HMCo #1147s Weetamoe

"[1929-07-03] Wed 3: ... Had a call from George Nichols. [He] wanted me to take part in [the] design & construct[ion] of a Cup Defender, but I declined. [The Nichols-Morgan syndicate then went to Clinton Crane for #1147s Weetamoe.]
[1929-07-29] Mon 29: ... [Had] an unexpected call from Geo. Nichols in [the] evening who is to manage a Cup Defender to be designed by Crane. [This would be Weetamoe #1147s.]
[1929-08-29] Thu 29: ... The shops are assured of [a] 2nd Cup Defender to build for Nichols & Morgan syn[dicate] by Clinton Crane designing. [This would be #1147s Weetamoe.]
[1929-09-19] Thu 19: ... Had [a] call from Geo. Nichols, Junius Morgan & Clinton Crane. [Probably to discuss #1147s Weetamoe.]
[1930-05-25] Sun 25: ... Had a call from Geo N[ichols], Clinton Crane [designer of #1147s Weetamoe recently launched at HMCo] & S[tarling] Burgess [designer of #1146s Enterprise recently launched at HMCo]. ...
[1930-05-29] Thu 29: [Thermometer] 49 - 59 - 55 [degrees]. Overcast & cool. A little sunshine in p.m. and went out in Magistrate [#301p] to see trials of Weetamoe [#1147s] with Vanitie in which W[eetamoe] proved much faster to windward. Enterprise [#1146s] with Vanderbilt fleet arrived in p.m.
[1930-05-30] Fri 30: [Thermometer] 51 - 58 - 53 [degrees]. Memorial Day. Part[ly] cloudy [and] calm [in] a.m. Fresh SSW rain till ch[anging] to W with rain squall. Went out again in Magistrate [#301p] to watch Weetamoe [#1147s]. Had [a] call from Junius Morgan [in] a.m. & Butler Duncan [in] p.m.
[1930-05-31] Sat 31: ... Had a call from Junius Morgan & Jack Parkinson in a.m. Weetamoe [#1147s], Vanitie & Resolute [#725s] [are] out [sailing] for practice.
[1930-06-01] Sun 1: ... Had [a] call from George & Mrs Nichols in [the] afternoon. [George Nichols was skipper of #1147s Weetamoe.]
[1930-06-03] Tue 3: ... Enterprise [#1146s] & flotilla left in forenoon. Weetamoe [#1147s] hauled out in p.m.
[1930-06-04] Wed 4: ... Corsair with Mr J. P. Morgan and Mr Ledyard here at noon. Weetamoe [#1147s] left for up Sound. ...
[1930-06-11] Wed 11: ... Wireless news that in 1st meeting of Cup Defender NYYC race, Enterprise [#1146s] [was] 1st, Vanitie 2nd, Whirlwind 3rd, Weetamoe [#1147s] 4th.
[1930-06-16] Mon 16: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] won again today in l[igh]t to moderate [wind]. Enterprise [#1146s] 2nd, Whirlwind 3rd.
[1930-06-17] Tue 17: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] again won. ...
[1930-06-20] Fri 20: ... Enterprise [#1146s] & Resolute [#725s] arrived in forenoon & Weetamoe [#1147s] in early p.m. ...
[1930-06-21] Sat 21: ... Both Enterprise [#1146s] & Weetamoe [#1147s] haul out to polish bottoms.
[1930-06-22] Sun 22: ... Enterprise & Weetamoe [#1147s] launched early. Had [a] call from Geo N[ichols] & Geo Cormack. ... Then off in Enterprise [#1146s] for [a] short sail. [Whirlwind managing owner] Paul Hammond & Olie [C. Oliver] Iselin Iselin [formerly of the #452s Defender, #499s Columbia and #605s Reliance syndicates] called in [the] evening.
[1930-06-23] Mon 23: [Thermometer] [Blank] - 79 [degrees]. Very fine. L[igh]t NW [wind in] a.m. Variable [wind] later. Agnes took Ann & me to Newport and off in Shadow K. [a 150ft LOA Purdy-designed power cruiser owned by Carl G. Fisher of Miami] to see races. Fine race in mod[erate] to fresh SW [wind]. Won by Weetamoe [#1147s] at 2-8-18. Enterprise 2-20-16. Yankee 2-22-10. Whirlwind 2-24-35. Vanitie 2-25-18. ...
[1930-06-25] Wed 25: ... Enterprise [#1146s] wins again today in mod[erate] windward & leeward [course]. Weetamoe - Yankee - Vanity [sic, i.e. Vanitie] & Whirlwind in [that] order. Weetamoe [#1147s] here in p.m. to change mast.
[1930-06-26] Thu 26: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] hauled out and Resolute & Enterprise [#1146s] arrived.
[1930-06-29] Sun 29: ... Called on Geo Nichols in tender. New mast stepped in Weetamoe [#1147s].
[1930-07-01] Tue 1: ... At work on range finder for Mr Bevier [sic, i.e. tactician Robert N. Bavier Sr.] of Weetamoe [#1147s].
[1930-07-03] Thu 3: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] left for Newport.
[1930-07-05] Sat 5: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] hauled out for last clean[ing] before observation races. ...
[1930-07-06] Sun 6: ... Had [a] call from [skipper] Geo Nichols before leaving in Weetamoe [#1147s], ...
[1930-07-07] Mon 7: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] beat Whirlwind & Yankee beat Enterprise [#1146s] today.
[1930-07-08] Tue 8: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] beat Enterprise [#1146s] & Whirlwind beat Yankee.
[1930-07-09] Wed 9: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] beat Yankee & Enterprise [#1146s] beat Whirlwind on [a] windward & leeward [course]. Weetamoe has 3 wins and the others 1 each.
[1930-07-10] Thu 10: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] beat Whirlwind & Enterprise [#1146s] beat Yankee on triangle [course].
[1930-07-13] Sun 13: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] arrived & hauled out in a.m. Had [a] call from [Weetamoe skipper] Geo Nichols & [tactician] Rob[ert] Bavier in forenoon & [Whirlwind managing owner] Paul Hammond & [Whirlwind afterguard member and son of C. Oliver Iselin] Adrian Iselin in p.m.
[1930-07-18] Fri 18: ... Weetamoe [#1147s], Enterprise [#1146s] & Resolute [#725s] arrived at close of observation races off Newport. ...
[1930-07-23] Wed 23: [Thermometer] 66 - 87 - 72 [degrees]. Very fine. Mod[erate] N [wind] & clear [in] a.m. L[igh]t variable [wind in] p.m. Took a sail in Weetamoe [#1147s] in [the] afternoon. ...
[1930-07-26] Sat 26: [... Weetamoe [#1147s] [is] in from Newport. Geo N[ichols] [has] gone home for [a] few days.
[1930-07-29] Tue 29: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] and Enterprise [#1146s] hauled out at midnight to polish [their bottoms]. ...
[1930-08-15] Fri 15: ... Had [a] call from [#1147s Weetamoe skipper] Geo Nichols in a.m. to discuss proposed curved boom. Also [from Weetamoe's tactician Robert] Bavier.
[1930-08-18] Mon 18: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] [was] launched in p.m.
[1930-08-19] Tue 19: ... Had a call from George Nichols at noon. Weetamoe [#1147s] left about 2.
[1930-08-21] Thu 21: ... Enterprise [#1146s] beat Weetamoe [#1147s] both yesterday and today.
[1930-08-23] Sat 23: ... Had a call from Paul Hammond & Mr Tod[?] in a.m. and Butler Ducan, Allie Morgan & Mr ? [sic] after dinner and later Geo Nichols & Jack Parkinson. Enterprise [#1146s] & Weetamoe [#1147s] [are] here as [wind is] too strong to race.
[1930-08-28] Thu 28: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] & Yankee arrived to lay up. Corsair here with Junius Morgan who called with George N[ichols] & [Robert] Bavier.
[1930-08-29] Fri 29: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] [was] hauled into S[outh] shop.
[1930-09-04] Thu 4: ... Harold Vanderbilt sailed up in Enterprise [#1146s] and very kindly took me for [a] short sail. Weetamoe's [#1147s] tender & crew left.
[1931-08-22] Sat 22: ... Kings Cup Race [was] won by Weetamoe [#1147s] by 1 sec[ond] over [blank]. ...
[1931-08-23] Sun 23: ... Resolute [#725s] & Prestige [#1058s] arrived to lay up, also Weetamoe [#1147s].
[1931-11-11] Wed 11: ... Had calls from E. W. Clark [owner of #725s Resolute] & Clinton Crane [designer of #1147s Weetamoe]. ...
[1932-05-26] Thu 26: ... Had a call from Mr. Prince, Mr. Crane, Geo. Nichols & Spencer Borden after they had tried Weetamoe [#1147s]. ...
[1932-05-29] Sun 29: ... Yachts Atlantic & Lone Star arrived [in the] a.m. Vanitie off for trial in a.m. having Sec. C. F. Adams. Weetamoe [#1147s] left [in the] afternoon with Lone Star.
[1932-06-04] Sat 4: ... 1st race between Weetamoe [#1147s] & Vanitie.
[1932-08-16] Tue 16: ... Ann took Grace, Miss Slade & me to Newport & Brentons P[oin]t to see Astor Cup Race finish. Weetamoe [#1147s] a little ahead of Vanitie.
[1932-08-17] Wed 17: ... Ann took Grace, Mabel Gardner[?] & boy to Newport & Brenton Cove to see end of King's Cup Race. Won by Weetamoe [#1147s]. Only 2 entries.
[1934-06-01] Fri 1: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] launched [in] a.m. ...
[1934-06-04] Mon 4: ... Had a pleasant call from Mr Prince [in] p.m. [Frederick H. Prince was the owner of #1147s Weetamoe.] ...
[1934-06-07] Thu 7: ... A little r[ain] last night. Weetamoe's [#1147s] new mast stepped this a.m.
[1934-06-09] Sat 9: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] left in p.m. in tow of Lone Star.
[1934-06-11] Mon 11: ... Vanitie hauled [in] a.m. & Rainbow [#1233s] & Weetamoe [#1147s] arrived in p.m. & Rainbow hauled out.
[1934-06-14] Thu 14: ... Vanitie & Weetamoe [#1147s] left for Newport.
[1934-06-16] Sat 16: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] left at 9 a.m. in tow for afternoon races. Rainbow [#1233s] was 1st, Weetamoe 2nd, Vanitie last.
[1934-06-22] Fri 22: ... A very pleasant [call[ from Mr Prince [owner of #1147s Weetamoe]. ...
[1934-06-24] Sun 24: ... Had call from Clinton Crane [the designer of #1147s Weetamoe] in p.m.
