HMCo #1203s Cygnet

"[1931-06-29] Mon 29: [Thermometer] 76 - 65 - 67 [degrees]. Very fine. L[igh]t variable. 'Landfall', Paul Hammond's new craft designed by Francis arrived. [Landfall, designed by LFH and just recently built in Germany by A&R, was preparing for the July 1931 trans-Atlantic regatta in which she would take second, behind Dorade.]
[1931-07-01] Wed 1: [Thermometer] 73 - 64 - 65 [degrees]. Part[ly] overcast and nearly calm. L[igh]t SE airs. Paul Hammond here and showed me over the 'Land Fall'. Appears very complete for an ocean voyage. His amateur crew in to look at my model yachts. [Uffa Fox who was with Hammond later described this scene in his book 'Sailing, Seamanship and Yacht Construction'. Note, that the contract for Hammond's Suicide boat #1203s Cygnet was recorded in the Construction Record on the very next day, suggesting that Hammond got interested in the model (which NGH had carved in April 1931 for Stanley McCallan of Bermuda) during this visit.]" (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1931. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Dear Junius,
I am pleased and interested to have your kind letter of 15th. I have not heard of the little boats [#1149s Development Class for Junius Morgan and #1148s Pig in a Bag for George Nichols] built for you & George since they were delivered which was at the time there was great interest in the Cup yachts.
Have you found your boat an interesting one to play with? George has never written of his. A year ago last summer the H.M.Co. built a boat [#1203s Cygnet] for Paul Hammond, from my designs, that was a little shorter and wider than yours and he wrote he had much fun with it and really enjoyed it more than any of his various boats. ... [Penciled letter draft on back of Yenching University letter, undated but December 17, 1932 as per NGH note on Junius Morgan letter dated December 15, 1932.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. [Letter to Junius S. Morgan.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 50 (new), 181 (old). December 17, 1932.)

"The A. Sydney DeW. Herreshoff Room at the Herreshoff Marine Museum was formally dedicated Sunday afternoon, marking another important milestone in the history and tradition of Herreshoff boat-building in this town. Also, an important part of the program was the acceptance by the museum of the 30-foot sloop Bambino [#616s], donated by Louis B. Off, of Linwood, N.J.
Presided over by Halsey C. Herreshoff, the ceremonies were attended by a large crowd of invited guests, all of whom were greatly impressed with the display of items relating to the accomplishments of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. ... The museum is located in part of one of the buildings formerly used by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., at 18 Burnside Street, near the corner of Hope. In his remarks at the dedication Mr Halsey Herreshoff said that the site was where J. B. Herreshoff once had his home. ...
Among the gifts and contributors to the museum are the following: Power boat THANIA [#248p ex-Toddy Wax] by Daniel A. Newhall; Sloop BAMBINO by Louis B. Off; Launch '240' [#240p] by Gordon B. MacPherson; Sloop MIST II [#1164s ex-Louise Ann] by William L. Taggart, Jr.; Marlin Class Sloop [apparently #1421s] by John R Bumstead; Cat Yawl CYGNET [#1203s] by Capt Paul Hammond; Dinghy by A Sydney DeW. Herreshoff; Rowboat by Halsey C Herreshoff II; 1878 Steam Engine [apparently 2 1/2" & 4 1/4" x 5" built between 1881 and 1885] by Fred Simmons; Triple Expansion Engine by John Francis Brown; Capstan and Steering Stand from RESOLUTE by Isaac B Merriman Jr; Photographs by Mr and Mrs Paul A Darling; Bell used by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co, by Anthony A Nunes and Isaac B Merriman Jr; Herreshoff Steam Engine and Boiler [2 1/2" x 3 1/2" from 1891], by Henry Luther and Mrs Wirth Munroe. ..." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Mueseum Dedicated." Bristol Phoenix, August 18, 1977, p. 4.)

"... Development Class, where a substantial degree of freedom was granted the designer. The idea in this case was to have light craft with a specified small sail area (125 square feet), and a minimum of restriction. It was a foolish but pious hope that a rule as loose as the one used would not be exploited to near absurdity. The Development Class unfairly received the nickname, 'Suicide Class.' The boats were brightly taxing to handle but not vicious or dangerous. Some of the original batch of Development Class boats sailed at Coconut Grove. Others were on the North Shore of Long Island. Capt. Nat was represented in both locations with an unusual design which has been characterized as resembling a light 'whale boat with a square stern and wishbone booms for main and jib.' Two of these were near twins, built in 1930, for future Commodores of the NYYC, Junius S. Morgan and his brother-in-law George Nichols. One has been preserved, the Nichols boat, at the Mystic Seaport Museum; a similar third at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. [Ed. Note: CYGNET, the Development Class boat at the HMM, (The General Utility Class - hull #1203) was built and always owned by Paul Hammond until donated to the HMM.]" (Source: Streeter, John W., editorial note. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 125.)

