HMCo #1050s Katoura

"[1927-07-01] Fri 1: Strong NE [wind], cool. [#1050s] Katoura left in p.m. to join E.Y.C. Cruise.
[1927-09-09] Fri 9: Fine. L[igh]t N [wind in] a.m. SW fresh [in] p.m. Mr Tod arrived in Katoura [#1050s] in a.m. and in evening had a long talk about his craft. ...
[1927-09-10] Sat 10: ... Ann & I lunched with Mr. Tod on Katoura [#1050s] and he then left for Newport in fresh SSW breeze. ...
[1927-09-26] Mon 26: ... Katoura [#1050s] arrived at sunset.
[1927-10-04] Tue 4: ... Mr. Tod here to consider new yacht. [Robert Tod would soon replace his recently-built Burgess-designed 23meter Rule sloop #1050s Katoura with the NGH-designed bronze yawl #1078s Thistle.] ...
[1928-08-20] Mon 20: ... Went to Newport by bus and out in Vasanta [#372p] with Mr. Pynchon to see Kings Cup Race. Had a very pleasant day and home [at] 6-50 by buss [sic]. Prestige [#1058s] won by time allowance. Blackshear [#1050s ex-Katoura] first in.
[1928-09-25] Tue 25: ... Katoura [? apparently #1050s Blackshear ex-Katoura] left for City Is[land] at noon. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1927 to 1928. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"The most important yacht built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in 1927 was the steel twenty-three-meter yacht designed by W. Starling Burgess for Robert E. Tod. She was launched on May 2 and christened by Miss Katherine K. Tod, the owner's daughter. This is a yacht that has had many names. While she was christened 'Katoura' as were several of Mr. Tod's yachts, she has since had the names of 'Blackshear,' 'Artemis,' and 'Manxman.' She was built to the International Rule as a twenty-three-meter yacht and had the general dimensions of L.O.A., one hundred and twelve feet; L.W.L., seventy-five feet; beam, twenty feet; draft, thirteen feet seven inches. While this yacht perhaps should not be spoken of as being much connected with Captain Nat, still it is interesting that she was the first of Starling Burgess' metal racers and it was through the methods of building that Captain Nat had developed that Burgess, with this yacht, acquired his first knowledge and practice of high-grade metal construction which was to enable him to design the later cup defenders." (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. 310.)

"Mr. Tod had planned to take 'Katoura' to England to race, but other plans interfered, and for some reason or other he did not like this twenty-three-meter boat." (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. 311.)

"The Herreshoff Company of Bristol, R. I., has received a commission to build a seventy-five-foot water-line racing sloop, the largest yacht of this type to be constructed in this country since the Resolute, Vanitie and Defiance were launched in 1914, and which were of the same water line.
It is being built for a prominent member of the New York Yacht Club." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Company To Build New Yacht." Los Angeles Times, December 19, 1926, p. A5.)

"... Against the big schooners this year there will also be racing the new 75-foot waterline sloop Katoura, now nearing completion at the Herreshoff yard, Bristol, for Robert E. Tod. The new sloop, the largest vessel of the type to be built here since 1914, will be Marconi rigged. She is of the same waterline length as Vanitie and Resolute and will race against them on time allowance. ..." (Source: Lawrence, Seabury. "Three Dates Added To List Of N.Y.Y.C." New York Times, May 21, 1926, p. S2.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 1924:]
Katoura, sloop yacht, of Bristol. Built at Bristol, 1920 [sic, i.e. 1927]. Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, builders.
77 tons; 96 ft. x 20 ft. x 15 ft. One deck, one mast, plain-head. Previous documentation not shown.
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed], (consolidated) ([as] (yacht) May 25, 1927. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: T. P. Brightman. Surrendered June 10, 1927 at New York. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Providence. Ship Registers and Enrollments of Providence Rhode Island, 1773-1939. Providence Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Katoura.)

"The new sloop Katoura, built at Herreshoff's famous yard, at Bristol, R. I., for Robert B. Tod of the New-York Yacht Club, is ready for a tuning-up spin today and if anything like good racing-weather prevails she will be taken out on Narragransett Bay for a trial run.
The Katoura, which was built from designs by W. Starling Burgess, is 75 feet long on the waterline, the largest racing sloop built in this country since 1914 and has a towering Marconi rig.
Katoura, named after the famous schooner once raced by Commodore Tod, has a Marconi mast 150 feet long from heel to truck, one of the tallest spars ever put into a yacht. She is built to the English rule and if she is successful here this season may race in England in 1928." (Source: Anon. "Notes of Yachts and Yachtsmen." New York Times, May 27, 1927, p. 21.)

"Katoura, the new 23-meter sloop built at Herreshoff's for Robert E. Tod, has arrived at New London from Bristol and today will go out of the Thames for her first trial under racing canvas. George Ratsey left for New London and will be on board to look the sails over while under way." (Source: Anon. "Notes of Yachts and Yachtsmen." New York Times, June 3, 1927, p. 19.)

"The new 23-meter sloop Katoura, built at Herreshoff's from designs by W. Starling Burgess for Robert E. Tod of the New York Yacht Club, has arrived at City Island for her racing sails, made by Ratsey & Lapthorn. The new sloop looks very able and carries a tremendous mainmast 150 feet high, the tallest spar in the American yacht fleet." (Source: Anon. "Notes of Yachts and Yachtsmen." New York Times, June 10, 1927, p. 29.)