[1934-07-03] Tue 3: ... Had call from Clinton Crane [the designer of #1147s Weetamoe] in p.m.
[1934-07-04] Wed 4: . Rainbow [#1233s] & Weetamoe [#1147s] arrived[?] in p.m. ...
[1934-07-05] Thu 5: ... Mr Prince [the owner of #1147s Weetamoe] called [in] a.m. ...
[1934-07-08] Sun 8: ... [Shop is] working on Weetamoe's [#1147s] & Rainbow's [#1233s] c[enter] b[oards] all day.
[1934-07-09] Mon 9: ... Rainbow [#1233s] left [in the] p.m. & Weetamoe [#1147s] left [in the] a.m. & back [in the] p.m.
[1934-07-12] Thu 12: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] left in a.m. ...
[1934-07-19] Thu 19: ... Clinton Crane came in for conference about Weetamoe's [#1147s] keel being changed. Also E[rnest] Alder & Carl Haffenreffer. Work to begin at once.
[1934-07-20] Fri 20: ... Had call from Clinton Crane & later Mr Prince [designer and owner of #1147s Weetamoe] & Carl Haffenreffer. ...
[1934-07-28] Sat 28: ... Had calls from Carl Haffenreffer & Mr Prince [owner of #1147s Weetamoe]. ...
[1934-08-05] Sun 5: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] [was] launched in p.m. & Rainbow [#1233s] arrived.
[1934-08-06] Mon 6: ... Weetamoe's [#1147s] mast & c[enter]b[oard] placed. Rainbow [#1233s] hauled out.
[1934-08-07] Tue 7: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] left under sail in p.m., her change of lead keel being completed. ...
[1934-08-22] Wed 22: ... In [their] first trial race today, Rainbow [#1233s] won, beating Weetamoe [#1147s] [by] about 4 m[inutes].
[1934-08-24] Fri 24: ... Yankee won 3rd race against Weetamoe [#1147s].
[1936-06-14] Sun 14: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] launched and mast stepped in rain. ...
[1936-06-17] Wed 17: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] left this p.m.
[1936-08-24] Mon 24: ... Weetamoe [#1147s] arrived. Erection of 1st span of new storage shed at cove.
[1936-08-25] Tue 25: ... Rainbow [#1233s] here to lay up; also Weetamoe [#1147s]. 4 span trusses up on new shed.
[1936-10-18] Sun 18: ... Had a call from Mr [Chandler] Hovey & son with Sidney about changing the Weetamoe's [#1147s] lead keel. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1929 to 1936. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"N. G. Herreshoff Coconut Grove Miami, Florida Jan. 21 1929. {sic, i.e 1930: 1930/01/21} [Note, NGH did write 1929 but this letter was written in 1930.] Dear Francis, ... I had a very pleasant call from George Nichols and his wife on Sunday and of course heard of the conditions at Bristol, It seems there was a very strange slip made on the mould loft floor when laying down the lead - for the Crane designed craft. There was an error in laying down [Drawing] the height [p2] at a which was not detected, and lines were run to a' - several inches too high which caused the lead casting to be about 10 tons too heavy - and they have a very slow job in sawing it off." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 5: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"In 1930 the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company also built the cup defender 'Enterprise,' designed by Starling Burgess and managed by Harold Vanderbilt, as well as the cup candidate 'Weetamoe,' designed by Clinton Crane and managed by George Nichols. While these yachts were not closely connected with Captain Nat, still they used many features of construction he had developed and were equipped almost entirely with winches, steering gears, and deck fittings he had designed for former cup boats. ... Of course Mr. Crane had designed many metal yachts before and on the whole he possibly produced the best design of the 'J's' built that year, but the 'Weetamoe' was somewhat hamstrung with sails and possibly not sailed as intently and cleverly as 'Enterprise." (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 closing of a contract last week to construct a second yacht for the trial graces to determine the selection of a boat to defend the America's cup in the races against Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock V, off Newport, in September, 1930, gives assurance of busy times at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company's plant here during this fall and the coming winter and spring. For there are many more boats to be constructed here besides these yachts that will engage the attention of the yachting world that will tax the present capacity of the shops to construct, rig and tune up.
It is understood that the Herreshoff Company has purchased the large building at the southeast corner of Hope and Burnside streets, formerly part of the Herreshoff Company's plant, from the Collins & Aikman Company, in order to provide accommodations to construct main smaller craft, for which orders have been received.
The second order for the yacht that is to take part in the elimination trial races for the selection of the America's cup defender, is to be constructed for a syndicate composed of J Pierpont Morgan, Junius S Morgan, Jr., George C Nichols. Arthur Curtis James, Gerard B Lambert, Richard T. Crane, Henry Walters, Gen Cornelius Vanderbilt and George T Bowdoin, all prominently connected with the New York Yacht Club George C Nichols, who is to be the manager of the yacht for the syndicate and who is to sail the boat in the elimination trial races, is yachtsman of much experience, and is the owner of the yacht Carolina, 50-footer sloop, which has been winner in many famous regattas. The yacht is to be built from plans of Clinton H Crane, who has had much success with smaller yachts.
This yacht will make the eighth to be built at the Herreshoff's shop the last 27 years in connection with the defence of the America's Cup. won in 1861 [sic, i.e. 1851] by the yacht America. ..." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Company to Build Two Yachts. For Trial Races to Select a Defender of America's Cup Against Sir Thomas Lipton' s Shamrock V. Both Boats Ordered by Syndicates of New York Yacht Club Members. Busy Times Ahead at Boat Shops." Bristol Phoenix, October 1, 1929, p. 3.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., March 20 [1930]. --- ... In an adjoining shed [to the one for #1146s Enterprise] here the last bronze plates enclosing the hull of Weetamoe are being riveted on. Work on her was not started until November [1929], three months after the keel of Enterprise was laid. These are the two yachts built by flag officer syndicates of the New York Yacht Club.
The deck of Weetamoe has been installed, and it has considerable sheer, or rise at the bow and stern, whereas that of Enterprise is practically flat. The top bronze plates of the hull of Weetamoe also rise two inches above the wooden deck and thus make that much rail. It is all she will have to stop those aboard her from sliding into the sea when she is heeled over under a breeze and her deck is wet and slippery.
Cutwater Very Sharp.
Weetamoe's cutwater also is very sharp. It would slice a cheese. This sharpness extends down the long, gradual slope from her bow aft to her keel, which in the new racing yacht is not under the midship section but well toward the stern. This affords a long rise up to the nose, which is an all-important factor in the design. Were the rise too sharp the shoulders of the boat would not be sufficient for her to hold and steady herself in the water; were it too rounded it would give her a bulldog stance or setting, with too much resistence as she moved along in the water.
Weetamoe is to be completely rigged at the Herreshoff yard. In the joiner shop the companionway steps, or stairs as they say in yacht building, simplifying the nautical term, the gratings and other woodwork is being turned out. No weight is being unnecessarily overlooked, and no strength sacrificed, either. For instance, the side pieces of the stairs leading down from the deck into the hold are cut out in places. ...
In the spar shop the wood for a second boom for Weetamoe is cut and the pieces piled ready to be glued together. The first of her queer shaped booms is completed. It is angular instead of round. The odd shape is for strength. There has been much secrecy surrounding the booms of the boats, but they now have been seen by those interested in the four defense creations.
A second mast for Weetamoe also has been glued into shape and is being planed down as it stretches 164 feet along sawhorses. The woodwork on an America's Cup yacht is a wonder of craftsmanship to a layman." (Source: Robbins, James. "Yacht Enterprise Gets First Paint. ... Weetamoe's Deck, Installed In Adjoining Shed at Bristol, Differs From Enterprise's." New York Times, March 21, 1930, p. 36.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., April 7 [1930]. --- ... In about three weeks the Weetamoe will be ready for launching. Her plates are all on, but some are still bolted and not yet riveted. Her deck is two-thirds completed." (Source: Robbins, James. "Morning Launching For The Enterprise." New York Times, April 8, 1930, p. 37.)

