HMCo #1275s Mitena

"[1935-02-21] Thu 21: ... Had a call from [son] Francis & Mr Strawbridge in afternoon. [Designer and owner of #1275s Mitena then building at HMCo.]
[1935-03-27] Wed 27: ... Looked into the shop in p.m. [where #1275s Mitena is building] ...
[1935-04-29] Mon 29: ... Looked into the old shops [where #1275s Mitena and many Amphicraft dinghies were being built] in p.m. ...
[1935-05-17] Fri 17: ... Visited the [HMCo] boat shops [where #1275s Mitena and many Amphicraft dinghies were being built] in a.m. ...
[1935-06-07] Fri 7: ... Strawbridge's new 12 metre [#1275s Mitena] designed by Francis [was] launched in a.m. & christened by Mrs Colt. They tried to launch without lubricating [the] cradle & had trouble. ...
[1935-06-16] Sun 16: ... Francis out trying the new 12 m[etre] yach[t] Mitena [#1275s] and working well. ...
[1935-06-23] Sun 23: ... Francis off in the 12 m[etre] Mitena [#1275s] and Bubble [#285p] off as usual.
[1935-06-29] Sat 29: ... Visited the [HMCo] shop [in] a.m. to see Mitena [#1275s] now completed which was leave this a.m. Francis going. ...
[1936-05-27] Wed 27: ... Had a call from Francis in afternoon. He [is] coming with [Wm] Strawbridge to inspect Mitena [#1275s]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1935 to 1936. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND Feb. 4, 1934 [sic, i.e. 1935] Dear Francis, ... I suppose it is none of my business, although I am intensely interested in your success with this yacht. I heard the remark that she appeard, as lines were laid down, "very narrow only about 10 ft." I really donot know if this is true or not - for I have not seen Sidney, who probably knows, for a number of days. In fact I donot know the dimentions of any of the 12 meters, to compare with, However I do know [p2] the modern high rig requires more stability and therefor more beam than rigs of my day, and that very much more stability for the sail area is now required. I hope you will think this over and if you think it advisable you might do as I did when "Constitution" was built. i.e. - re-drew the body plan as laid down, using a brass shrink (or double shrink) rule for all breadth measurments - And she prooved not too wide or able, and was decidedly the best cup yacht up to that date. ... Yours affect Father" (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 7: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND Feb. 7. 1934. [sic, i.e. 1935] Dear Francis, ... Thank you for your letter of 5th with inclosure of b.p. [blueprint] of lines of the 12 meter, which is very interesting. I see I was misinformed about the beam, which is nearly 11 feet, instead of 10 ft. I am very much pleased with the lines. The forward waterlines are full, but the diaginals fair. I rather like them, as it gives a better balance between the ends and the when careened, a nearer fore & aft body and nearer the direction of course being made good. On the other hand observations in certain kinds of seas have shown that V sections forward are better, but not in all seaways, for in smooth water or in [p2] really rough water with big waves the the rounded sectioned and more bouyant bow appears better. This was well shown with Resolute and Vanitie when both were equally well sailed and with similar rigs. ... Hope to see you soon Your affect - Father. [Vertical note in left margin that stretches to top margin]P. S. I am not familiar with the International rules, and will look them up - as I have them, but I cant understand why your sail area is so much smaller than in longer & wider boats -" (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 10: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND July 14, 1935 - {1935/07/14} Dear Francis, Sorry you didnot have time to come in and tell me a little of you trip up Sound in Metina, Mitena and why she did not do any better in the races. I was astonished when told she had not been out of water since she was launched. Her bottom probably was not in condition, which may account for at least part of her defeat. Tom Brightman came in with a big roll of blueprints of Metina Mitena, and said you had asked him to, so I could look them over, and I thank you for the thoughtfulness and deed. They represent many hours of study and work, and some details much ingenuity which deserve praise and perhaps a few, a reverse criticism. The form is well conceived if water line length was the criterion alone. ... Your affect Father. " (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 11: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"August 31 1935
Dear Mr. Stephens -
... METINA [MITENA] at present has not a good standing in her class; perhaps she may do better when understood and properly sailed. ...
Very truly yours,
Nathanael Greene Herreshoff
Sept. 15 1935." (Source: Letter 13. From N. G. Herreshoff to W. P. Stephens, dated August 31, 1935 to September 15, 1935. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 67-80.)

"January 28, 1935.
Messrs. Abeking and Rasmussen, Lemwerder i. O., Bremen, Germany
Gentlemen:
We want to thank you very much for your cable and letter answering our inquiries about building a 12-metre boat.
Your figure was very interesting, but on account of some clause in the rule specifying that boats had to be built in the country that they represent when in international competition the owner decided to build in this country and the order was given to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, R.I., and the estimated cost was $38,300.
With kindest personal regards to Mr. Rasmussen,
Yours very truly," (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. [Letter to Abeking & Rasmussen Boatyard.] In: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 1, Folder 5.)

