HMCo #1078s Thistle

"[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.] ...
[1927-10-05] Wed 5: ... At work part of day on sail plan for 71-1/2' yawl [#1078s Thistle] for Mr. Tod. ...
[1927-10-07] Fri 7: ... At work on model changes for proposed yacht [#1078s Thistle] for Mr. Tod. ...
[1927-10-15] Sat 15: ... Mr Tod [who will soon contract for #1078s Thistle] here. ...
[1927-10-25] Tue 25: ... Ch[arle]s. Nystrom has order from Mr Tod for 70ft [#1078s Thistle]. ...
[1927-10-28] Fri 28: ... Mr. Tod here and to lunch, and [I was] with him most the day discussing his new 70' yawl [#1078s Thistle] to be built. ...
[1927-10-29] Sat 29: ... Mr. Tod here [again] in forenoon [discussing his new 70' yawl #1078s Thistle]. ...
[1927-11-04] Fri 4: ... Mr Tod here [apparently discussing his new 70' yawl #1078s Thistle].
[1927-11-05] Sat 5: ... Mr Tod here in forenoon [apparently discussing his new 70' yawl #1078s Thistle].
[1927-11-11] Fri 11: ... Arrived in N.Y. [at] 8-45. ... Left [at] 12-10, and arrived at Mr. Tod's [owner of #1078s Thistle then under construction] at 1 for lunch. ...
[1928-06-15] Fri 15: ... 'Thistle' [#1078s], Mr. Tod's new yacht came in in p.m. under power. ...
[1928-07-08] Sun 8: ... Took a sail in Alerion [#718s] alone in a.m. Thistle [#1078s] arrived under power in p.m. with broken chainplate.
[1928-07-09] Mon 9: ... With Mr. Tod most of forenoon about new chainplates [for #1078s Thistle]. Worked some on model. Tested a new [bronze alloy] 88-10-2+1% lead[?] chainplate casting and it stood 17-1/2 tons OK.
[1928-07-12] Thu 12: ... Took sail in Alerion [#718s] in a.m. to see the new bridge construction in which the lowers are nearly completed. In p.m. went out with Mr. Tod to try Thistle [#1078s]. Sails in poor shape and vessel [too] deep in water.
[1928-07-13] Fri 13: ... Thistle [#1078s] left for City Is[land] to get suit of cross-cut sails.
[1928-07-21] Sat 21: ... Thistle [#1078s] launched & rigged after taking off [some] lead [ballast].
[1928-08-01] Wed 1: ... Thistle [#1078s] with Mr. & Mrs. Tod arrived in p.m. ...
[1928-08-02] Thu 2: ... With Mr. Tod [who is in Bristol with #1078s Thistle] part of day.
[1928-08-03] Fri 3: ... Had a very interesting sail to Newport in Thistle [#1078s], taking Ann. Yacht handles beautifully, is very stiff and apparently sails fast. All spars & rigging stand well.
[1928-08-21] Tue 21: ... Mr. Tod also here in Thistle [#1078s].
[1928-09-14] Fri 14: ... Thistle [#1078s] arrived in p.m. ...
[1928-09-15] Sat 15: ... Had quite a talk with Mr. Tod about cutting down rig on Thistle [#1078s]. ...
[1928-09-23] Sun 23: ... Thistle [#1078s] arrived in p.m.
[1928-09-24] Mon 24: ... Have long interviews with Mr. Tod about cutting down rig of Thistle [#1078s] which was abandoned.
[1929-06-28] Fri 28: ... Mr Tod has sold Thistle [#1078s] to Dr Milliken [who is] Vice Com[modore of [the] Eastern Y[acht] C[lub] and sch[ooner] Shawna is left at Thistle's mooring. Around home all day. Mr Tod has ordered of HMCo a 95' power cruiser [Katoura #391p] from [Charles] Nystrom's design.
[1931-08-21] Fri 21: ... 'Thistle' [#1078s] arrived to lay up.
[1936-07-14] Tue 14: ... Yawl Thistle [#1078s] poorly loaded on cradle at Cove ways [and] broke [the] after bearer and is in some danger.
[1936-07-15] Wed 15: ... Thistle [#1078s] was floated off at high water with Useful [#190402es] under her stern to lift it. A costly and unnecessary job." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1927 to 1936. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"No. 1078.
20" in book = 19" on floor.
Actual frame space on floor = 19".
9" in the Beam at [mid-section symbol] [of frame station] # 36." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G.??? [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.196.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"The following year, 1928, he had Captain Nat design him the bronze yacht 'Thistle.
Altogether, Mr. Tod probably has spent as much money on sailboats as any American for he had a great many of them through some thirty-five years, and they were all quite large. 'Thistle,' I believe, was about the largest yacht, other than cup defenders, built of bronze. She was L.O.A., one hundred and two feet; L.W.L., seventy-four feet three inches; beam, twenty-one feet six inches; draft, thirteen feet. She is, I believe, still in very good condition and has had few changes made in her. She was Captain Nat's last metal yacht, and he was eighty when he designed her. These two yachts, the twenty-three-meter 'Katoura' and 'Thistle' built for Mr. Tod, were to be the last yachts to race in the larger classes." (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. 310-311.)

"N/A"

"... Herreshoff's yard, Bristol, is busy with the construction of four large cruising yachts. The largest of the quartet is the 150-foot cruising power boat [#385p Vara] for former Commodore Harold S. Vanderbilt, while the 105-foot yawl [#1078s Thistle] for Robert E. Tod is the largest of the two sailing craft. The other power yacht is a 70-foot cruising boat [#384p Shuttle] for Junius S. Morgan Jr. The fourth yacht is an 82-foot Class M sloop [#1074s Sheerness] for a Cleveland yachtsman, a member of the New York Yacht Club. This sloop is not for racing and is to have a gasoline engine for auxiliary power. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, January 29, 1928, p. 53.)

"... The 71-foot waterline yawl building at Herreshoff's for Robert E. Tod, to replace the 22 1/2-meter Katoura, is rapidly taking shape in the south side of the building shop where the Resolute was built in 1914. Practically all the frames are in place and her bronze garboards are on and several strakes above them." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, February 12, 1928, p. 53.)

