It rained blowing a two reef breeze the rest of the day with some violent squalls but as the glass remained nearly at 30 with only .12 fall til long after dark & no shift of wind or moderating, gave it up & turned in. Just after midnight we got a phone message from a friend in Miami stating that the Weather Bureau had issued a storm notice that the Jamaica storm had passed south of Isle of Pines & was on its way to Yucatan but that another twister had been spotted 40 miles S.E. of Key West bound N.W. & up the Fla. West Coats. This explained the apparent odd behaviour of what we took for the Jamaica breeze jumping over Cuba which was quite out of order. Since morning the wind has been slowly hauling & the rain & wind squalls moderating, so I expect we can resume work on the Barnacle tomorrow morning. Your account of the THISTLE [#1078s] trial trip was interesting and no wonder you feel got up over the ocean races. Nothing further from 'ROFFA' [sic, i.e. #933s ROFA]. Guess she got run down. Saw a stern view of THISTLE, think it was in N.Y. Times, noticed what appeared to be an adaptation of my double mizzen boom rig. (Tell Nystrom he needn't send a check.) Should like to have been along on the trial. [Annotated sketch showing Cuba and Florida coast and track of hurricanes.]
We originated a hurricane some years ago back of Miami in the Everglades and were very proud of it tho careful not to give it too much impetus until it got out of the State.
WATER LILLY's [#982s] cover seems to be in good shape. She held up the cottage very nicely last night.
Yours with good wishes to all, ... [No year. Reference to ROFA sinking indicates this letter to have been written in 1928.]" (Source: Munroe, R.M. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_42250. Correspondence, Folder 88, formerly 121. (1928)-08-(18 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled '#933 ROFA. #934 HARLEQUIN. June 26, 1968. Request for displacement by William G. Peters. Lucayan Harbour Inn & Marine, Freeportt, G.B.J. Bahamas'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 676cuft or 43200[lbs]." (Source: Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_01890. Folder [no #]. 1968-06-26.)
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"[Item Description:] Spreadsheet listing original contracts (from 1923 to 1940) by HMCo in the collection of HMM (apparently from the gift of Everett Pearson). Listed boats are: #380p, #381p, #388p, #389p, #391p, #392p, #393p, #395p, #886s, #933s, #934s, #954s, #955s, #962s, #983s, #999s, #1002s, #1017s, #1054s, #1055s, #1057s, #1074s, #1078s, #1122s, #1125s, #1130s, #1131s, #1147s, #1152s, #1153s, #1154s, #1156s, #1157s, #1164s, #1170s, #1173s, #1174s, #1175s, #1175s, #1176s, #1177s, #1179s, #1180s, #1191s, #1192s, #1193s, #1195s, #1196s, #1198s, #1199s, #1200s, #1201s, #1202s, #1203s, #1206s, #1207s, #1208s, #1209s, #1210s, #1211s, #1212s, #1213s, #1214s, #1215s, #1216s, #1217s, #1218s, #1219s, #1220s, #1222s, #1224s, #1236s, #1226s, #1227s, #1228s, #1230s, #1232s, #1234s, #1237s, #1238s, #1240s, #1241s, #1243s, #1244s, #1245s, #1246s, #1247s, #1248s, #1249s, #1250s, #1251s, #1252s, #1253s, #1254s, #1255s, #1256s, #1257s, #1258s, #1259s, #1260s, #1261s, #1262s, #1263s, #1264s, #1265s, #1274s, #1275s, #1277s, #1279s, #1280s, #1281s, #1282s, #1283s, #1284s, #1285s, #1286s, #1287s, #1302s, #1303s, #1315s, #1508s." (Source: Rickson, Norene (creator). Table. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_4220. HMM Library Rare Books Room (HMCo Contracts), Folder [no #]. No date (2010s ?).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #933s Rofa even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Taglang, Jacques. Mariette and the Herreshoff Schooners. Two vols. Eynesse, 2010.
  Vessel biographies, large-scale sail and lines plans reproduced from original HMCo plans. The definitive book on Herreshoff schooners.
• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #933s Rofa, schooner (including specifications).] Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Bristol, RI, February 10, 1925. (2,537 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Herreshoff Marine Museum. Original building/sales contract. Vessel description, scantlings, payment terms, delivery date. Includes detailed vessel specifications and accompanying letter by Rofa's first owner Henry L. Tiffany.

• Rofa (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Rofa and #934s Harlequin (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: Rofa
Type: Schooner
Length: 39'
Owner: Tiffany, H. L.

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

• Rofa
• 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: Rofa
Type: 39' aux. schooner
Owner: Henry L. Tiffany
Year: 1926
Row No.: 576

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: Feb.
Day: 10
Year: 1925
E/P/S: S
No.: 0933
Name: Rofa
OA: 49'
LW: 39'
Rig: Schr.
Amount: 17,500.00
Notes Constr. Record: $500 extra for double plank.
Last Name: Tiffany
First Name: Henry L.

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.

"[See also:] Estimates (2/13/1925) - Specifications for the construction of a class of two 39' w.l. keel cruising schooner yachts. In: Technical and Business Records pertaining to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Series VI, Folder HH.6.19 (Hull No. 933), Box HAFH.6.1B." (Source: Hasselbalch, Kurt and Frances Overcash and Angela Reddin: Guide to The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1997, p. 63-79.)

"Granted, Sidney carved the half model, but was he the designer of record? I can't dispute, only question, after seeing how Lloyds handled, say, the FIS 23 and 31, listing Herreshoff Mfg. Co. as designer. Even Ara, the 165' diesel yacht of 1922, has HMCo as designer of record. I've always been under the impression that all yachts showing HMCo as designer were actually designed by Sidney, while those that show NGH were really designed by NGH." (Source: Bray, Maynard. Email communication to Claas van der Linde. September 10, 2009.)

"Mystic Seaport Museum appears to have two at least two Rosenfeld photos of Rofa, accession numbers 1984.187.28983F and 1984.187.29026F. Given that at least three Rosenfeld photos of Rofa, taken on the start of the transatlantic regatta on June 30, 1928, were published in the New York Times, there may well be even more at Mystic." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 16, 2010.)

"Date of delivery 'on or about June 1st, 1925' from original contract in collection of Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 15, 2015.)

"Built in 111 days (contract to delivered; equivalent to $158/day, 270 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Sail area 'about 1150 square feet' from original contract in the collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 15, 2015.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Net Register Tons (15) from the 1928 List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. (Gross Register Tons were reported as 18) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

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