"BRISTOL. R. I., May 8 [1930]. --- Weetamoe, the America's Cup yacht that has been called the Morgan boat, was duly christened this afternoon, but is still in the shed. She was built here at the Herreshoff Shipyard and refused to be launched.
After spending two hours and ten minutes trying in vain to get her overboard, some two score workmen wiped their dripping brows, and it was officially admitted she had frozen to the launching ways. Far more unceremoniously than they arrived, the syndicate owners and their guests, most of them in yachting caps, left the yard.
If ever a gala event was knocked galley west, Weetamoe's initial plunge in cup racing was. The next high tide will be tomorrow morning, but it will be Friday, the day sailormen are careful not to roll out of the wrong side of the bed. So chocks were put under the big racer, lest she might get it into her head to slip off the ways into the water on her own hook.
The shed doors were closed and it was decided to persuade the fair creature to take her first ducking on the high tide at 7 A. M. on Saturday. She certainly was reluctant either to get wet or plunge into the water today. Whether aversion or whim, the beautiful craft was stubborn as a mule.
Everything Possible Done.
Everything possible had been planned. She was built in the shed next to the long pier at the shipyard and there were only four feet to spare for her slide and then a drop of six feet off the launching ways into Narragansett Bay. Planks were laid along the new pilings of the pier in case she should veer and her crew, in new blue uniforms and tan shoes, were lined along the pier with lines and bumpers to act in an emergency.
J. P. Morgan was not there, but his son, Junius S. Morgan Jr., Brig. Gen. Cornelius Vanderbilt and Gerard B. Lambert of the building syndicate, were present, and so was George Nichols, who will skipper the racer. Then there were Robert N. Bavier, Augustus H. Eustis and John Parkinson, who will be in the afterguard, or sailing group of the boat, and E. Walter Clark, owner of Resolute [#725s], the last cup defender. Clinton H. Crane, designer of Weeta-moe, was ill in New York.
Out in the bay were Resolute, the schooner Atlantic, of ocean racing fame, and other yachts, all bedecked with flags. There was no thought on the part of any of those present of something going wrong. To be sure the cup boat Defender [#452s] stuck when half way down the ways, but that was back in 1895.
Even Weather Propitious.
Even the weather was propitious today. A southwest wind that might have blown the boat into the pier was dreaded, but it was southeast in the morning. It shifted to southwest in the afternoon, but the air was gentle and seemingly kindly.
At 5:30 P. M., the appointed hour for the big event, Miss Jane Nichols, daughter of the yacht's skipper and granddaughter of Mr. Morgan, took her position on the launching platform with a bottle wrapped in cloth in her right hand. Workmen began knocking away the chocks. This accomplished, the saws were started cutting through the last blocks of wood placed to hold the craft and her cradle.
There was a moment of suspense as the saws cut through the wood. A member of the crew stood at the taffrail of the yacht ready to place the American ensign as she slid down to the water. Then came the hitch. Weetamoe didn't move.
Some one thought of the idea that the yacht might suddenly slide in a hurry like a chute-the-chute boat and called to little Miss Nichols to do her act. With youthful enthusiasm she took a Babe Ruthian swing and broke the bottle on the bow. It was enough to knock away most anything, but not Weetamoe.
Jacks Brought Into Play.
Then jacks were brought into play to force the boat out of the shed. They were of no avail. She was built in the cradle and the ways under her were new. The wood in them had absorbed some of the grease and she stuck.
In the meantime a squall was coming up across the bay over Papasquash Neck. The tide was going down and the wind was coming up, With darkness coming on, it was decided to let the boat stay in the shed, if she wanted to, skip Friday and try again Saturday. Weetamoe is the eighth America's Cup boat built at the Herreshoff yards.
There were some who walked away to dinner after her stubborn refusal to obey who thought perhaps the Enterprise [#1146s] might prove to be the lucky seventh. Her launching was as smooth as a wind-planed sea. With the dip of Weetamoe off until Saturday, the last two of the cup boats will be launched the same day. Yankee, the Boston boat, will go overboard at [Lawley's at] Neponset three hours after Weetamoe. ..." (Source: Robbins, James. "Weetamoe Sticks Fast To The Ways. Morgan Boat, After Christening by Miss Nichols, Refuses to Take Initial Dip. Workmen's Efforts Fail. After Two Hours'Work, Launching at Bristol Is Postponed Until Tomorrow." New York Times, May 9, 1930, p. 30.)