"... The most sensational event of the year was the construction of a very large cutter, the Katoura, designed by Burgess, Moran & Rigg and built by the Herreshoff Company for Robert E. Todd. With no competitor of her own class, the general sailing of this yacht has been in no way notable, but it remains to be seen what further trial and development may do for her. ..." (Source: Stephens, W. P. "Yachting Showed Slow Recovery From World War.." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 25, 1927, p. C5.)

"... Despite her deep sea equipment Tod decided to race his Katoura in American waters which he did with such poor success that he nearly scrapped her. All winter she lay at Bristol with her asking price going down and down until the late Robert W. Emmons persuaded Frank L. Crocker of New York, who had never owned a racing craft, to offer $25,000 for a boat which cost $150,000. The offer was ... Crocker turned the yacht over to Burgess who lightened..." (Source: Anon. [Title?] Rudder, 1928, vol. 44, [p. 22?].)

"Frank Crocker of the New York Yacht Club has purchased the sloop Katoura from Robert E. Tod, who built the yacht last year at the Herreshoff plant, Bristol, R. I. The Katoura is 75 feet long on the waterline, the largest sloop-rigged yacht in American waters. It has been reported that the Katoura would be raced during the coming season by former Commodore George Nichols for her new owner, but this could not be confirmed yesterday at the New York Yacht Club." (Source: Anon. "Crocker Purchases Katoura, Largest Sloop-Rigged Yacht." New York Times, March 4, 1928, p. 160.)

"... Frank L. Crocker, who purchased the 23-meter cutter Katoura from Robert B. Todd last Winter is having the mast reduced in weight and making other changes in the craft. Last Summer Katoura's stick weighed something like four tons more, it was said, than Resolute's two masts, which may in part have accounted for her poor showing. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes From The Week's Log." Boston Globe, May 6, 1928, p. B22.)

"United States Customs Service. Collection District No. 10, Port of New York. Notice is hereby given that under the Act of Feb. 19, 1920, and in pursuance of authority granted by the Commissioner of Navigation, on the application of W. F. Ingold, the name of the sloop yacht 'Blackshear,' burden 112 gross tons, official number 226557, has been changed to 'Artemis.' (Source: Elting, Philip, Collector of Customs. "Change of Vessel's Name." Nautical Gazette, 1930, vol. 118, [p. 773?].)

"... Over in City Island the big steel sloop Manxman, which has been known variously as Katoura, Artemis and Blackshear, is being refitted for cruising under the burgee of E. W. Clucas of New York. She will be rigged as a yawl and have a Diesel engine for auxiliary power. Manxman will be one of the largest yawls on the Atlantic Coast, ten feet longer over all than Dr. Seth Milliken's famous Thistle [#1078s], which was built a year later at the same yard, Herreshoff 's." (Source: Anon. [Title?] Yachting, 1936, vol. 59-60, [p. 96?].)

"Among the jobs recently completed at the offices of Donaldson & Company, Inc., of New York, was the remodeling of the famous Herreshoff steel sloop Manxman, ex-Katoura. Steel bulwarks are being added. The rig is being changed to a yawl carrying 5,750 sqare feet. A Winton 100 hp. Diesels and a Junkers-Winton generating set are being installed. New G. E. refrigeration, new plumbing system and remodeling of staterooms are being provided. The work is all being done at the yard of Robert Jacob, Inc., City Island. Two new launches are also being built for the yacht at Jacob's." (Source: Anon. "Donaldson Remodeling Manxman." Rudder, 1936, vol. 52, [p. 2?].)

"The New York Yacht Club cruise, varied this year by a three-day stay in Edgartown harbor, a very pleasant place indeed, provided food fun and plenty of keen sailing for thirty vessels. The big Class K yawls, Manxman [#1050s ex-Katoura] and Thistle [#1078s], were the only yachts racing under the Universal rule. The rest of the fleet was made up of craft either built to, or measured under the Cruising Club of America formula.
There wasn't a Thirty, Forty or Fifty to be seen, much less an M or a J boat. There were no Eights or Twelves, and the only Ten-Meter in sight competed against the cruising boats. ... Manxman, under new ownership, that of John N. Matthews, beat Thistle the first day --- in the fog and rain between New London and Block Island --- lost by five seconds on the breezy beat up to Mattapoisett from Newport and then trailed Dr. Seth N. Milliken's lovely yacht every other time they met. Manxman's sails are not what they used to be, Captain Matthews is new to racing and Thistle was very keenly sailed. The combination was too much for Manxman, which in two previous post-war cruises had held the whip hand over Thistle. ... " (Source: Anon. "The N.Y.Y.C. Cruise." Motor Boating, October 1948, p. 112.)

"The beautiful auxiliary yawl Manxman owned by John N. Matthews of New York, N. Y., was sold recently through the offices of the G. W. Ford Yacht Agency of City Island, N. Y., to Dr. Adolpho [Adolfo] Bueno Madrid of Caracas, Venezuela. The new owner will keep the yacht at La Guaira and will use her to stimulate interest in yachting in his country.
The Manxman was designed by Burgess, Rigg and Morgan and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. in 1927. Originally sloop rigged, she was re-rigged as a yawl in 1936. Her auxiliary power is supplied by a General Motors diesel installed in 1945 [sp?].
The Manxman is 116 feet 3 inches on deck, 75 feet on the water, has a beam of 20 feet and draws 13 feet 7 inches, with a working sail area of 5,740 square feet. Her former names were Artemis, Blackshear and Katoura." (Source: Anon. "Manxman Sold." Rudder, 1953, vol. 69, [p. 59?].)