"CYGNET is a cat yawl of lap strake construction built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. from the design of N. G. Herreshoff for his friend Paul Hammond in 1931. Captain Hammond owned many Herreshoff boats and often visited Nathanael and Sidney in Bristol. CYGNET is built of white cedar on oak frames and trimmed with mahogany. CYGNET has a special builder's plate with Nathanael G. Herreshoff's signature engraved on it. The design is unique with her masts designed to be stepped in four alternative locations to employ various sail rig combinations. Two rowing positions also were provided. Captain Hammond gave CYGNET to Nathanael's grandson Halsey C. Herreshoff when he was a student at Webb Institute; Halsey donated the boat to the Herreshoff Marine Museum in 1977. It is displayed fully rigged with all equipment. LOA 17ft. B 5ft-8in. D (Board up) < 1ft. HMC 1203. 1931." (Source: Herreshoff Marine Museum. [Plaque on display at the museum.] Bristol, RI, no date [ca. 2005].)

"[Item Description:] Penciled dimensioned sailplan titled 'Sails for General Utility Boat [#1203 CYGNET]. Scale 1/2in per ft' showing 'No 2 sail' and 'No. 3 sail'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03070. Folder [no #]. No date (ca. 1931-04).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled dimensioned sailplan titled 'Sails no. 1. for General Utility Boat [#1203 CYGNET]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03080. Folder [no #]. No date (ca. 1931-04).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled offsets table titled 'Offsets for General Utility Boat [#1203 CYGNET]. Moulds 18in center to center'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Offsets Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03090. Folder [no #]. No date (ca. 1931-04).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled spar plan titled 'Spars for General Utility Boat [#1203 CYGNET]' and showing 'Mast no. 1', 'Mast no. 2', and 'Mast no. 3'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Spar Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03120. Folder [no #]. No date (ca. 1931-04).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled 'Specifications for General Utility Boat [#1203 CYGNET]. N.G. H. Bermuda. May 1931'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Boat Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03100. Folder [no #]. 1931-04.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.10487 (130-173). Penciled colored sailplan titled 'General Utility Boat [#1203 CYGNET]. 17ft o.a. 5ft 6in beam. For a Racing Dinghy. For a Yachts tender. For a Outboard Motor Boat. For a Rowing 4 oar Boat. For a Home Sailing Boat. N.G. Herreshoff. Coconut Grove, Fla. April 1931. Scale 1/2in per foot'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03130. Folder [no #]. 1931-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled construction plan with interior arrangement, midship section and inboard profile titled 'General Utility Boat [#1203 CYGNET]. Scale 1/12. N.G. Herreshoff. Ap[ril] 1931' and marked 'Built for Paul Hammond. Aug[ust] 1931'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Construction Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03140. Folder [no #]. 1931-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary sketch with plan view, profile and sections titled 'Study. April 1931'. On verso another penciled profile with half-section which provides a good match with Model 208 from April 1931 for a General Utility Class boat for NGH's friend Stanley McCallan in Bermuda and later was used for #1203 CYGNET." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00490. Folder [no #]. 1931-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) 'Specifications for General Utility Class of Open Boats. N.G.H. 1931' with penciled note 'One [#1203s CYGNET] built for Paul Hammond, Aug[ust] 1931'. Specifying construction, moulds, timbers, keel, stem, transom, planking, sheer strakes, floor timbers, clamps, thwart stringers, thwarts, wash boards, centre-board, rudder, and skeag[sic]. 3 pages." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Class Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_02780. Folder [no #]. 1931-08.)
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"[Item Description:] DORADE; LFH-designed LANDFALL; praise for #1203s CYGNET" (Source: Hammond, Paul. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_06090. Correspondence, Folder 21, formerly 141. 1931-08-28.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Dear Paul:
Thank you kindly for the blueprint, giving me the opportunity of viewing the detail and many possibilities of your fine little ship [#1203s CYGNET].
The big boats are fine, but all the same I never lose a keen interest in the little ones, so thank you for adding so much to my interest along a new line.
There is but one Nat Herreshoff and the result of his experienced thought is so always worth while.
Mrs. Hammond has perhaps told you that I was calling on you yesterday in my South Sea dug out, and sorry not to find you, but shall look forward to seeing you along shore soon.
Meanwhile with kind regards, Sincerely, ... [With handwritten (in ink) note by Hammond to NGH:] Dear Mr. Herreshoff, Dan Bacon you know of course & he is one of the best all round seamen I know & I hope may talk up sentiment towards a class at S.C.Y.C. [Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club].