"BOSTON, May 10 [1930]. --- Both Weetamoe and Yankee, the last two of the America's Cup defense yachts in the water, took morning dips today.
Weetamoe, which refused to be launched on Thursday, went overboard at 6:25 A. M. at the Herreshoff yards in Bristol, R. I., and Yankee made her initial plunge at 10 A. M. at the George Lawley & Son Corporation plant in Neponset, Mass., on Dorchester Bay. Both events went off without a hitch.
A second bottle was broken over the bow of Weetamoe by little Miss Jane Nichols, daughter of George Niahols, who will sail that racer. The first quart was spilled when Weetamoe refused to budge an inch two days ago. The second was to make sure she was appropriately christened.
Weetamoe was jacked on her way in her launching cradle earlier than it had been announced she would be, and many who had hoped to see the Morgan boat splash arrived too late for it. A chosen few of the members of the syndicate owning her had been tipped off to the time, however, and were on hand.
When the shed doors were opened at the Herreshoff yards for Weetamoe, the surface of Narragansett Bay was glossy. It was not quite the full of the tide, but the smoothness of the water, without any wind, made the conditions perfect. The jacks were used to give the yacht a push, and the moment they moved her she started off on an easy slide down the railway.
Weetamoe Drops Six Feet.
At the end of it she dropped off, splashing down about six feet. Her stern dipped to the upper seam of her topsides at her quarter, then rose and she settled smoothly on an even keel. Lines were passed to those aboard her and she was swung alongside the pier, close to which she had slid.
Each launching has brought out further evidence that the designers were anything but in accord on what the perfect boat under the new rule should be. Weetamoe, designed by Clinton H. Crane, seems to be an enlargement or enlarged edition of his six-meter boat.
Her cutaway below the waterline forward should make her swing about quickly from one tack on the wind to the other, but it reduces the lateral plane as affecting her sailing length. This type of boat is inclined to veer, or swing, when running before the wind, and often is difficult to steer on a course. The cutaway also necessitates carrying the lead ballast higher.
On the other hand, Weetamoe has an easy entrance in the water, and with her long lines below it and narrow beam she should be a slippery boat in light airs. ...
Weetamoe is to be rigged at the Herreshoff yard and is expected to be under sail the middle of next week on Narragansett Bay, where her rigging will be tested before she is taken through Long Island Sound to Glen Cove, where she will compete in the race to be held there on June 11." (Source: Robbins, James. "Weetamoe, Yankee Safely Launched. Morgan Boat, Which Stuck on Ways Thursday, Goes Overboard at Bristol, R. I. Christened Second Time." New York Times, May 11, 1930, p. 153.)