"1927. ... The Spring was a busy season with the builders and there was considerable buying and selling. Herreshoff's was building a mast for the big cutter Katoura [#1050s], said to be the tallest ever made at the plant. It was being made in two sections, one 137 feet long, and the upper section 13 feet, which could be taken off like the outer end of a fish-pole. It was said that if Commodore Tod wanted to sail Katoura under Brooklyn Bridge, he could unjoint the mast and not hit the bridge with the truck. Another spar job was a new mast for the class P sloop Stranger, a Narragansett Bay boat which had been sold to the Lakes. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 35.)

"1928. ... Robert M. Tod had sold the 23-metre sloop Katoura [#1050s] which Herreshoff built for him in 1927 and in May Herreshoff launched the yawl Thistle [#1078s] built for Mr. Tod during the Winter...." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 39)

"... mi cuñado, Nikita Harwich. Dos meses más tarde leega a La Guaira el "Roraima", capitaneado por él y mi amigo Freddie Behrem. Es un hermoso velero que ha ganado premios en concursos internacionales. Se inician asi las excursiones de mi familia y mías a La Tortuga, La Blanquilla, Los Roques, Las Aves y La Orchila. Vamos con todos los nifios, mi hija y los sobrinos que suman siete u ocho las más de las veces. Mi mujer y mis cuñadas se preocupan al verlos acercarse a la barandilla ... (p. 197)
... A poco de haberlo adquirido comenzamos a descubrir los defectos que para nosotros tiene el yate Roraima. Es un barco demasiado lento cuando no sopla brisa. El maneio y conservación del velamen req'iieren la intervención de especialistas. Reso vemos venderlo en Estados Unidos para comprar en cambio un barco de motor, pero el Ministro de la Defensa propone cederlo a la Marina de Venezuela y destinarlo al entrenamiento de cadetes. Aceptamos y en el momento en que la Comandancia de las Fuerzas Navales pide el precio riel velero, me limito a enviar facturas originales. El Doctor Bueno no desea con la venta. Transcurre un mes y solicito el pago. Ya el Roraima ha sido pintado de gris y se donominas ... (p. 220)
[... my brother-in-law, Nikita Harwich. Two months later, he leads La Roraima, captained by him and my friend Freddie Behrem. It is a beautiful sailboat that has won prizes in international competitions. This is how my family's and my trips begin to La Tortuga, La Blanquilla, Los Roques, Las Aves and La Orchila. We go with all the children, my daughter and the nephews who add seven or eight more of the time. My wife and my sisters-in-law worry about seeing them approaching the railing ... (page 197)
... Soon after having acquired it, we began to discover the defects that the Roraima yacht has for us. It is a boat too slow when there is no breeze. The management and conservation of the sails require the intervention of specialists. Reso see sell it in the United States to buy instead a motor boat, but the Minister of Defense proposes to cede it to the Navy of Venezuela and destine it to training cadets. We accept and at the moment when the Command of the Naval Forces requests the sailboat price, I limit myself to send original invoices. Doctor Bueno does not want the sale. A month passes and I request payment. The Roraima has already been painted gray and donomines ... (p.220)] (Source: Lanz, Laureano Vallenilla. Escrito de Memoria. Mexico City, 1961.)