"March 17th, 1928
Herreshoff Manufacturing Company,
Bristol, Rhode Island
Dear Sirs:
I beg to advise you that I have sold and made delivery of the Sloop Yacht 'KATOURA' to Mr. Frank Crocker of New York, and that I intend paying you the Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars in cash on the final payment of the contract for the Yawl which you are building for me, instead of trading in the 'KATOURA'.
Yours very truly,
[Robert E. Tod]." (Source: Tod, Robert E. [Letter to HMCo, now in the collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum (filed with original contract).] March 17, 1928.)

"The newly built auxiliary cruising yawl to be christened 'Thistle,' which the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company has constructed in its shops during the past winter and this spring will be launched from the shops of that company Thursday [May 3, 1928] morning about 8 o'clock. The new yacht's owner is Commodore Robert F. Tod of the New York Yacht Club, and he and a party of friends are to be present at the launching. The new yacht is 72 feet on the water line, 104 in length overall and equipped with auxiliary gasoline engine. Commodore Tod was formerly the owner of the large schooner yacht Katoura built at Herreshoff's a number of years ago." (Source: Anon. "Busy Times At Herreshoff Boat Shops." Bristol Phoenix, May 1, 1928, p. 8.)

"Two attempts had been made, up to this noon, to launch Commodore Robert E. Tod's new, auxiliary cruising yawl, Thistle, from the south construction shop of the Herreshoff Company, but both were unsuccessful because of the tide, which was not full enough to float the boat. Another attempt will be made this evening about 9 o'clock.
Commodore Tod with Mrs Tod and their daughter, with a few friends from New York, are here to attend the launching of the new yacht. Yesterday morning was the original time set for the launching, Thistle had her first dip in the waters of the harbor and as the cradle in which she lay was started down the ways, Miss Katherine Tod, daughter of Commodore and Mrs. Tod broke a bottle of champagne on the bow and christened it 'Thistle.' As the yacht would not float the cradle was hauled into the shop and the workmen continued their labors on her.
Thistle is 103 feet overall, 71 feet 6 inches on the waterline, 21 feet 3 inches beam and draws 13 feet 2 inches. The rig is the conventional yawl rig with jib headed mainsail and mizzen, which is balanced by 66 tons of lead on the keel. She was designed by Capt. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff, and is plated with bronze on a steel frame. Her auxiliary power plant is a Sterling Petrel. She will go under the shears after she floats to have her masts stepped and will be put into commission as soon as possible.
Commodore and Mrs. Tod entertained the workmen at the south shops and the executives of the Herreshoff Company at the offices on Burnside street, at a luncheon served by a caterer from Providence, yesterday." (Source: Anon. "Unsuccessful Attempts to Launch Yacht Thistle. Commodore Robert E. Tod's New Yawl 'Thistle' Christened Yesterday at Herreshoff Shops." Bristol Phoenix, May 4, 1928, p. 6.)

"NEW YORK --- The new Herreshoff yawl, Thistle, built for Commodore Robert E. Tod and recently launched at Bristol, R. I., has been entered in the race for the King of Spain's Cup, from New York to Santander, Spain, July 7 [1928], according to reports at the New York Yacht Club. The Thistle was named after Commodore Tod's schooner Thistle, which he sailed in the last transatlantic race, for the German Emperor's Cup in 1905. The craft is about 105 feet over all and 75 feet waterline." (Source: Anon. "Tod Enters Yawl." Christian Science Monitor, May 25, 1928, p. 8.)

"29th March, 1928
Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.
Dear Sirs:
I hereby tender you my interest in the gas yacht 'Oh-Kay' at $5,000. to account of the fifth payment on my contract for the new yacht.
Very truly yours,
[Robert E. Tod].[Oh-Kay (also: Okay) was subsequently owned by R. F. Haffenreffer and named Herreshoff Tender. She had been built in 1927 by Robert Jacob on City Island, N.Y. She was 47ft LOA, 47ft LWL, 10-9ft beam and 3-0 ft draft and powered by a 4 Cyc. 4 Cyl. 6 1/2 x 9 Winton gas engine. Her official no. was 226304.]" (Source: Tod, Robert E. [Letter to HMCo, now in the collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum (filed with original contract).] March 29, 1928.)

"Many yachts are being laid up at the Herreshoff Company's yards at Walker's Cove. ... The new auxiliary yawl Thistle [#1078s], owned by Commodore Robert E. Tod, which was launched last May from the Herreshoff shops has been stripped and is to lay here during the winter months. ..." (Source: Anon. "Many Yachts Being Laid Up For Winter. Herreshoff Company and S. C. Wardwell Busy Storing Boats At the Yards in This Town." Bristol Phoenix, October 5, 1928, p. 1.)

"The new auxiliary yacht Thistle [#1078s], owned by Commodore Robert F Tod which was launched last May from the Herreshoff shops is hauled out on Herreshoff's new railway with her bow overhanging the sidewalk.
... As soon as Resolute's [#725s] centerboard is shipped Commodore Todd's Thistle will be dropped overboard. Resolute will be hauled out and skidded over to the southward and Thistle hauled out again where she can be launched early in the spring without interfering with the Resolute. ..." (Source: Anon. "At Herreshoff Shops." Bristol Phoenix, January 15, 1928, p. 3.)

"... At Herreshoff's yard, Bristol, the big bronze auxiliary yawl Thistle, built for Robert E. Tod, was not launched May 3 as scheduled as there was not sufficient depth of water. This fine cruising craft, which replaces the 23-meter cutter Katoura [#1050s], built last year by Herreshoff's from the designs of Burgess, Rigg & Morgan, will be in the water probably within the next 10 days. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, May 13, 1928, p. B27.)

"These are busy days at the Herreshoff boat shops and all about the shops and yards are active scenes preparing the boats for the coming season are apparent. ...Commodore Robert E. Tod's yawl Thistle has been launched at the shops and her mast was stepped last Thursday [April 11, 1929], the first big stick to be slung from the new shears which have been set upon the north wharf. She is now being rigged and is expected to leave for New York this week." (Source: Anon. "Busy Herreshoff Shops." Bristol Phoenix, April 16, 1929, p. 4.)