Your have never sent me a bill for designing CYGNET. ..." (Source: Bacon, Daniel. Letter to Hammond, Paul (incl note from Hammond to Herreshoff, N.G.). Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_06120. Correspondence, Folder 21, formerly 141. 1931-09-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Final, slightly altered, version of handwritten letter on N. G. Herreshoff stationery:] I am pleased and interested to have your letter of 15th. I have not heard of the little boats [#1148s Development Class for Junius Morgan and #1149s PIG IN A BAG for George Nichols] built for you & George since they were delivered which was at the time there was great interest in the Cup yachts. Have you found your boat an interesting one to play with? George has never written of his. A year ago last summer the H.M.Co. built a boat [#1203s CYGNET] for Paul Hammond, from my designs that was a little shorter and wider than yours, and he wrote he had much fun with it and really enjoyed it more than any of his various boats.
Your proposed change of rig is interesting indeed and I will be very pleased to know how it works out, and hope George will have his boat out with standard rig to try yours and really discover if there is an advantage of the overlapping rig with sails of equal area. Also to decide which is the most conveniant rig to set up quickly and use. You know my contention had been right along, the only advantage of overlapping sails comes from a false ruling. That is spar measurement instead of sail area. Of course, spar measurement is more definate, but I believe a system of measuring sails that will be satisfactory is quite possible, and although more troublesome to the measurer would be very much less than the owners trouble and expense for the light sails and extra crew required to handle them.
I have asked the H.M.Co. several times to try out a loose footed sail with split and curved boom on one of their small craft, but could not get them interested, and I am glad to know you have taken it in hand. Thus far my experience is only with model yachts [#192901es ROBIE, #193001es TRILLIUM and #193103es SPRITE], but I believe it can be used successfully on small sailing craft and that it can be arranged to be equally conveniant as ordinary rigs, and for equal sail area be more efficient.
I have found no difficulty in applying the split & curved boom on model yachts, excepting of course more work in making it. I am inclosing the aft end of one of the booms that I shortened which will show how it is made. Each side bar is glued up of three pieces. The outside ones of good clear spruce and center one of cedar or light white pine. I first shape a mould of a little more curvature than the finished side bar and a little longer & over double width. First lay paper then the first strip with glie spred[sic] on face and tack at each end. The others in order, and then use plenty of clamps till dry. The stock is got out enough over double width, to allow for sawing and planing and thus get both bars at one glueing.
The forward end I have made in two ways. The first with strong metal end that acts as saddle against mast and bolted to side bars. It should have a leather facing. The other, as you have it with a wood block to hold side bars that is forward of mast. In this case I make the saddle of thin brass, held by one bolt each end that goes thru the side bars. The saddle pivots on bolts so it always has a true bearing on mast and needs no leather. I hope I have not tired you in describing how I do these things, but I have had much pleasure in designing and making them, as probably you have in your leisure hours." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Morgan, Junius S. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.34. Correspondence, Folder 32, formerly 177. 1932-12-17.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled letter draft on back of Yenching University letter, undated but December 17, 1932 as per NGH note on Junius Morgan letter dated December 15, 1932:] I am pleased and interested to have your kind letter of 15th. I have not heard of the little boats [#1148s Development Class for Junius Morgan and #1149s PIG IN A BAG for George Nichols] built for you & George since they were delivered which was at the time there was great interest in the Cup yachts.
Have you found your boat an interesting one to play with? George has never written of his. A year ago last summer the H.M.Co. built a boat [#1203s CYGNET] for Paul Hammond, from my designs, that was a little shorter and wider than yours and he wrote he had much fun with it and really enjoyed it more than any of his various boats.
Your proposed change of rig is interesting indeed and I will be very pleased to know how it works out, and hope George will have his boat out with standard rig to try yours and really discover if there is an advantage of the overlapping rig with sails of equal area. Also to decide which is the most conveniant rig to set up quickly and use. You know my contention had been right along, the only advantage of overlapping sails (Genoa jibs & c) comes from using more sail area than is paid for. The trouble comes from a false ruling. Spar measurement instead of sail area.
I have asked the H.M.Co. several times to try out a loose footed sail with double curved boom on one of their small crafts, but could not get them interested, and I am glad to know you have taken it in hand. Thus far my experience is only with model yachts [#192901es ROBIE, #193001es TRILLIUM and #193103es SPRITE], but I believe it can be used successfully on small sailing craft and that it can be arranged to be equally conveniant in use as ordinary rigs, and for equal sail area be more efficient.