"... y, en especial, para el momento en que nuestro Vallenilla Lanz se ve estimulado a comprar un barco; y será un factor muy importante para la adquisición de la embarcación, puesto que él se encontrará en los Estados Unidos en esos días, y así será el representante del susodicho en el negocio; decimos que se siente estimulado, porque, en verdad, quien lo lleva a tomar esta iniciativa será el propio suegro de Laureano, don Adolfo Bueno, quien le hace ver la pasión que él siente por el mar, y lo bueno que resulta el Caribe, como refugio, para hombres como el presidente y como él, que necesitan aislarse, de vez en cuando; y así le habla de lo fácil que se consigue un barco en Estado Unidos, cosa por la que no se detiene a pensar Laureano, teniendo presente que el viejo se ofrece a financiarle el mismo; de forma que, gracias al cuñado, a los dos meses de comenzar a mover sur idea, atraca el velero 'Roraima' en el puerto de La Guaira, conducido por el propio Harwich [Nikita Harwich Vallenilla], además de un amigo de Laureano, especialista en este tipo de embarcación.
Así inician las excursiones suyas, conjuntamente con familiares y amigos, hacia La Tortuga, La Orchila, Las Aves, La Blanquilla; esto es, hacia las islas venezolanas del mar Caribe, y entonces los crios, o sea, hija y sobrinos de Laureano, son objeto de preocupación de las madres, y que no los ven completos, cuando éstos se apostan en la barandilla a contemplar el mar; de donde resultan que las cuentan una y otra vez, mientras los chamos gozan con la experiencia de cotejarse con las aguas. Algo nefasto sí resultan los camarotes de aquel velero, que son demasiado calurosos, y de modo que a aquellos navegantes no les queda sino dormir sobre cubierta en unas colconetas, y de donde viene que muchas veces son despertados por una ola fuerte, que se bate contra la embarcacíon en la medianoche, y asi los baña de agua. A medida que pasan los dias, además, Laureano se perfecciona en el dificil arte de subir y bajar las velas. ... [... and, especially, by the time our Vallenilla Lanz is encouraged to buy a boat; and it will be a very important factor for the acquisition of the boat, since he will be in the United States in those days, and thus he will be the representative of the aforementioned in the business; we say that he feels stimulated, because, in truth, whoever takes him to take this initiative will be Laureano's own father-in-law, Don Adolfo Bueno, who makes him see his passion for the sea, and how good the Caribbean is, as a refuge, for men like the president and like him, who need to isolate themselves, from time to time; and so he talks about how easy it is to get a boat in the United States, something that Laureano does not stop to think about, bearing in mind that the old man offers to finance it himself; so that, thanks to the brother-in-law, two months after starting to move south, the 'Roraima' boat docks at the port of La Guaira, driven by Harwich himself [Nikita Harwich Vallenilla], as well as a friend of Laureano, specialist in this type of boat.
So they start their excursions, together with family and friends, to La Tortuga, La Orchila, Las Aves, La Blanquilla; that is, towards the Venezuelan islands of the Caribbean Sea, and then the children, that is, Laureano's daughter and nephews, are the mothers' concern, and they do not see them complete, when they are placed on the railing to contemplate the sea; where they happen to tell them over and over again, while the kids enjoy the experience of checking in with the waters. Something nefarious are the cabins of that sailboat, which are too hot, and so those sailors have nothing left but to sleep on deck in a few bowls, and where it comes from, many times they are awakened by a strong wave, which is whisked away. against the boat at midnight, and so bathes them with water. As the days go by, in addition, Laureano is perfected in the difficult art of raising and lowering the sails. ...]" (Source: Meléndez, Enrique. El Otro Vallenilla Lanz. Caracas, 2001, p. 435.

"KATOURA
1927
Robert E. Tod a member of the NYYC, ordered a big yacht in steel, Katoura, from W. Starling Burgess in late 1926. A sloop of this size had not been built since 1914, when Resolute, Vanitie, Defiance, and Shamrock IV first appeared on the scene. Katoura was designed under the Universal Rule, and her waterline length of 75 feet earned her a rating of 68-1/2 foot. Katoura was thus the first yacht to be classed as a J (rating between 65- and 76-Foot). However, her low rating would have prohibited her from racing for the Cup against 76-foot J boats. Her size aside, the second particularity of this sloop lay in the building method, which complied with Lloyd's scantling rules for yachts longer than the 12-Metre boats of the International Rule. This intentional decision was significant, as Tod intended to go to Great Britain for the 1928 racing season.
Nor was it by accident that he chose to limit the waterline to 75 feet; this option would enable him to pit himself against the British big-class yachts.
The launch of Katoura did not go unnoticed. To begin with, the rumour of her Atlantic crossing to Europe, planned for 1928, incited some eminent British yachtsmen to place orders for new 23-Metre boats, for the first time since 1908! In addition, the new International Measurement Rule adopted in 1928 classed Katoura, which had been born a Universal Rule yacht, as a 21-1/2 Metre. This was the first step toward the gradual merger of the Universal and International Rules.
The most surprising aspect of the story was that Katoura, having shaken the yachting world, never came to Europe. Built at the Herreshoff shipyard and launched on 2 May 1927 after being christened by Tod's daughter Katherine, the yacht's first racing season produced mixed results. Sold at the end of the season to Frank L. Crocker from New York, who renamed her Blackshear in 1928, the boat, which now had an auxiliary engine, came into the hands of William Forbes Ingold in 1932 and was renamed Artemis. In 1934, the sloop was bought by E. W. Clucas and had her name changed again, this time to Manxman. Clucas converted her into a yawl in 1936. At the end of 1947, he sold her to John N. Mathews. In 1954 the yacht, which had become the property of the Madrilene Dr. Alfonso Bueno, was called Roraima and was based at La Guaira in Venezuela. In 1957 Roraima belonged to the Venezuelan Naval School. All trace of her was lost in 1958." (Source: Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. J Class. London, 2002, p. 141-142.)

"Owner; Years; Location; Boat Name
Robert E. Tod; 1927 - 1928; ; Katoura
Frank Crocker; 1928 - 1932; ; Blackshear
William Forbes Ingold; 1932 -1934; ; Artemis
E.W. Clucas; 1934 1947; ; Manxman
John N. Mathews; 1947 - 1953; ; Manxman
Dr. Adolfo Bueno; 1953 - 1956; La Guaira, Venezuela; Roraima
Venezuelan Naval School; 1957 - ; Caracas, Venezuela; Roraima
This boat raced as a yawl in the 1950's. She was sold in 1953 to Venezuela. It is told that she served as the presidential yacht for dictator Gomez. Apparently she was still afloat in poor condition as late as 1969. She has disappeared, and several sources claim she is destroyed. Bueno was Gomez' personal physician." (Source: Nagy, Steve. Herreshoff Registry. http://www.herreshoffregistry.org/detail.php?hull=1050, retrieved March 20, 2014.)