"The auxiliary yawl Thistle launched last year from the Herreshoff Shops has been sold by Commodore Robert E Todd of New York to Vice Commodore Seth M Milliken of the Eastern Yacht Club. The Thistle arrived here last week to be laid up at the Herreshoff yards. She is one of the few big sailing craft built in recent years. Her dimensions are 103 feet overall, 75 feet 9 inches on the waterline, 21 feet 6 inches beam and 13 feet 6 inches draft. She was designed by Capt N G Herreshoff and built to replace the sloop Katoura [#1050s] built there the year before and sold to Frank L. Crocker of New York who renamed her Blackshear. Thistle was not raced last year but as Dr Milliken has raced Shawna consistently it is expected that he will be at the starting line in the New York and Eastern Yacht Club races this season." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Thistle to be Hauled Out Here." Bristol Phoenix, July 2, 1929, p. 1.)

"Besides the preliminary work on the cup defender to be built for the syndicate of the New York Yacht Club members, headed by Commodore E Walter Clark, there is considerable work in progress on smaller boats at the Herreshoff shops. ... The yawl Thistle [#1078s] is to be hauled out for the winter here. ..." (Source: Anon. "Busy Times At Herreshoff Boat Shops." Bristol Phoenix, October 4, 1929, p. 4.)

"In spite of the exigencies of the times, hammers are clattering, saws are buzzing and brushes are busy at the Herreshoff Yard at Bristol, Rhode Island, getting old and new yachts and equipment in ship-shape for the coming boating season. ... Dr. Seth Milliken's auxiliary yawl 'Thistle' [#1078s] is tied to a slip where she is receiving final touches before getting under way for vacation cruising. ..." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Shops Hum with Boating Season Activities." Bristol Phoenix, May 17, 1932, p. 1.)

"1927. ... When Fall came, Herreshoff was at work on a 73-foot waterline yawl [#1078s Thistle] for Commodore Tod, who had sold Katoura [#1050s], and a 70-foot commuter [#384p Shuttle] for Junius Morgan, and several S boats [probably #1013s Sonnet, #1014s Pronto, #1018s Kotick]. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 36.)

"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)

"1930. ... Herreshoff was building a 93-foot steel diesel-powered yacht, another Katoura [#391p], for Robert E. Tod, who sold the yawl Thistle [#1078s] built the year before, ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 48.)

"... Speaking of big yachts, George and Dick Breed, brothers and yachtsmen who may have some inside information on the future price of lead, appear to have the world's record fleet. They started with Mayhap, 84-foot yawl which once belonged to Edsel Ford, then acquired the 94-foot schooner Aeolus.
As if this were not enough, this summer they picked up Thistle, 102 feet of well known phosphor bronze yawl. Now comes the latest Lloyd's supplement which notes that George Breed has bought a 91-foot ketch named Irmay and renamed her Jane. The brothers operate the Mayflower Marina in Washington, which at least solves the problem of where to winter the fleet. ... [Richard E. Breed III, co-owner of Thistle in 1951, had owned the NY40 #781s Pampero (then named Traveler) in 1940 and her sistership #779s Vixen III ex-Jessica in 1942 (CvdL).]" (Source: Anon. "Chesapeake Chatter." Motor Boating, December 1950, p. 54.)

"Thistle, Herreshoff-built of bronze plates on steel frames and over 100 feet long, was acquired by Hasim Mardin, Turkish owner of a shipping line. At this writing she was being fitted out for a passage on her own bottom to Turkey with a crew of Turkish merchant seamen. She has been renamed Ruyam.
George Breed, who sold the big yawl to Mardin, had all sorts of trouble with dollar exchange and official regulations before he could close the deal, but finally made it." (Source: Anon. "Large Yacht Sold to Turkish Owner." Motor Boating, June 1952, p. 66.)

"... It is generally thought that the grimmest fight will be between the Creole and the Turkish 175-ton yawl Ruyam ('My Dream') which belongs to the Turkish shipowner, Hassim Mardin. During the Torbay-Lisbon race the Ruyam was driven so hard that she lost five sails and sustained damage amounting to Pds10,000, but she won the race. Mardin declared that he was out to beat [Creole's owner] Niarchos at any cost, and now Niarchos is apparently out. ..." (Source: Anon? [Title?] The Nautical Magazine, 1958, vol. 179-180, p. [256?].)

"... Mr. Fellonneau, avoué à Bordeaux, s'est vu confier la vente du yacht turc Ruyam, vente qui doit passer au tribunal de commerce le jeudi 7 juin. Les caractéristiques du Ruyam, qui termina une carrière maritime lorsqu'il s'est échoué, le 16 mars 1960 dans ... Sud du phare de Chassiron [near Rochelle in the Bay of Bicay on the French Atlantic Coast], sont les suivantes: coque en bron: mesurant 32 m de longueur, tonnage brut 95,15 tjn. hauteur du ... "(Source: Anon? [Title?] Journal de la Marine Marchande, Vol. 44, 1962, p. [1066?])

"The U.S. Sixth Fleet was represented in the July [1968], Greek, Aegean Sea Offshore Sailing Rally by two officers from the Mad Foxes of Patrol Squadron Five and one officer from the USS Perry. LCDr. H.A. Hall and Lt (jg) G.T, Moyer of VP-5 sailed as crew members on the yachts 'Alexandra Lisa' and 'Nepheie.' The race was from the Greek island of Rhodes to the Aegean islands of Kos and Siros, and terrminating at the Royal Yacht Club !n Athens.
Sailing yachts from Greece. United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Italy participated. The 'Alexandra Lisa' is a Greek owned 102 foot yawl sailed by a crew of 29 men. ...
[Photo caption:] GREEK VESSEL - The yacht 'Alexandra Lisa' was the craft on which LCdr. Hall sailed during the races from the Greek island of Rhodes to the Aegean Islands." (Source: Anon. "Foxy Sailors Participate In Greek Open." JAX Air News, September 6, 1968, p. 12.)