"BOSTON, Oct. 20 [1930] --- Frederick H. Prince, banker and sportsman of Boston and Hamilton, has purchased the America's Cup candidate, Weetamoe, and will race her next Summer in Class J, he announced today.
The Weetamoe, one of the four racing sloops built in this country last Winter as cup candidates, now is laid up for the Winter at Bristol, R. I. New living accommodations will be installed in her before she goes into commission next season.
Mr. Prince, a member of the Eastern Yacht Club, has owned a number of fast racing yachts. This season he had under his colors the Class M sloop Chiora [#713s], Ex-Iroquois II and the Class Q sloop Venturer. Recently he has been endeavoring to establish a class of larger racing yachts at Marblehead.
Designed by Crane.
The Weetamoe was designed by Clinton H. Crane of New York for a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members, headed by J. P. Morgan. Former Commodore George Nichols was her Corinthian captain during the trial races this Summer for the selection of a defender.
She was exceptionally fast in light airs, and at one time it seemed likely that she would be chosen defender, but the honor fell to Enterprise. She is 125 feet 9 inches overall, 83 feet on the waterline, 20 feet in beam and 15 feet draft. She was built at Bristol by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company.
It is expected that all four Class J sloops will race as a class next season, but beyond the sale of the Weetamoe no official word has been revealed as to their future ownerships. ...
Cost Estimated at $500,000.
No information was obtainable in New York last night concerning the price Mr. Prince paid for Weetamoe. It is generally understood, however, in well-informed yachting circles that it cost about $500,000 to build, rig and operate each of the three unsuccessful America's Cup candidates, Weetamoe, Yankee and Whirlwind. This figure included the tenders and pay of crews.
Weetamoe's cost can be divided into three classifications, as follows: Construction, $150,000; sails, $150,000; upkeep, $200,000.
The syndicate members of the defender Enterprise paid a total of about $630,000, the sails of the craft costing approximately, $50,000 more than her hull.
Weetamoe was launched on May 10 [1930], the same day that Yankee slid down the ways. She has a bronze underbody and white hull and her rig was the simplest of the four cup boats.
While speed is a difficult thing to measure in yacht racing with wind variance and tides to consider, Weetamoe showed several bursts of speed in her races that stamped her in the minds of many prominent Corinthians as the fastest all-around boat of the four in light breezes.
Pointed High Against Wind.
She pointed high against the wind, and reached and ran fairly well. Her extreme cutaway forefoot caused many to believe that she could not hold on when slapped by cross seas, but she did remarkably well in them.
In the early races sailed on Long Island Sound, Weetamoe twice led her rivals across the finish line and she won four races in succession during the observation events off Newport. On the New York Yacht Club cruise she won the opening race against her rivals and later took the City of Newport Cup race.
In the official trials, however, she trailed Enterprise in both races held, although she lost both only by narrow margins." (Source: Anon. "Weetamoe Bought By Boston Banker. F. H. Prince Purchases Former America's Cup Candidate From Morgan Syndicate. Will Compete In Class J." New York Times, October 21, 1930, p. 35.)

"... The Weetamoe [#1147s], which is now owned by Fred Prince of Boston and which was one of the yachts built at the local plant in 1930 to take part in the cup defence elimination race, is being overhauled at the Herreshoff shops." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoffs Now Working On Full Week Schedule." Bristol Phoenix, February 23, 1932, p. 1.)

"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. ...
Laying alongside one of the docks is Frederick H. Prince's Weetamoe [#1147s], built by Herreshoff in 1928 as a Contender for the defense of the America's Cup. She was purchased in 1930 by Mr. Prince and completely and elaborately fitted out inside for cruising and racing. Readers will recall the enviable record that she enjoyed during the last season's 'J' Class races. During this past Winter she has had her mast step moved about 2 1/2 ft aft and her spar and rigging changed and will be Vanitie's only rival in her class this summer. ..." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Shops Hum with Boating Season Activities. Vanitie and Weetamoe Being Prepared For Class J Races." Bristol Phoenix, May 17, 1932, p. 1.)

"... Another development was the receipt of an order from Frederick H. Prince of Boston, owner of the sloop Weetamoe, which was rejected as defender in 1930 in favor of the Enterprise, to have major alterations made in her. Mr. Prince decided to use her as a trial horse for the new yacht.
Changed to New Cup Rules.
Weetamoe was fitted with cabin accommodations and otherwise changed to the new cup boat rules two years ago. Many yachtsmen have considered her fast enough to give any boat in the class a race. Her keel is to be recast, to give her a deeper forefoot, with more lateral resistance, and a faster righting movement from the heel on one tack to that on another.
Other changes also are contemplated to improve the speed of Weetamoe. She now is looked upon as the fastest Class J, or cup-size yacht in this country. While the old Vanitie beat her, boat for boat, on several occasions last Summer, Vanitie is up in Class I, and could not race for the cup with her excessive sail area. ..." (Source: Robbins, James. Weetamoe To Be Altered. Changes Ordered by, Prince to Prepare Craft for Role of Trial Horse." New York Times, December 24, 1933, p. S1.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., April 21 [1934]. --- ... Work on Frederick H. Prince's Weetamoe, the 1930 Cup candidate which will try again this year, also is progressing satisfactorily. Her new keel has been skidded under and is ready to be raised and her keel bolts fastened through the keel plate.
Jacking up a chunk of lead weighing some sixty-seyen tons is no mean task, but the difficulties which it presents undoubtedly will be overcome and the yacht will have a keel again by next Saturday. To Be Clad In Bronze.
When that is done, it will not be long before the filling in pieces for the deadwood are secured and the whole thing clad in bronze armor.
The changes in her mast step which were made necessary by the alterations to the boat almost are finished and she soon will be ready to receive her new mast. The stick, however, is not expected to arrive before June 1 from Baltimore. ..." (Source: Anon. "Hull Is Finished On The Rainbow." New York Times, April 22, 1934, p. S2.)