"... The mighty steel cutter Katoura was the first of [Starling] Burgess's New York-owned racing yachts to be built. With an overall length of 112 (later 116) feet, a waterline length of 75 feet, a beam of 20 feet, a draft of 13 feet 7 inches, and a sail area of 7,000 square feet, Katoura was virtually the same size as the last prewar Big Class American sloops, Vanitie and Resolute [#725s]. She was the first Big Class single- sticker with a jib-headed rig. Her hollow wooden mainmast measured more than 150 feet from step to truck. (In the interests of prudent coastwise piloting, the top 13 feet of the mast was designed to be more or less readily removable.) Katoura was no ordinary yacht, and her launching at Bristol on 2 May 1927, which was attended by past and current New York Yacht Club commodores Harold S. Vanderbilt and George Nichols, was no ordinary event.
Nor was capitalist Robert Elliot Tod (1867-1944) an ordinary yacht owner. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, and the holder of an honorary BS degree from Princeton, he was a superb seaman and navigator with the resources to build and own, and the ability (and the unlimited master's license) to command, the largest yachts of the day. John Parkinson notes that he served as first navigating officer on J. P. Morgans second Corsair (USS Gloucester) in World War I and was subsequently awarded a Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Cross. Among the sailing yachts Tod owned during his long and active life (he also owned a succession of fast express cruisers) were the 150-foot Wintringham schooner Thistle, the 136-foot A. Cary Smith schooner Katoura, the fabulous 198-foot three-masted Theodore Wells schooner Karina, and in 1913 the 166-foot Herreshoff schooner Katoura [#722s].
The construction log of Herreshoff Manufacturing Company states that the cost of the Burgess-designed steel cutter Katoura was $120,000. Assuming that Burgess, Rigg & Morgan, Ltd., charged Commodore Tod the then- prevailing design fee of 10 percent of construction costs, the firm grossed $12,000 on this transaction, and Burgess himself netted perhaps $6,000 or more: $100,000 or more in 2014 dollars.
Did Commodore Tod get his money's worth? To those who remember this magnificent black-hulled cutter when she sailed out of Marblehead in the late 1920s and (rigged as a yawl) out of Edgartown in the 1930s, or when she was scratch boat during the annual New York Yacht Club cruises in the years just after World War II, the answer is obvious. Manxman (ex-Katoura, ex-Blackshear, ex- Artemis) was big. She was fast. She was able. She was magnificent. But for the fickle Commodore Tod, who had originally intended to campaign her in English waters in the summer of 1928, then changed his mind, she was neither the largest nor the most impressive of his long line of dream ships. Plagued with poorly cut sails and other teething problems, Katoura entered only a few races in 1927, with inconclusive results, and in 1928 Tod commissioned N. G. Herreshoff to design and build for him the 103-foot bronze K class yawl Thistle [#1078s].
So in 1928 Katoura became Blackshear under the ownership of New Yorker Frank L. Crocker and, with Boston's John S. Lawrence at the wheel, won the Astor Cup, the King's Cup, the Commodore's Cup, the Vice-Commodore's Cup and the George F. Baker Jr. Cup during the New York Yacht Club cruise. ..." (Source: Howland, Llewellyn, III. No Ordinary Being: W. Starling Burgess: Inventor, Naval Architect, Poet, Aviation Pioneer, and Master of American Design. Jaffrey, NH, 2014, p. 246-248.)