"Once the famous 'Thistle,' she is still going strong in Greece.
There have been many yachts named after the national emblem of Scotland, and perhaps the most famous was the 150' two-masted schooner Thistle, owned by Robert E. Tod, which competed in the 1905 Transatlantic, the Kaiser's Race. Later, Thistle, renamed Meteor became the Kaiser's yacht. After this first Thistle came an even more remarkable yacht of the same name, commissioned in 1927 by the same Robert E. Tod, from the board of the legendary Capt. 'Nat' Herreshoff, and launched by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co., Bristol, R. I., in 1928. To meet her owner's requirments for a large, fast cruiser/racer Herreshoff designed a 103' marconi-rigged yawl with the then fashionable spoon bow, elegant sheer and a handsome counter. Her lines and underwater profile with the long cut-away forefoot were characteristic of the period, but the feature which made her unique was that she was entirely plated with 5/16ths (8mm) riveted bronze. At the time little was known about the possible effects of electrolytic action so her frames and bulkheads were of steel. Very surprisingly, with the passage of 40 years this combination has not proved fatal and only a few frames have had to be renewed. She was decked in teak and a scrutiny of her original plans, now held in the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Museum of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shows this deck to be broken by a considerable number of hatches and skylights, as well as a companion fore and aft. The Herreshoff construction book which is still preserved, records Contract No. 1078 as 'Bronze yawl built for Robert E. Tod for $121,000.' This was an enormous sum for the time, equivalent of at least $500,000 today. By today's standards, Thistle's measurements are impressive: l.o.a. 103ft, l.w.l. 75ft 6in, beam, 21ft 6in, draft, draft, 13ft 6in. Her sail plan as originally designed, consisted of mainsail, mizzen, jib and staysail with a combined area of 5,385 ft.; with a jib topsail this was increased
(Continued on page 131)
[Photo caption on p. 63:] Morris Rosenfeld. Thistle underway in the mid-30s, with original rigging and deckhouse.
[Photo caption on p. 63:] R. Arnold-Baker. Alexandra-Lisa on a broad reach in a meltimi, logging 14 knots.
(Continued from page 63) to 6,060 ft. Her original sails were made by Ratsey, City Island, N. Y.
However, it seems that Thistle's performance as a racing yacht was a disappointment to her owner, for although remarkably fast, she did not rate sufficiently well to hold her own against some of her contemporaries. By 1930 she had passed into the ownership of Dr. Seth M. Milliken, to whom she belonged for the next 20 years, used at East Bluehill, Me. In 1951, she was sold to George Breed of Annapolis, who kept her only for a short time.
In 1952 she was bought by a Turkish company controlled by Capt. Hasim C. Mardin, a shipowner and enthusiastic yachtsman, and she competed successfully in a number of offshore races. Then, in 1956, she was competely overhauled by Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany, with the interior reconstructed to very luxurious standards, including six double cabins with baths, and the addition of a large steel deckhouse containing a salon and ... which was installed on the instructions of Capt. Mardin despite the protests of Abeking & Rasmussen, who considered it very ugly. All this reconstruction took a considerable time and reputedly cost some $157,000, nominally more than her original cost. At this time, also, Thistle was renamed Ruyam (Turkish for 'My Dream'). However, Capt. Mardin then suffered financial losses and decided to take Ruyam to the Mediterranean and charter her. Thus, in February, 1960, with only a skeleton crew of four, including himself and his wife, he set sail from Hamburg. Unfortunately, during the night of Mar. 15-16 ... Ruyam proceeded under power down the French coast near the Ile d'Oleron, close to the mouth of the Gironde, her engine stopped, and while the engineer was cleaning the filters, she was swept onto some outlying rocks by the tide. By morning, Ruyam had drifted inshore where she was left by the spring tide, lying on her side high on a rocky beach. She was to lie there for nearly four months, with Capt. Mardin remaining on board. This spot is a known graveyard of ships and as none had so far been recovered, several well-known salvage companies refused to attempt to refloat Ruyam. Finally, on Mar. 29, a Bordeaux towage company agreed to try it. Difficulties intervened, however, not the least of which was that she could only be refloated during the 20 minutes at the top of each spring tide. Finally, on July 10, 1960, with the aid of two bulldozers pulling on steel hawsers which ran through blocks anchored in concrete out to sea, and with a tug standing by, Ruyam was dragged down a shallow channel on her side, to deep water. Due to the exceptional strength of her bronze hull, she had survived 116 days on an exposed beach, where no other vessel had ever remained intact. During the salvage operations she lost her mainmast, and she was towed to Bordeaux. Here it was found that she was not insured and the salvage company tried in vain to recover their costs from the owners. Thus Ruyam remained moored in Bordeaux while two actions were fought in the local courts. Finally, judgment was obtained by the salvors to have Ruyam sold by public auction, and in July, 1962, she was bought by Transmarine Shipping Agencies, Ltd., controlled by a Greek shipowner, Th. Voyadjides [Voyazides], and registered in London.
Then began the third and present stage in the life of Thistle. After proceeding under her own power to Piraeus, she was repaired und refitted. Surprisingly, her hull was found to be little damaged requiring only the replacement of a few bronze plates and a couple of frames, ..." (Source: Anon? "Two Great Ladies." Yachting, December 1969, p. 63, 131-132.)

"... Echouage, le 16 mars, sur l'île d'Oléron, dans le Sud du phare de Chassiron, du RUYAM, 'un ancien classe J américain' (?). Il est remis à flot le 12 juin et reprend sa route vers Bordeaux où, faute d'un accord avec le propriétaire pour payer le renflouement, il sera vendu aux ...
(Le renflouement avait coûté 203.400 NF). L : 32m, bau : 6,60m, T.E. : 4m, voilure : 900m2, moteur diesel G.M. 180 CV. Coque en laiton de 7 m/m. Gréement de yawl. RUYAM venait d'être restauré à Hambourg. Rebaptisé ALEXANDRA-LISA ..." (Source: Williamson, Jean-Marie. Voyage au Pays de la Plaisance: De 1859 à 2000. 2008, p. [189?].)