I have found no difficulty in applying the double curved boom on model yachts, excepting of course more work in making it. I am inclosing the aft end of one of the booms that I shortened which will show how it is made. Each side bar is glued up of three pieces. The outside ones of good clear spruce. I first shape a mould of a little more curvature than the finished side bar and a little longer, so the first and second layers can be tacked at the ends to place before the third piece is laid in and clamped to hold the glued pieces while drying paper must be laid first. I get the pieces out quite a little over double width, to allow for sawing in two and planing the edges after glueing, and so get both sides, at one glueing.
The forward end I have made in two ways. One, the saddle to take bearing in mast, of thick and strong metal bolted to the side bars with a facing of leather to mast, and the other, as you have it with a wood block to hold the side bars, that is to be forward of the mast. [Sketch.]
In this case I make the saddle of very thin brass held by one bolt each and that goes thru the side bars. [Sketch.] The saddle parts are bolts so it always has a true bearing on mast and needs no leather.
I hope I have not tired you in describing how I do these things, but I have had much pleasure in designing and making them, as probably you have in your work." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Morgan, Junius S. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18320. Correspondence, Folder 50, formerly 181. No date (1932-12-17).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Unsigned carbon copy of a typed letter: With handwritten note in ballpoint pen '5/29/50 Adm. Cochran. Plans filed in plans file.] I enjoyed seeing your workshop so much when I was in Bristol about six weeks ago [on September 30, 1933 as per NGH diary] with Mr. Strong that it stimulated me to try to build a fourteen-foot dinghy in my house here in New York during the winter. [This will become #193303es SKYLARK.]
I went up yesterday to see Mr. Nevins and Mr. [Rufus] Murray [former HMCo foreman] to arrange with them about providing the lumber for me, which they said they would gladly do, and give me all the technical help that I required. Mr. Murray suggested to me that you had made plans for a fourteen foot sailing dinghy for Paul Hammond [#1203s CYGNET] which was built at the shops there. I am wondering if you would be willing to let me have these plans of course strictly for my own use. I have always thought the Herreshoff rowing dinghies of which I have had two are the most beautiful models that could be made.
Yours sincerely, ..." (Source: Greenough, William. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.052. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Dinghy - 12 & 14 Foot for William Greenough. 1933-11-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten letter in ink:] It is interesting to know you contemplate building a small boat [#193303es SKYLARK] at your home and I will be pleased to help you with the design and give you what information I can.
I consider 14ft a very good size for a single-handed sailing dinghy. I recently made the model and sail plan for such a craft, but I prefer moderately over-hanging ends, so it was made 15ft extreme length and 14ft a little above waterline it is for 5ft 7 1/2in breadth, and 21in deep. I also have a model [two models: Model 1019 and Model 1223] I made for my Bermuda friends for the famous 14 foot Bermuda Racing Class, for a boat, [Page 2]to take place of the champion 'KILDEE' that was burned in a fire at St. Georges. This craft has not yet been built. This model is for 14ft extreme, 5ft 0in wide and 22 1/2in deep. The Bermudians donot have sail area limit so carry over 400 sqft in main & jib, beside a large spinaker, having 6 men for crew, a plate keel with lead bulb, that is removable. A complete racing machine, but the hull, it with side decking, is good type.
Would you intend th dinghy to comply to the Canadian Rules or British Rules, for racing, or just a good comfortable fast sailing dinghy? I have formulated a set of rules for such a class that does not yet exist.
Paul Hammond's boat [#1203s CYGNET] is 17ft 3in long, 5ft 6in wide and 21in deep.
Sincerely yours ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Greenough, William. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.052. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Dinghy - 12 & 14 Foot for William Greenough. 1933-11-14.)
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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 #1203s Cygnet even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #1203s Cygnet, Suicide Class.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Bristol, RI, July 2, 1931. (982 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Herreshoff Marine Museum. Original building/sales contract. Vessel description, scantlings, payment terms, delivery date.

• Cygnet (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.

Month: Jul
Day: 2
Year: 1931
E/P/S: S
No.: 1203
OA: 17'
CB: y
Amount: Cost Plus
Notes Constr. Record: General Utility Class. First Boat. Direct Order Aug 15/31.
Last Name: Hammond
First Name: Paul

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.

"As per a note on Model 208, this boat was designed in April 1931 by GH as a General Utility Class boat for Bermuda and blueprints were sent to NGH's friend Stanley McCallan in June 1931. It is not known if McCallan built a boat from this. A first boat, CYGNET, was then built in July/August 1931 for Paul Hammonf at HMCo." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 13, 2019.)

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

"Built in 44 days (contract to delivered)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

Sail area as per development class maximum sail area.

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