"[Item Description:] Dimensioned sketch titled '#1050 [#1050s KATOURA] mast attachment for upper spreader'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Sketch. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. No date (1926-11 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint lines plan with body, sheer lines and water lines titled 'Burgess, Rigg & Morgan, Ltd. Eleven Broadway, New York City. Design No. Five for Robert E. Tod, Esq. … Nov. 8, 1926' and penciled note 'KATOURA [#1050s] changed to BLACKSHEAR'." (Source: Burgess, Rigg & Morgan (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00950. Folder [no #]. 1926-11-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [On 'R.M. Munroe, Box 116, Coconut Grove, Florida' stationery:] ... This must be Sunday for the house is not full, various mechanics are conspicuous by their absence. It hasn't squalled yet so far but will by p.m. Our cistern is positively running over and the rest on the verge. Rain began about the middle of last week with one roof finished (kitchen) and library nearly so but nothing damaged. Windows & screens now all in so let her drizzle.
Unbent SUNSET's sails and given up any attempt at sailing til the wet spell is over of Wirth gets home which he doesn't seem to be in much hurry about. Everything is rank green again and the lawn mowers are being oiled up. The boat house work is finished up to the date three and the sea grape over the top of the wire fence with the ginger plant close behind but the sweet potatoes 'non est' and a fine water melon vine in its place. Can't do much with your corner post gardens til we get some leaders up. Your good long letter of the 3rd duly re[ceive]d. It must have been interesting to see PLEASURE [#907s] following you up and having another sail in her also in having a chance for a comparison between her & ALERION [#718s]. 'Yachting' [magazine] was quite full of more or less readable stuff last issue but little however of really much value as being either new or proven. That squared saw log of a boom on KATOURA [#1050s] may answer but sure is not a thing of beauty. Your ideas about a boat [#192705es] suitable for these waters & capable of being wheeled up the hill on my new road for storage is perfectly O.K. Whats more, it will be very simple to build strong protection from the weather back of our hammock out of expanded metal lathing[?] & plaster. My two iron wheels are still perfectly good even if they have kicked around in the weather since 1876[?].
If outside ballasted it might be made removable in such small craft tho not absolutely necessary. Tho to detach it removes strain in the boat in handling. I've bought new chain for SUNSET moorings and will risk her again but with cockpit covering to guard against the chop sea of the Swetland storm walls which with the customary deluge of rain & flying salt water might easily over tax her scuppers. Possibly there was no back wash at the time she went adrift, everything being submerged as shown by my pier standing intact. Dr. Baekeland & wife were in town for some three days looking over their new purchase of the Huntington Buyan[?] home and making plans for some changes & furniture. Mrs B. seemed delighted & tho parts of each day were a bit trying as to heat she remained enthusiastic. The Chapman field situation for boat storage is still a good proposition and several good men connected with the Govt. agricultural station are available as caretakers but its quite a ways off and the progress already made by the Coral Gables folks back[?] of better chance there but not this year. Mrs M[unroe] and Patty will probably get away soon for the N.C. mountains but guess I'm a fixture except maybe a S.S. trip north for a little while. With best wishes to all hands. [No year. Choice of stationery and mention of Sunday July 10 (which occurred in 1927) and PEASURE/ALERION comparision indicates this letter to have been written in 1927 (even though it was filed with 1923/1924 Munroe correspondence).]" (Source: Munroe, R.M. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_41780. Correspondence, Folder 87, formerly 121. (1927)-07-10.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Printed circular, two sheets of paper:] New York Yacht Club The Cruise 1927
Additional Racing Instructions Run From Huntington To New London—16Th August
In case of no wind at Huntington at the proposed time of the Start on the 16th August, the following signals will be made by the Flagship: etc. ... [Plus printed circular:] New York Yacht Club
List of yachts, measurement certificates of which were on file with the Race Committee on August 1, 1927, which will be valid for the Cruise.
SCHOONERS: C Class
C 2 OHONKARA [#827s]
C 7 VAGRANT [#719s]
C 3 VANITIE
D Class: D 25 ADVANCE
D 7 CONSTANCE
D 22 WILDFIRE [#891s]
D 5 LYNX
E Class: E 4 AURELIA
E 9 QUEEN MAB [#698s]
E16 SHAWNA
F Class: F3 CURLEW
F 4 MARY ROSE [#954s]
F 1 PLEIONE [#714s]
F 11 CACHALOT
G Class: S.C. 11 CLYTIE
S.C. 12 NADJI
S.C. 9 NOKOMIS
S.C. 6 SEVEN SEAS
G 1 WANDERER IX
G 7 MALABAR VII
H Class: H 3 FLYING FISH
H 2 ADVENTURER
KETCH: H 7 ANGELICA
SLOOPS
J Class: J 1 KATOURA [#1050s]
L.0. Class: L.0. 1 GEORGIA
L.0. 4 GREY DAWN
L.0. 5 MIRAGE
L.0. 3 NIMBUS
M Class: M 5 CAROLINA [#721s]
M 3 CHIORA [#713s ex-IROQUOIS II]
M 38 DOLLY
M 4 IBIS [#715s ex-GRAYLING]
M 1 PRESTIGE [#1058s]
M 6 SPARTAN [#712s]
10 Meter Class: 10M 9 BLAZING STAR
10M 7 BRANTA
10M 4 CYTHERA
10M 11 DRAGON
10M 8 ESQUILA
10M 6 NARCISSUS
10M 14 NAUTILUS
10M 10 RAEBURN
10M 12 REDHEAD
10M 10 REVENGE
10M 13 SHAWARA
10M 3 SYNTHETIC
10M 1 TWILIGHT
10M 5 VALENCIA
N Class: N 2 ALICE
P Class: P 1 BUTTERFLY [#586s ex-NELLIE]
50 Class: N. Y. Y. C. 52 ANDIAMO [#716s ex-SAMURI]
40 Class: N. Y. Y. C. 42 COCKATOO [#775s ex-DOLLY BOWEN]
N. Y. Y. C. 50 MARILEE [#955s]
N. Y. Y. C. 46 MISTRAL [#774s]
N. Y. Y. C. 47 PAMPERO [#781s ex-PAMPARO]
N. Y. Y. C. 45 TYPHOON [#773s ex-MAISIE]
N. Y. Y. C. 49 ROWDY* [#776s]
30 Class: N. Y. 1 ALERA [#626s]
N. Y. 7 ALICE [#632s ex-TABASCO]
N. Y. 9 AMORITA [#635s ex-ADELAIDE II]
N. Y. 15 BANZAI [#640s]
N. Y. 4 INTERLUDE [#629s ex-MAID OF MEUDON]
N. Y. 5 LENA [#630s ex-PINTAIL]
N. Y. 11 ORIOLE [#637s]
N. Y. 13 PHANTOM [#648s ex-MINX]
N. Y. 17 PHRYNE (Rig changed to jib-headed mainsail.) [#643s]
Q Class: F. I. S. 3 CHANCE [#1059s]
F. I. S. 1 CYRILLA II [#1054s]
F. I. S. 2 JUDY [#1055s]
F. I. S. 4 MAMEENA [#1060s]
YAWLS M Class: N. Y. 51 REVERY [#720s ex-ACUSHLA]
M 1 RUGOSA II [#983s]
... August 1, 1827. [Compared to the equivalent list from 1924 the number of boats has increased from 49 to 73, while the number of Herreshoff-built yachts has shrunk from 37 to 32 or 44%.] [Incl envelope from Race Committee NYYC to NGH, labeled in red 'Rating & allowance' and postmarked August 4, 1927.]" (Source: NYYC. Correspondence (circular) to Members. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_73330. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F07, formerly MRDE15. 1927-08-01.)
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"[Item Description:] have ordered new mainsail for #721s CAROLINA and now have entire set of new sails, have done well in the races, agreed to race against #1058s PRESTIGE and #713s CHIORA ex-IROQUOIS but unfortunately hit a sunken wreck when towing and damaged lead keel, am interested in your opinion of #1050s KATOURA [owned by Robert E. Tod] and PRESTIGE, glad that your are helping Mr. Tod for I, too, feel sorry for him, CORSAIR will be at the races and I hope you will come and join her" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18790. Correspondence, Folder 51, formerly 54. 1927-08-27.)
①