"We had an early look at the Alexandra Lisa today, the sailing yacht we chartered ... an ocean racer, 110 feet. She's lean and fast-looking, yet luxurious enough to please the most sybaritic taste. We sail tomorrow.
August 18, Serifos. There are ..." (Source: Heston, Charlton and Hollis Alpert. The Actor's Life: Journals, 1956-1976. 1978, p. [278?].)

"30 cardboard mounted Kodachrome stereo slides of the British Ketch, Alexandra Lisa taken in November 1976, as it visits Turkish ports. Scenes on board of the crew and the passengers, passengers shopping, eating, drinking, and touring at Turkish port of call." (Source: http://www.3dstereo.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=IMA-SAIL, retrieved November 26, 2013.)

"During the boom years of the late 1920s, Thistle's owner, Robert E. Tod, ordered a major yacht annually. Having commissioned the great schooner Katoura's [#722s] construction in 1914, Tod was already an important customer as well as having been a stockholder during the 1917-1924 period. After returning to the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. in 1926 for his second Katoura [#1050s] he ordered Thistle, and a year later had his third Katoura built --- [#391p] this one a 92-foot power cruiser.
Thistle was designed by the then-retired NGH; she carried the same name as the 150-foot steel schooner Tod had owned before his first Katoura.
... Thistle was framed in steel and plated with bronze, and her metal structure is visible under the teak railcaps and decking. ...
Dr. Seth Milliken bought Thistle shortly after she was built, and owned her through World War II. He kept her summers in East Blue Hill, Maine, where she reigned queen of the area's fleet. Afterwards, she was sold abroad. She ended her days in the eastern Mediterranean." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 168.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Envelope marked in ink in what appears to be Thomas Brightman's handwriting 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. From the water front. October 28, 1924'. It contains 6 negatives (no prints) of the Herreshoff waterfront but only one of them appears to be from 1924 as indicated by the old wharf sheerlegs which were replaced by steel lettice-work sheerlegs after the old ones had been accidentally destroyed on April 25, 1929. That photo shows the North- and South Construction Shops, the old sheerlegs, two steam yachts at the wharfs (including, apparently, #377p ARA), and, all the way to the left, the yard scow #190402es USEFUL II. The other photos show 1) a large sloop (probably #1078s THISTLE) whose mast is being stepped by the new lattice steel sheerlegs while a large power yacht (probably #385p VARA) appears in the right background, 2) apparently the same scene (faint and blurry), 3) another mast stepping scene with modern sheerlegs and #385p VARA in the background, 4) a view from the waterfront with North- and South Construction shops, the new sheerlegs and large yachts being stored on land in what was being called 'Peacock Row', and 5) another, somewhat closer, view of the same scene. This last scene is identified on another envelope as having been taken on NOvember 12, 1929." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (?) (creator). Photo Negatives. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_02040. Folder [no #]. 1924-10-28 and 1929-11-12.)
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"[Item Description:] [Penciled note:] Model [Model 207] used for THISTLE [#1078s]. Is measured off at scale of 3/8in per ft. [THISTLE is 19/20 of this). [Followed by tabulated data comparing LOA, LWL, Beam, Breadth w.l., Draft, Dsiplacement, cube-root(Displacement), 20% w.l. + .5 for these two boats.] At scale 8.5/12 lengths, 8/12 breadth & depths ... O.A. 76ft 10in. LWL 53ft 2in. Q.b.l. 50.5ft. Beam 15.1ft. Breadth lwl 14.2. Draft 9.3ft. Increase to limit 10.27. Displ[acement] 1390 = 11.16^3. ... [Undated (THISTLE was designed in October 1924 and later but this appears to be an adaptation of THISTLE's model for an M-boat.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDED1_00180. Folder [no #]. No date (After 1927-10).)
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"[Item Description:] Business card from 'Edwin G. Russell. Agent Real Estate Broker. … 23 Front Street, Hamilton, Bermuda' with penciled notes and calculations including 'Rating = 46. = 1.8 * (53.95 x 52.9)/11.12. Sail area = 52.9^2 = 2800sqft'. Undated (this is apparently related to the M-boat designed from #1078s THISTLE's model sometime after THISTLE had been designed and was filed with other material related to that design)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDED1_00190. Folder [no #]. No date (After 1927-10).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) note:] M Rating Design, based on model [Model 207] from which THISTLE [#1032s] was built, at scale 19/20 of measurement.
Length to be 8.5/12 of measurements
Breadths & depths 8/12 of measurements
Ratios. Lengths .708. Sections .442. Disp. .315
[Followed by list of particulars, always with two values, one in ink, and a second one penciled in and captioned 'Design to limits':]
Overall length 78.85; 81.0
L.W.L. 51.15; 55.
Qbl 50.50; 50.91
Qbl rule limit 49.3; 50.9
Beam 15.05; 15
Breadth l.w.l. 14.15; 14.1
Draft 9.3, Make = 10.25; 10.55
Displ[acement] 1395cuft = 1117^3; 1521 = 11.5^3
Freeboard 3.65+.2 = 3.85; 3.9
Freeboard rule limit = 3.8; 3.9
Wetted surface (approx[imate]) 895
S[ail area] for 46 rating = 52.9^2 = 2798; 53.3^2 = 2840 [Undated (on verso of printed Rhode Island Yacht Club Christmas Greetings card from 1920. Related to the M-boat designed from #1078s THISTLE's model sometime after THISTLE had been designed and was filed with other material related to that design]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDED1_00200. Folder [no #]. No date (After 1927-10).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary sailplan titled 'Original sketch of rig adapted for Mr. Tod's 71 1/4' w.l. yawl [#1078s THISTLE]. Oct. 1927' and showing a large marconi-rigged yawl with low-aspect mainsail and long bowsprit and three foresails. With calculations showing a total sail area of 6000sqft. Compare with 2004.0001.0362 and 2004.0001.0364 which show the same boat. As per his diary, NGH first worked on sailplans for THISTLE on October 5, 1927." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0363. WRDT04, Folder 32, formerly MRDE09. 1927-10.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table and calculations, possibly to determine displacement. Filed with other items relating to #1078s THISTLE." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Calculations. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. No date (1927-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table and calculations, apparently to determine displacement for different lengths of waterline. Filed with other items relating to #1078s THISTLE." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Calculations. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. No date (1927-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled notes and calculations for #1078s THISTLE, apparently by NGH, mentioning '23 tons, 46,000 lbs for wire' on recto and showing annotated sketches (for mast staples?) on verso." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Calculations. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. No date (1927-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections of #1078s THISTLE, annotated in pencil by NGH 'From study model of Nov. 1922, 75 ft w.l., 107 ft o.a. Scale 3/8in. Heights to upper side of deck'. This may be the first or second sketch made by NGH for THISTLE." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1927-10-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled half-section of #1078s THISTLE, annotated in pencil by NGH 'Full scale 3/8 = 1ft 0in section at center of w.l. from offsets in book'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Section. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. No date (1927-10 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Three penciled sketches - sections, molds for #1078s THISTLE. One titled 'From Study model of Nov. 1922
75ft w.l. Scale 5/8.