"Weetamoe, last of the contenders for the honor of defending the America's Cup to be put into commission, was launched this morning at the Herreshoff plant at 10.30 o'clock." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, June 1, 1934, p. 2.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., April 9 [1939]--- The last chapter of a tale of sea frustration, of fame always near at hand but never quite achieved, was written here last night when the once proud Weetamoe, twice an America's Cup defense aspirant, was started toward the port of discarded racing sloops ---the junk pile.
Weetamoe, ill-starred from the very day of launching, twice failed to earn the right to defend the battered old mug for which Sir Thomas Upton so often and so fruitlessly challenged. Now she has been sold by Chandler Hovey of New York, the last yachtsman to own her, to the Feritas Corporation of Fall River, Mass. An inglorious end to a brilliant racing career is all that awaits her now, for she will be cut up for the metal that is in her.
Weetamoe's reverses trace all the way back to the day of her scheduled launching on May 9, 1930, when, before an assemblage of yachting enthusiasts and socially prominent New Englanders and New Yorkers, her cradle stuck on the ways and the launching necessarily was postponed. Two days later, without benefit of whistles and flag wavings, Weetamoe was launched on her career, a career which never found fulfillment.
In 1930 she opposed Enterprise, Yankee and Whirlwind in eliminations to determine the sloop which would defend the cup against Lipton's Shamrock V and, despite a series of successes in the trials, was lost in the shuffle when the cup committee assembled to select the defender.
Although she was not picked in 1930, the competition between her and Enterprise was so hotly contested that the ultimate choice was in doubt up until the final meeting of the committee. The announcement of Enterprise's selection, following a brief series of tests, occasioned widespread surprise as many followers of the preliminary events regarded Weetamoe as the best all-around boat of the four built that year, for the express purpose of thwarting Lipton's burning ambition.
Built for a New York syndicate headed by Junius S. Morgan and George Nichols, the all-bronze sloop was purchased after the 1930 trials by Frederick H. Prince, who entered her in the 1934 trials, where she was beaten by Rainbow and Yankee, although changes had been made in her lead keel in an attempt to give her greater stability and speed.
Faces Sledge Hammer
Subsequently Chandler Hovey bought Weetamoe, raced her in the New York Yacht Club series of 1936 and apparently planned to again try for the Cup defense nomination with her. Hovey, however, bought Rainbow from Harold S. Vanderbilt, dressed her with Weetamoe's spars, sails and rigging and relegated the once swift racer to a cradle, high and dry in the Herreshoff yards.
Many triumphs were included in her record, scores of trophies were among her achievements and countless thrills recorded in her log, but Weetamoe, hauled out at Bristol, abandoned by her crew and stripped of her racing gear, was left to her fate. Yesterday fate, this time in prosaic mood, nominated the fleet, nimble craft for her last race --- a losing race against the wreckers' sledges." (Source: Anon. "Once Proud Weetamoe Heads For Wrecker's Sledge Hammer." Christian Science Monitor, April 9, 1939, p. 7.)

"WEETAMOE
1930
As was the case with most J's built in 1930, the construction schedule of Weetamoe was a model. When George Nichols' syndicate took the decision to contend for defence of the Cup, a battle plan was put in place. The yacht was built at the Herreshoff shipyard and bore the manufacture number 1147. In a letter sent by the Bristol shipyard on 7 January, the schedule was scrupulously set out. On 1 January 1930, the ballast keel was cast - although in fact the 90 tons of lead had been cast on 21 December and an error in the weight specifications had resulted in 9 tons being removed. The steel keel and the keel plates were to be laid on 22 January so that the frames and web frames could be raised on this date. On 2 February, the shell-plating would begin: Tobin bronze plates below the waterline and steel plates above. By 16 March, the hull would be plated and the deck could be covered. The launching of the yacht was planned for 16 April. In fact, various delays in the delivery of materials - the bronze plates arrived late - postponed certain operations, thereby delaying the launch until 10 May, when the yacht was christened by Jane Nichols. Other operations were included in this smooth schedule: the plan of the deck fittings and the design of the tangs arrived on 27 January; a 30-foot section of the steel mast underwent a resistance test at the University of Illinois; the deck fittings were inventoried; and Ratsey & Lapthorn received the order for the sails in March. In all, Weetamoe was to have thirty-seven sails at her disposal.
Once she had been launched, the work continued: on 18 May, Weetamoe received her mast, and 3 days later had her maiden sail. On 29 June a second, hollow wooden mast that was lighter than the first was delivered and mounted at the Henry B. Nevins shipyard at City Island. Time was truly of the essence in the birth of a J boat. In 1930, Weetamoe narrowly failed to be selected for the defence. She was sold on 14 October to the Bostonian Frederick H. Prince, who regularly raced her in East Coast regattas in 1931. In 1934 her keel was modified, then changed back to the way it had been, but unsuccessfully: Weetamoe was beaten by Yankee and Rainbow in the selections for the defence that year. In 1936, she belonged to Chandler Hovey. Two years later, she was sold and broken up for scrap." (Source: Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. J Class, London, 2002, p. 205-206.)