"[Item Transcription:] I was very glad to have your letter of February 14th, and to feel that you had some sympathy for my troubles in getting steel and bronze for the metal boats [#1078s THISTLE and #1074s SHEERNESS]. It finally arrived and we are now working overtime getting the steel in place.
Mr. Tod is of course somewhat uneasy, but considering that we have practically all of the interior ready for him, also the decking, deck erections, rig and rigging, etc., he is so far very nice about the delay and of course I don't expect any troubles in finishing his boat [#1078s THISTLE] at the beginning of May, which should be early enough.
He is all wrought up about the coming summer and considering what a dismal summer he had last year and how nice he has treated us, we certainly all hope that he will get a very satisfactory boat and that the saying will come true that the KATOURA [#1050s] was his folly of 1927 and that the new boat will be his ketch of 1928.
Mr. Sheppey's boat [#1074s SHEERNESS] is overboard and out in the Yard under cover in the new Shed, and we are finishing her up as fast as we can. The same thing is the case with Mr. Morgan's boat [#384p SHUTTLE], and we are now laying the keel for Mr. Vanderbilt's boat [#385p VARA] according to your suggestion, that is, parallel with our slip so that she will be water-borne at the stern before the aftermost cradle leaves the slide. This will of course put an enormous strain on the forward slide but the under pinning being almost new we don't expect any troubles, besides that the boat won't be launched before you arrive in Bristol, and no doubt you will give us necessary advice of how to go about the launching.
As far as new boats are concerned, that is building stock boats to keep our carpenters going, I would like to say that your suggestion of building an additional Fisher's Island 31-Footer is very good, but it has its drawbacks because we have already one of these boats [#1061s KESTREL] in the yard, and one of the last year's boats [apparently #1055s JUDY which changed owners prior to the 1928 sailing season] is for sale for considerable less money than we charge for a new boat. Besides that it seems that people are not so keen about getting perfectly well behaved, roomy boats as some kind of narrow canoes that appeal to the eye. It is really pitiful to see in what direction [p. 2] the present boat designing is heading. It is long, narrow, extremely expensive boats without any accommodations whatsoever, for instance you will remember the PRESTIGE [#1058s] which with her 80-feet over all and 54 1/2-Ft. waterline had only one main cabin and one double stateroom. This is of course all right for a man with Mr. Vanderbilt's purse, but it practically puts everybody else out of the game, however, let us hope that the pendulum soon will swing the other way, and that the boats instead of being afternoon boats will be real homes on the sea, the way a boat of course should be.
When I was in New York the other day Mr. Nichols showed me some figures computed by Mr. W. K. Shaw and these figures showed plainly what the present cost of running a 50-Footer amounts too, and, believe me or not, but he made it perfectly plain and Mr. Nichols agreed to it, that the cost of running a 50-Footer today amounts to an average of Eighteen Thousand Dollars a year. This is of course something which cannot be kept up forever.
We are making an addition to the gangway between the Mill and the upper part of the North Shop, an addition long enough (25 ft.) so that we can get more space for our cabinet shop, which so far has been very cramped indeed. This addition makes me somewhat uneasy in case of a fire and I have strongly put it to Mr. Haffenreffer that we must install a sprinkler system in the Shops as soon as possible so as to have whatever protection we can get against fire, and I take it that Mr. Haffenreffer will approach the Grinnell people within a few days.
I have done some scouting for more work for the Shop to be started as soon as Mr. Tod's boat leaves the yard, and I have very good hopes of getting one Composite 'M' Boat and a 120-Foot Power Boat, both boats probably will be to outside design. If we can get these two orders and they are reasonably well under way before the first of August I hope to be able to go home to Finland so as to be present with my whole gang when my Mother becomes seventy years old on the first of September, but this is of course only a dream so far and it is very doubtful if it ever will come true. [Neither of these two boats was built.]
The family is in first class shape except for Margaret who still is very tired, and I certainly hope that everything is all right in Cocoanut Grove.
Very truly yours, ..." (Source: Nystrom, Charles. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_05940. Correspondence, Folder 21, formerly 141. 1928-02-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Bob [Emmons] death has shocked us all, do not plan to bring out #721s CAROLINA, would like to have competed against #1058s PRESTIGE, Gust Olsen now with #1050s KATOURA now BLACKSHEAR, #1078s THISTLE was to be launched tomorrow but launch was postponed 5 days, Harding has sold #713s CHIORA ex-IROQOUIS II to Mrs. Chandler Hovey, #698s QUEEN MAB ex-VAGRANT I set a standard to LYNX that she could not live up to" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_06500. Correspondence, Folder 23, formerly 207. 1928-04-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten signed letter to NGH in Florida on 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol Rhode Island' stationery:] Thank you for your letter of the 25th [April 1928], received this morning.
A photograph was received here, addressed to Mr. Draper in your care at Bristol, R. I., and we wrote Mr. Draper asking whether he wished it forwarded or not. Mr. Draper sent us a note saying that the address was correct and we therefore forwarded the photograph to him.
In accordance with your instructions I will deliver all your second-class mail after May first to Sidney, and the first class mail I will hold for your instructions after May 5th.
Mr. Morgan's 70-Foot Motor Boat [#384p SHUTTLE] is leaving today as soon as the weather is fit; Mr. Tod's new boat [#1078s THISTLE] is scheduled for launching next Thursday; Sheppey has been quite ill and has postponed the launching of his new boat [#1074s SHEERNESS] for a few days; BLACKSHEAR formerly the KATOURA [#1050s], is outfitted and is leaving here today or tomorrow; The LYNX [#307p] has been sold to Bradford Ellsworth and is being taken over to Lawley's Yard next Wednesday for the installation of a Sterling Trident Motor; we have got about three-quarters of Mr. Vanderbilt's frames [for #385p VARA] set up and we are very busy.
With all kinds of good wishes to you and
Mrs. Herreshoff, I am
Very truly yours, ..." (Source: Brightman, Thomas. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_06630. Correspondence, Folder 23, formerly 207. 1928-04-28.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [On Coconut Grove, Fla., P.O. Box 116' stationery:] No, I don't think it very long since I wrote you, but sometimes we fool ourselves. We got rid of the mechanics early last week or week before and have been slowly cleaning the mess with our hero men & the wash lady.
Won't mention all we have done so as to leave a little for wonderment for you two, and to give a chance for display of any new adjectives which you may have acquired during the Summer. We noticed what BLACKSHEAR [#1050s ex-KATOURA] has been doing this past season and hoped to have had some comment on her by the Big Boss, but he seems reticent. My, how it did rain this morning, but after breakfast, Wirth and his crew went off in the MELODY and now its all clear & wind fresh S.E. Dr Baekeland came yesterday to register for voting & probably stay till after election. He is surely a joyful bunch of jollity blowing in as he does. I notice the Coconut Matheson's boat at his wharf fitting out. We hear she's sold & bought a much larger steel vessel to cruise somewhat exclusively in. Capt. Dick Carney[?] is about leaving Kiel Germany with Mellon's[?] new sea going house boat, stopping at Southampton to install their gyro compasses. He comes here to finish fitting out so you & I will have to inspect her & see if fit to carry our Sec. of the Treasury out with his nephew.
The new cement road alongshore up far as Deerings in completed which may interest you. In N.Y. Times of last week you may have noticed death & funeral of T.L. Raymond[?] a son of my old intimate friend Mrs T.L. Raymond whom I helped in her affairs & in the education of her two children. Same paper & date was the death notice of one of my oldest lady friends Polly Clark, wife of Maynard Ayer, partner[?] of the Banking house of Prince & Whitely[?] of which he was at the head. They owned the sloop GRACIE at one time. Well, your addition, shelving[?] etc were[?] done[?] some time ago & this week the shutters came down & some painting done, and putty[?] some hope to receive your message. Will arrive on the so & so train? Expect Patty here this week possibly. [No year. Mention of BLACKSHEAR suggests 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_42210. Correspondence, Folder 88, formerly 121. (1928 ?)-10-14.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #1050s Katoura even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Katoura (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Katoura (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Manxman ex-Katoura (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: Katoura
Type: Sloop
Length: 75'
Owner: Tod, Robert E.