N.G.H. Oct 4, 1927'. This may be the first or second sketch made by NGH for THISTLE." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Sketches. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Oversize Folder, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1927-10-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Untitled penciled preliminary sailplan showing a large marconi-rigged yawl with high-aspect mainsail and short bowsprit and three foresails. With calculations showing a rating of 63.8 and total sail areas of 5765 and 5595sqft. This appears to be a preliminary sailplan for #1078s THISTLE. Compare with 2004.0001.0364 and 2004.0001.0363 which show the same boat and identifies it on the latter plan as #1078s THISTLE. As per his diary, NGH first worked on sailplans for THISTLE on October 5, 1927." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0362. WRDT04, Folder 32, formerly MRDE09. No date (1927-10-05 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Untitled penciled preliminary sailplan showing a large marconi-rigged yawl with low-aspect mainsail and long bowsprit and three foresails. With calculations showing a rating of 61.9 and total sail areas of 6020 and 5890sqft. Compare with 2004.0001.0362 and 2004.0001.0363 which show the same boat and identifies it on the latter plan as #1078s THISTLE. As per his diary, NGH first worked on sailplans for THISTLE on October 5, 1927." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0364. WRDT04, Folder 32, formerly MRDE09. No date (1927-10-05 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections on verso of gothic font 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.' stationery. Titled 'Original [Model 207] dated Oct[ober] 30, 1922. 75ft w.l. model after changing. Oct[ober] 8, 1927, and used for R.E. Dod's[sic, i.e. Tod's] yawl THISTLE [#1078s] at 19/20 as of 3/8in per ft of 20/19 * 1/32 = 1/30.4. With notes and calculations arriving at a displacement for THISTLE of 4340cuft [= 277760lbs] = 139tons and a wetted surface of 1870sqft. Note the two waterlines drawn in, one marked 'Designed w.l', the other marked 'Actual' and indicating a boat that came in much deeper than originally designed." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_03610. Folder [no #]. 1927-10-08.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections of #1078s THISTLE, one annotated in pencil by NGH 'Sections from Model of 75 ft w.l. yacht 3/8 scale. These sections are reduced to 19/20 size of model and are at every 3rd frame space of 20in on original and 19in on reduced, representing 71ft 3in w.l. No. 33 frame is at [center] of w.l. length', the other annotated in pencil by NGH 'Sections from Model of 75ft w.l. yacht scale 3/8in per ft, at tenths of waterline, for calculating displacement'. On gothic font 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, R.I.' stationery." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Sections. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1927-10-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph of HMCo shop with a large unidentified metal yacht (possibly #1078s THISTLE) under construction." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.188. Photograph. Box HAFH.6.7B, Folder Photographs. No date (1927-11 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan 146-48. Blueprint sailplan titled 'Sail Plan for THISTLE #1078. Nov. 19, 1927'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0095. WRDT04, Folder O.S. 1, formerly MRDE02. 1927-11-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Sketch of sail for #1078s THISTLE, apparently by NGH." (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 (1928 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled dimensioned half-breadth plan labeled 'SPRITE [#186001es] Overall 20ft 5in' and lead ballast section labeled 'THISTLE [#1078s] 75ft 0in w.l. Ext. draft 13ft 3 1/2in, Draft at [blank] 11ft 10in, Length of keel for blocking …'. On recto of envelope from The Shepard Stores, Providence to NGH." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_04380. Folder [no #]. No date (1928 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Dimensioned sketch titled 'Mizzen Clue Outhaul Block' [for #1078s THISTLE]." (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 (between 1928-01 and 1928-03 ?).)
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"[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:] Sketch showing boom crotch detail for #1078s THISTLE." (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 (1928-03 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Dimensioned sketch titled 'No. 1078 Shaft for Stuffing Box [for #1078s THISTLE]'." (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. 1928-04-06.)
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"[Item Description:] Dimensioned sketch titled 'Deck hook for jib tack #1078 [for #1078s THISTLE]'." (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. 1928-04-14.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten letter:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on [A. Sidney DeW Herreshoff, Bristol, Rhode island' stationery:] Your letter of Apr. 10th came a few days ago. Time flies so fast that I didn't realize how long it was since I had written you.
Mr. Tod's boat the THISTLE [#1078s] looks very well. They finished laying the deck last week and are now putting on the fittings. The bowsprit is in place, and they made a good job of the work around the stem head. The strut and stuffing box are being fitted. The rudder is nearly finished. The machinery and tanks are being installed. The mainmast is out on the dock with the spreaders and most of the rigging on it, and the other spars are all finished. The new windlass is similar to the one used on the WILDFIRE [#891s] which I believe was originally designed for the 70 footers. All moving parts except the rope drums and ends of the hand crank shaft are enclosed in a bronze casing. The main drive gear extends down through the deck and meshes with a sliding pinion which can be shifted in or out from on deck. The pinion is driven from the motor through an oil tight [p. 2] worm reduction gear. The above deck part of the windlass was completed today and the below deck part is about 80% finished.
Mr. Morgan's boat [#384p SHUTTLE] was launched today and will probably have a trial before the end of the week. Mr. Sheppey's boat [#1074s SHEERNESS] ought to be ready to deliver early in May.
John Nixon started to work on the place yesterday. I think the Spring is neither early nor late this year. The BUBBLE [#285p] was put overboard Apr. 4th and we have already had two Sunday trips.
I find my new car very easy to drive and can go long distances without getting tired. One Sunday afternoon I took a 133 mi ride between dinner and supper. The trip included Fall River, New Bedford, the Cape Cod canal, Plymouth, Biddleborough, Assonet, and Home. April first, I took an all day trip of 184 mi up to the to of Mt. Wachusett, which is about 18 mi north of Worcester. The view from there was certainly worth the trip.
The work on the [Mount Hope] bridge is coming along very fast now.
I am glad you expect to go to Bermuda. The passage on the new motor ship BERMUDA ought to be very interesting.
Sincerely yours, ... " (Source: Herreshoff, Sidney. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_06430. Correspondence, Folder 23, formerly 207. 1928-04-17.)
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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 on 'Secretary New York Yacht Club' stationery:] I was very glad to get your letter of the 24th.
Bob [Emmons]'s death was indeed lamentable and a terrible shook. The cause was monoxide gas --- he died in his motor car in his garage at the Cape.
The proof sheets of the Construction Rules [for Wooden Boats] are not ready as yet but should be any day and if they are not in hand before the fifth copies will be ready for you when you reach New York.
I handed your letter to the Flag Officers and Race Committee and undoubtedly they have awarded your medal to PRESTIGE [#1058s] --- I will verify this.
We have had two terrible months, strong gales, cloudy and disagreeable, very cold.
It has been an unusual Spring, as a matter of fact no Spring at all.
Tod tells me that his boat [#1078s THISTLE] is to be launched nest Thursday at eight o'clock in the morning.
Looking forward to seeing you on the 14th, with remembrances to Mrs. Herreshoff, As ever,
My dear Nat," (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_06550. 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 Description:] Eleven pages of tabulated data and calculations, the first being titled '#1078 [#1078s THISTLE] Weight Estimate'. Other pages are titled 'Corrected Disp[laement]', 'Weights for #1078', 'Tobin Bronze outside Plating & Deck Stringers', 'Frame, Deck Beams, Web Frames etc', and 'C.G. & Total from Weight Curve'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Calculations. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. No date (1928-05 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Western Union Telegraph Collect Day Letter
Miami Florida
Mr C G Nystrom
Herreshoff Mfg Co
My preliminary calculation indicates one hundred sixteen tons displacement [for #1078s THISTLE]. In percentage hull complete thirty four, complete rigging seven, machinery two, equipment four, furnishings including one half stores and water four, leaving forty nine for ballast or fifty seven tons.
I know this to be about right and believe you will have to remove lead. I advise at least five but not more than eight tons as vessel has ample free board for extra stability." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Telegraph Letter to Nystrom, Charles G. (Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.). MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1928-05-04.)