"[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:] Photograph of ways at HMCo labeled 'The ways with the launching cradle' [apparently for #1147s WEETAMOE]." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (?) (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.127. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1929-12-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sketch titled 'Suggested Main Halyard Winch for Cup defenders of 1930 [#1146s ENTERPRISE and #1147s WEETAMOE]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketcch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE11_00250. Folder [no #]. 1930.)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph of lead for #1147s WEETAMOE keel being poured at HMCo, #384p SHUTTLE in the background." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.125. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-01.)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph of #1147s WEETAMOE being constructed at HMCo labeled 'top of form and of keel showing cutting of steelrods in centerboard slot', dated in ink (by HMCo) Jan 9, 1930, dated in pencil Feb 3-4, 1930." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.126. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-01-08.)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph of newly poured keel for #1147s WEETAMOE at HMCo, labeled 'Aft end of keel showing centerboard slot'." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.121. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-01-09.)
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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 Description:] Photograph of keel with centerboard slot for #1147s WEETAMOE at HMCo." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.120. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-02-15.)
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"[Item Description:] photo of #1147s WEETAMOE at HMCo, beginning of framing being put up" (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.122. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-02-16.)
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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:] photo of #1147s WEETAMOE under construction at HMCo, beginning of planking" (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.123. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-03-08.)
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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 Description:] photo of #1147s WEETAMOE under construction at HMCo, finishing of planking" (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.124. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-03-29.)
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"[Item Description:] deck photo of #1147s WEETAMOE under construction at HMCo, deck laying" (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.129. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-04-07.)
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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:] photo neg. no 107001 of America's Cupper #1147s WEETAMOE being launched at HMCo" (Source: Levick, Edwin (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.130. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-05-10.)
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"[Item Description:] photo neg. no 107006 of #1147s WEETAMOE inside construction shop at HMCo, apparently just prior to launching" (Source: Levick, Edwin (creator). Photograph. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.128. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1930-05-10 ?.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I enclose copy of letter addressed to George Cormack [from C. E. Nicholson, dated October 7, 1930] just received from the latter, on which I would be glad to have your comments. [NP] The meeting in London, I understand, is called for October 22d, so that if you can improve the formula, which is, after all, purely artificial, I should be able to cable it before that date. [NP] Am sorry to see 'WEETAMOE' [#1147s] go. I enjoyed sailing her and it was one of the occasions when I wished that I were rich [NP] enough to run such a boat myself. [Incl NGH reply:] I certainly sympathizes with you about WEETAMOE. She is certainly a fine ship --- except when on bottom or for hauling out.
I am surprised Nicholson suggested changing the draft limit by increasing the constant, for the trouble with it [is] now that the constant is too great and gives about proper draft for a 30ft wl boat, and too much in smaller ones. Larger than 30ft the need [for] more keel or a centreboard is quite evident.
As a matter of fact the draft of a keel boat, small or large, should be about 21 or 22% of length for the best racing speed. But l.w.l. is not the correct base to work from. It should be a function of the sail carrying power of the vessel which in the paper I recently handed you was rater succinctly [expressed by sq-rt(Breadth*weight), and draft of water by square root of that, or by 4th-rt(B*D). I think my last rule for draft limit a very simple and proprpin[?] one, and have[? leave?] the extreme limit of either 6 meters or 20ft and no centreboards over 7/10 draft allowed[?] for keel yachts.
In sail-rating rules I worked on in 1915 of which George [Cormack] has on file, I proposed the following:- as draft limit based on square root of sail area, and which when a graph is made gives a close approximation to a continuous fair curve.
Where sq-rt(S) is 20 or under: Draft limit = .22*sq-rt(S)
[Where sq-rt(S) is] between 20 & 40: Draft limit = .1925*sq-rt(S) + .55
[Where sq-rt(S) is between] 40 & 60: [Draft limit =] .153*sq-rt(S) + 2.15
[Where sq-rt(S) is between] 60 & 80: [Draft limit =] .12*sq-rt(S) + 4.1
[Where sq-rt(S) is between] 80 & 100: [Draft limit =] .095*sq-rt(S) + 6.1
[Where sq-rt(S) is between] 100 & 120: [Draft limit =] .075*sq-rt(S) + 8.1
[Where sq-rt(S) is between] 120 & 140: [Draft limit =] .06*sq-rt(S) + 9.9
But I am sure this w[ou]ld not be so satisfactory as my last and if you cable you better by all means make it: Draft limit fourth root of breadth multiplied by displacement with top limit of six meters. No centreboards except when draft is less than seven tenths of above." (Source: Nichols, George (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_74100. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F10, formerly MRDE15. 1930-10-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Carbon copy of a typed letter:] Thanks for yours of yesterday returning the print. I neglected to tell you in my previous letter that of course Sidney had said that a fifteen degree Universal Joint will not do [in what will become #193007es TERN (Aux. Weekend Cruiser)]. He said be much preferred to scheme some way so that no Universal Joint would be required, because he does not like them for continuous full power operation, and they are pretty apt to be dirty and leak oil. If it is in any way possible to get along without either Universal joint or chain I should much prefer to do so, and I am inclined to think that we can eventually get around using either one. I have mo doubts about the practicability of the chain enclosed in an oil casing, and it would have the advantage of allowing us to experiment with various engine-propeller ratios.
I don't believe that Jeff Davis, reporter for the Providence Journal and a good friend of ours, sent anything to the Detroit paper. The last time I saw him he said he had heard nothing from them on the subject and therefore assumed that they were not interested.
General Luke Callan here in Bristol had a high potentate of the Lions or some other organization here several days ago, whom he introduced to us as the Commodore of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club at Detroit. His name is Marsh, and Mr. Haffenreffer showed him all over the Yard and showed him one of the Fishers Island Thirty-One Footers just planked up but not turned over. Commodore Marsh was kind enough to say that if any of us ever came to Detroit he would be very glad to introduce us at the Club, and Mr. Haffenreffer told him of you and said that he would ask you to call on him some day. The Commodore laughingly proclaimed that he was Commodore of the Rocking Chair fleet, and as he appears to be about sixty years old and not of the type to climb around on a small boat, I imagine he would not personally be interested in small boats. However, it might interest you to call on him some day after he gets back.
We have ENTERPRISE [#1146s], WEETAMOE [#1147s] and YANKEE here, and also the SHAMROCK which we are fitting with her short rig to go back to England. Everybody stayed until after the races and now everybody wants to get hauled out and stored away at the same time and it is rather a jam.
With best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours ..." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.). Letter to Herreshoff, Alexander Griswold. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.091. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Weekend Auxiliary Cruiser. 1930-26-23.)
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"[Item Description:] please give extra book to Sidney, we never publish the names of the dead because of the depressing effect on the members but we carefully note their achievements which are not published, #1147s WEETAMOE, VANITIE, what a come down in yachting, it depresses" (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18190. Correspondence, Folder 49, formerly 76. 1932-06-24.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Newspaper clipping titled 'Yachting Gossip by Jeff Davis'. Relevant Herreshoff excerpt:] Nick Potter, who has been in the designing room at Herreshoff's for the last year, has left and tied up with Bill Strawbridge and the pair will open a yacht designing office at Bristol. Potter designed the North Harbor 31-foot wa-terline knockabouts [#1227s TSANA, #1229s LONE STAR, #1228s BETSY] built at Herreshoff's this winter, and Strawbridge was you might say, the founder of the class as he ordered the first boat.
Capt. John Christianson of VANITIE and Capt. Gus Gunderson of WEETAMOE [#1147s] are both at Bristol and their crews are expected to put in an appearance within a week or so to get the two big boats in commission. There is nothing to do to WEETAMOE except the ordinary work of painting and fitting out, but VANITIE, being about 18 years old, needs more attention. Several plates are to be stripped off VANITIE, cleaned and re-riveted.
Two more Frostbite class B dinghies are being built at Herreshoff's from designs by Nathaniel G. [#1230s THORN?] and Sidney [#1231s HUMDINK]. Both are experimental boats. " (Source: Providence Journal (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_00990. Folder [no #]. No date (1933-03 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Alte's [E. D. Morgan's] death was a shock coming so soon after Butler's [Duncan], everyone connected with #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, #499s COLUMBIA, #551s CONSTITUTION and #605s RELIANCE have passed away, as a matter of fact you and I are the only ones left that have been connected with the Cup since 1885, you before that date, yachting is slim, George Nichols telephoned that VANITIE beat #1147s WEETAMOE handily" (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18200. Correspondence, Folder 49, formerly 76. 1933-06-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Calculations titled "Mast for #1147" [#1147s WEETAMOE] [plus other related documents which were not digitzed]." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.031. Calculations. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. No date (1934 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Centerboard list for #1147s WEETAMOE." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. List. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. No date (1934 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Sketches of hardware for #1147s WEETAMOE." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. Sketches Lists Specs. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. No date (1934 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Cut-out outlines of floor plate patterns for #1147s WEETAMOE." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. Cut-outs. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. No date (1934 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] "Specifications for Refitting J-class Sloop Yacht WEETAMOE [#1147s]." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. Specifications. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. No date (1934 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten list titled 'WEETAMOE [#1147s] Weight of Mast + Rigging'." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. List. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. No date (1934 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Two pages with penciled dimensioned sketches titled "Proposed Spinnaker Boom for WEETAMOE [#1147s]", one on "Herreshoff Manufacturing Company" stationery." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.031. Sketches. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. 1934-01-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] WEETAMOE [#1147s], unlike the new boat [#1233s RAINBOW], is to have twin headstays, and for this reason two jumper struts similar to the ones she had last year, instead of the one which Burgess is planning for the new boat. Burgess' office is supposed to make the plan for these twin jumper struts. I should like to have the Herreshoff Company make plans for the attachment of the twin headstays at the stem. Bearing in mind that each one of these headstays will be at least as strong as 7/8 airplane wire, consequently the attachment should be strong enough to break this wire. In order to stand a pull of 30,000 lbs. on the topmost backstays, it will be necessary to move these attachments further forward on the hull. We will adopt here the same rig which they are using on the new boat but will require that the attachments on WEETAMOE be sufficient to stand the strain. On account of the changed shroud rigging, new chain plates will be necessary. I should like to approve these in design before they are actually attached to the boat. I imagine here I can use practically what they plan for the new boat, but as the boats will undoubtedly be differently constructed at the rail, some modification in design may be necessary.
I am sailing for Europe on Saturday and would like you to have these matters in mind in my absence. WEETAMOE will also need a new pair of winches to handle these new backstays.
Very truly yours, ..." (Source: Crane, Clinton H. Letter to Nystrom, Charles G. (Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.). MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.031. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. 1934-01-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Offsets list for #1147s WEETAMOE." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. List. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. 1934-01-22.)
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"[Item Description:] Typed list titled 'WEETAMOE [#1147s] Weights of Cabin Fittings'." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. Weight List. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. 1934-06-30.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten list titled 'WEETAMOE [#1147s] Weights of Cabin Fittings'." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.032. Weight List. Box HAFH.6.1B, Folder Hull No. 1147s. No date (ca1934-06-30).)
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"[Item Description:] Printed circular titled '1934 Race Chart' and providing a summary of the dates and results of the trial races in June, July, and August of 1934 between RAINBOW [#1233s], VANITIE, WEETAMOE [#1147s], YANKEE and the America's Cup Races in September 1934 between RAINBOW and ENDEAVOR." (Source: New York Yacht Club (?) (creator). Printed Circular. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00770. Folder [no #]. No date (1934-0 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook titled on outer cover 'Droughting Room. Blue Prints Record' providing a list of drawings with information in columns titled 'Issued To', 'For Job', 'Date', 'Date Returned', '[Date] Destroyed', and 'Remarks'. Vessels mentioned are #1266s BELISARIUS, #1267 FROSTFISH, #395p Owner Launch for St.Y. VIKING, #1265s NITRAMON, #1204s SILVERHEELS, #1233s RAINBOW, #1276s PRIM, #1275s MITENA, #907s PLEASURE, #931s NASSAU, #711s VENTURA, #900s IRIS, #982s WATER LILY, #891s WILDFIRE, #1147s WEETAMOE, #954s MARY ROSE, #880s JOSEPHINE, #788s MANATEE, #1146s ENTERPRISE, #1212s TRONDA, #1282s 12 1/2 for H. V. Reed, #1302s Amphicraft for N. F. Ayer, #1304s Amphicraft for Charles A. Welch, #1286s 12 1/2 for Mr. Maitland Alexander, #1311s Amphicraft for Dr. Seth M. Milliken, #1313s Dinghy for #663s RAMALLAH ex-ISTALENA, #1314s HMCo Yard Skiff, #408s PELICAN, #1315s BRENDA, #396p Power Tender for FONTINALIS, #397p Power Tender for FONTINALIS, #329p CAROLA, #1318s Sailing Dinghy for Henry S. Morgan; #1316s NOVA, #1319s Tech Dinghy, #1317s MANDOO II, #405p Surfboat, #1379s Fish Class for H. M. Lautmann (MERRY HELL), #1385s TINKER TOO, and #1384s AVANTI. 23 pages were used. Undated, the dates range from October 1934 to September 1936." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.106. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Blue Print Record Book. No date (1934-10 to 1936-09).)
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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 #1147s Weetamoe even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. J Class. London, 2002.
  Vessel biographies, large-scale sail and lines plans.