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

• Katoura
• Katoura
• Blackshear ex-Katoura
• 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: Katoura
Type: 75' sloop cutter, 22-meter boat
Owner: Robert E. Tod
Year: 1927
Row No.: 338

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: Nov
Day: 03
Year: 1926
E/P/S: S
No.: 1050
Name: Katoura
OA: 111.70'
LW: 75.0'
B: 20.1'
D: 13.6'
Rig: Sloop
K: y
Amount: 120,000.00
Notes Constr. Record: Designed by Burgess Rig & Morgan Ltd.
Last Name: Tod
First Name: Robert E.

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

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

"Universal Rule Class J or International Rule 23m." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 7, 2009.)

"See also: Burgess-Donaldson Collection, Coll. 11, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. 11.105. KATOURA; 112 ft. sloop. Designer, Burgess, Rigg & Morgan, Ltd. and Donaldson & Company; Design #5; Builder, Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.; 1927; UNNAMED; owner's launch; Designer, Burgess, Rigg & Morgan, Ltd. and Donaldson & Company; Design #145; Builder unknown; Date made unknown." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. August 13, 2010.)

"Built in 180 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $667/day, 1323 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area 6987 sq. ft.]" (Source: Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang, J Class, London, 2002, p.436.)

"[Displacement (108 tons).] (Source: Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang, J Class, London, 2002, p.436.]

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