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"[Item Transcription:] The log and description of M.S. BERMUDA N. Bound and mailed at New Haven June 8th was duly received. You sure had a good time on that floating hotel to let all those sailing craft get by without a word of mention. 'They must have all passed in the night' while you were sitting up with the Purser over a bottle of aif&aif[?] you know. Just think of it. Your propeller wheels what chance would there have been had you fallen off the stem head of missing those meat choppers and getting picked up again. Give me a sailing ship I say where ten to one the quartermaster heaves you the end of a short rope and we climb aboard none the worse. We simply will have to cut you your Spring orgy of gallivanting to Bermuda unless you promise to be more conservative in the matter of choosing steam or motor boats. The idea, next time it will be eight or ten wheels & saloon ceilings 20ft in height after which, like as not a covered bridge with DeLux trains & service. Well we won't stand for it at all, at all. You will note I'm feeling a little foolish this a.m. Firstly its noon, & no signs of a thunder squall as yet. Yesterday while SUNSET was on the ways for inspection & a touch of paint, though I would try a little stiffer mix line[?] of beeswax & paraffin but got in a modicum too much of the former so that the Rudder froze fast in the well & had to be thawed out this a.m. with hot water. The house alterations are going on fairly well and I think will be ready for Mrs H's inspection by Nov. next. You may be asked to look it over but your ideas are probably so canted by contact with that big ship (Hotel beg your pardon) as to be inoperative. Wirth has been back a week & now speaks a few words of American conversation. They ran contraband some 20 head of flamingo from Havana which are now quartered at Key Biscayne in all luxury possible. Their trip was a success generally but more pleasant at Jamaica than elsewhere. Isle of Pines is a wreck from the Hurricane of a day or so after ours of 1926, over 90 percent of the population, mostly Americans are leaving the island. I will be much interested in your impressions regarding [Manfred] Curry and his revamping of so many ideas of and before my time. Of course there's lots that may be construed as original in what he writes but his methods are oft too abstruse for my understanding. However its food to keep on our table to pick up and lay aside.
Well I really intended to write you a sensitive letter but here it is. Wind has shifted from W. to S.E. and of course a squall making rapidly in the S.W. so must furl SUNSET's sails. With best wishes to all not omitting [Charles] Nystrom whose work on the Todd boat [#1078s Thistle] I am much interested in.
Sincerely ... [No year. Reference to homeward bound voyage in BERMUDA 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_42350. Correspondence, Folder 88, formerly 121. (1928)-06-16.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled measurement notes for #1078s THISTLE. With dimensioned profile sketch." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Notes. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.027. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1928-08-02.)
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"[Item Description:] #1078s THISTLE measurements, inc. NGH penciled notes" (Source: Webb, Harold C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37100. Correspondence, Folder 72, formerly 55. 1928-08-15.)
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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 profile sketch titled 'Yawl THISTLE [#1078s]. … Aug 24, 1928'. With notes 'Water Line corresponding to Measurer H.W. Webb, date Aug. 1928' and 'Designed keel', '1st cut off [of keel]' and '2nd cut off [of keel]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_06250. Folder [no #]. 1928-08-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Data showing strength of monel [filed with Hart Nautical Collections note: Documents were removed from Drawer 125 near HH.5.9861 [Folder "Plans Relating to Hulls #1078 & #1147 [Thistle & Weetamoe]", Plan "Section showing lowering of lead keel Weetamoe", suggesting this could relate to either #1078s THISTLE from 1928 or (more likely given the date) #1147s WEETAMOE from 1930 (designed by Clinton Crane)]." (Source: Worthington International Nickel Co. (creator). Strength Data. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.028. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1929-12-13.)
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"[Item Description:] Table with results from tension tests of steel made by the Carnegie Steel Company [filed with Hart Nautical Collections note: Documents were removed from Drawer 125 near HH.5.9861 [Folder "Plans Relating to Hulls #1078 & #1147 [Thistle & Weetamoe]", Plan "Section showing lowering of lead keel Weetamoe", suggesting this could relate to either #1078s THISTLE from 1928 or (more likely given the date) #1147s WEETAMOE from 1930 (designed by Clinton Crane)]" (Source: Brown University Engineering Laboratories (creator). Strength tests. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.028. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1930-02-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] This is to certify that the undersigned Surveyor to this Society did at the request of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company attend at the Plant of the Hazard Wire Rope Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for the purpose of witnessing
(a) Break-down tests on samples taken from individual wires, and
(b) Tests on samples of the finished (Hazard Olympic) Special S. W. Ropes as detailed below.
On March 5th, 1930, the undersigned witnessed the following
tests: ... [filed with Hart Nautical Collections note: Documents were removed from Drawer 125 near HH.5.9861 [Folder "Plans Relating to Hulls #1078 & #1147 [Thistle & Weetamoe]", Plan "Section showing lowering of lead keel Weetamoe", suggesting this could relate to either #1078s THISTLE from 1928 or (more likely given the date) #1147s WEETAMOE from 1930 (designed by Clinton Crane)]." (Source: Bennett, W. (Lloyd's Surveyor) (creator). Certificate. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.028. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1930-03-06.)
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"[Item Description:] In accordance with your phone request of March 15th we are expressing you today 12 ft. samples of 5/8in and 3/41in diameter, 7x7 galvanized Blue Center steel rigging rope, wire center. The physical properties of this rope are as follows: ... [filed with Hart Nautical Collections note: Documents were removed from Drawer 125 near HH.5.9861 [Folder "Plans Relating to Hulls #1078 & #1147 [Thistle & Weetamoe]", Plan "Section showing lowering of lead keel Weetamoe", suggesting this could relate to either #1078s THISTLE from 1928 or (more likely given the date) #1147s WEETAMOE from 1930 (designed by Clinton Crane)]." (Source: Bennett, L. W. (John A. Roebling Co.). Correspondence (certificate) to Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.028. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1930-03-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Referring to your letter of April 3rd written by Mr. Parsons, we have arranged to have the Jaw Openings in the following Blocks suitable to take Thimbles as shown on Mr. Crane's drawing dated March 7th. You must, however, drill these Thimbles to take the size of bolts given below.
Blocks for Lower Backstays take the 3/4in Thimble which must be drilled to take the 1in bolt.
Blocks for Upper Backstay Runner will have Jaw to take the 5/8in Thimble which must be drilled to take 3/4in bolt.
Blocks for Lower Backstay Runner Whips and Jib Halyard Runner will be arranged to take 9/l6in Thimble which you must drill to take 3/4in bolt.
We trust this will be satisfactory and remain,
Yours truly, ... [filed with Hart Nautical Collections note: Documents were removed from Drawer 125 near HH.5.9861 [Folder "Plans Relating to Hulls #1078 & #1147 [Thistle & Weetamoe]", Plan "Section showing lowering of lead keel Weetamoe", suggesting this could relate to either #1078s THISTLE from 1928 or (much more likely given the date and reference to Crane) #1147s WEETAMOE from 1930 (designed by Clinton Crane)]." (Source: Merriman, F. W. (Merriman Brothers inc). Letter to Nystrom, Charles (Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.). MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.028. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1078s. 1930-04-22.)
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"[Item Description:] #1078s THISTLE measurements, inc. NGH penciled notes" (Source: Webb, Harold C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37130. Correspondence, Folder 72, formerly 55. 1931-06-10.)
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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 #1078s Thistle even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #1078s Thistle, yawl (including specifications).] Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Bristol, RI, October 28, 1927. (2,951 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.