• Weetamoe (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Weetamoe (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: Weetamoe
Type: Sloop
Length: 76'
Owner: Morgan-Nichols, Syndicate

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

• Weetamoe
• 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: Weetamoe
Type: 83' sloop
Owner: Geo. Nichols et al.
Year: 1930
Row No.: 752

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: Sept.
Day: 24
Year: 1929
E/P/S: S
No.: 1147
Name: Weetamoe
OA: 125' 9"
LW: 83' 0"
B: 20' 3"
D: 15' 0"
Rig: Sloop
K: y
Ballast: Lead
Amount: C.P.
Notes Constr. Record: 76 Rating Americas Cup Defense Candidate.
Last Name: Morgan-Nichols Syndicate

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:] Correspondence with spinnaker sketches (1/19/1934) - Correspondence with backstay sketches (4/17/1934) - Calculations for mast. In: Technical and Business Records pertaining to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Series VI, Folder HH.6.31 (Hull No. 1147), Box HAFH.6.1B." (Source: Hasselbalch, Kurt and Frances Overcash and Angela Reddin: Guide to The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1997, p. 63-79.)

"[See also:] Sketches of hardware - Floor plate pattern list - Displacement list - Offsets list (1/22/1934) - Centerboard list - Specifications for refitting J-class sloop yacht - List of weights. In: Technical and Business Records pertaining to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Series VI, Folder HH.6.32 (Hull No. 1147), Box HAFH.6.1B." (Source: Hasselbalch, Kurt and Frances Overcash and Angela Reddin: Guide to The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1997, p. 63-79.)

"Sail number J4." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 18, 2010.)

"Built in 228 days (contract to launch; equivalent to 1417 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

Sail area from Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang, J Class, London, 2002, p.438.

"[Displacement (5049 cu.ft.).]" (Source: Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang, J Class, London, 2002, p.438.)

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