• Thistle (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Thistle (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: Thistle
Type: Yawl
Length: 71'6"
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.

• Thistle
• 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: Thistle
Type: 103' aux. yawl
Owner: Robert E. Tod
Year: 1928
Row No.: 682

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.

Year: 1928
E/P/S: S
No.: 1078
Name: Thistle
LW: 71'
Rig: Yawl
K: y
Amount: 121000.00
Notes Constr. Record: Bronze Yawl
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.

"See also: Mystic Seaport, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library, Cox & Stevens, Inc. Collection. 5 sheets of plans for 103 ft. auxiliary yawl, THISTLE (built 1928), design #1078 by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Dates on plans range from 11-1926 to 11-1942. SP.1975.1.34.364." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 13, 2011.)

"Dimensions LOA, LWL, beam and draft from original contract in the collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

"[Was loaned by her owner to the U.S. Coast guard and performed submarine search duty as a Coast Guard Coastal Picket Patrol in 1942 with the registration number CGR-3085.]" (Source: Wilbur, John. Private Email Communication with Evelyn Ansel, Curator Herreshoff Marine Museum, January 2022.)

"Dates of contract '28th day of October, 1927' and delivery 'on or about April 15th, 1928' from original contract in collection of Herreshoff Marine Museum. Note, that Thistle was launched late, on May 4, 1928." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 3, 2016.)

"Built in 189 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $640/day, 1258 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Total sail area 6050sqft. S[ail] A[rea] by rule 6354[sqft]." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Handwritten note on sailplan 146-048 (HH.5.12166) from November 19, 1927. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

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