"L. FRANCIS HERRESHOFF Yacht Designer 20 LEE STREET MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS ... July 21 -July 16, 1935. {1935/07/16} Dear Father: ... I am going to try to tell you something about my trip down the Sound on Mitena. The first day we sailed from Bristol to Newport with the captain running the motor launch. (Mr. Strawbridge had expected to have a launch man to go on this trip but he did not show up). The next day, Sunday, we were fog bound in Newport all day. Monday we had a very pleasant sail from Newport to Port Jefferson. This day I went on the launch. The third day we sailed from Port Jefferson to Greenwich with an east wind the first part of the way, running under the spinnaker; Mr. Strawbridge in the launch. After a couple of days at Greenwich straightening things out and cleaning up we went in the first race against the Candito and Mouette. One of these boats is said to be Nicholson's best 12 and the other one Anchor's best 12. They had new sails and were in fine shape. In the first part of the race we succeeded in getting to the weather mark first with Mr. Strawbridge steering. On the next leg, running [p2] before the wind, myself steering, the other two boats passed us. On the third leg which turned out to be close hauled we gainsed so that wehad an overlap on the second boat at the finish. finishing last by 2 seconds In the second race which was on the fourth of July {1935/07/04} we had a series of unfortunate circumstances which I am rather ashamed to tell about. This day I was supposed to go in the launch to watch Mitena and the other two 3 boats from various angles. We towed Mitena to -- my self running the launch Larchmont and arrived there near two o'clock when a light southwest wind sprung up. When it came time to cast off the rope from Mitena the same had jammed somehow or other and the captain, in using a marline spike to clear the knot, stuck it through his hand. About this time they hollered loudly for me to back up which I did and the steward who was steering Mitena bore away and the Mitena got way on and ranged up alongside of the launch and the tow rope got caught in the propeller. The consequence of all this was that Mitena was short handed, and on her first leg and did not get her spinnaker up promptly and this was the real reason why she lost this race, and I spent about four hours drifting on Long Island Sound after being towed away from the starting line. Although this was the fourth of July {1935/07/04} it was one of the most humiliating days of my life and I had been looking forward very much to seeing the other 12's and particularly the new Crane boat which, as it turned out, I have not seen at all as yet. I do not think Mitena is at all fast but she certainly looks (compared with the other boats when they are anchored together) as if she should drive much easier, and all the deck gear and fittings are ever so much nicer. At any rate she has just been measured and all of her various measurements turned out to be almost exactly as designed which is a great credit to the builders." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 11: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

"25 Front St. November 24, 1936. {1936/11/24} Dear Father: ... I was very sorry indeed to hear about the death of John Brechin. He was the most helpful man of all during the building of Mitena and laid her all down himself and never asked any foolish questions. ..." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 12: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

"... Lloyd's surveyor so increased the weight of [Mitena's] construction over what my draftsmen and I calculated as a true translation of the scantling rules for that class that she only had fifty-one and five-tenths per cent of her displacement left to use for ballast. This yacht was licked before she was launched and I do not know now if there is anything about her model, sail plan or balance of centers which had merit. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Common Sense of Yacht Design. Vol. I. New York, 1946, p. 82.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., June 6. [1935] --- The new twelve-meter yacht Mitena, built for William J. Strawbridge, will be launched tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the Herreshoff yard, it was learned today. Her owner looked her over this afternoon. He was accompanied by 87-year-old Nat Herreshoff.
The yacht is a narrow vessel and differs considerably from the twelve which Van S. Merle-Smith is having built at Nevins' yards in City Island. Mitena is a double-ender like Istalena [#1131s], which Mr. Strawbridge owned last year, but which is now owned by Reginald B. Lanier." (Source: Anon. "To Launch Mitena Today. Strawbridge Examines His New 12-Meter Craft at Bristol." New York Times, June 7, 1935, p. 27.)

"NGH's son L. Francis designed Mitena. By the time of her building, the forty-four-year-old L. Francis was at the peak of his career as a gifted designer of yachts, with his own office in Marblehead and one or two draftsmen in his employ. For a decade, fast and very beautiful boats had come from his drawing board, and, although he was not in any way connected with the Herreshoff Mfg. Co., the company had built at least one large yacht of his design --- the M-class sloop Istalena [#1131s] of 1928 --- before Mitena. L. Francis was independent of spirit, and he valued beauty in his designs every bit as much as performance --- a result, at least in part, of his apprenticeship with W. Starling Burgess, who was clearly a bohemian soul mate.
L. Francis disliked the International Rule to which 12-Meter sloops were designed, feeling that the rule encouraged boats with unreasonably high freeboard and didn't allow the beautiful reverse curves he had grown to admire and to utilize in the hulls of his other designs. And he had no patience at all with the Lloyd's of London construction rules that had been invoked for the class. 'They result,' he wrote, 'in complicated and expensive construction.... They are stupid, arbitrary, and a great detriment....'
Nevertheless, L. Francis did what he could to make Mitena both beautiful and fast. He was far more successful with the former, for Mitena's racing career was a disappointment... Mitena was the last big double-ended racing yacht from L. Francis's drawing board, following the J-class sloop Whirlwind of 1930 and the M-class sloop Istalena [#1131s]. Doubtless it had been William Strawbridge's success with Istalena when he owned her in 1934 that led him to have L. Francis design this 12-Meter for the following season.
Much to L. Francis's disgust, 12-Meters were becoming popular in the United States, just as the Six-Meters had a few years earlier.
Already there was a one-design fleet of German-built, Burgess-designed 12-Meters active on Long Island Sound, and this year (1935) Clinton Crane was designing a new 12-Meter to be built in this country and named Seven Seas.
The Mitena experience was not a happy one for L. Francis. Besides not liking the rules he had to design by, he had differences with the Lloyd's inspectors in interpreting the construction requirements. The Herreshoff Mfg. Co., in his opinion, had become a less-than-satisfactory builder, and, to cap it off, the boat performed poorly. The whole episode was short-lived, however. L. Francis received the design commission in January, 1935, Mitena was launched in June, and, as far as he was concerned, the boat's racing career was finished by September of the same year." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 187.)

"MITENA, A 12-METER-CLASS SLOOP OF 1935
72' 0" x 11' 2"
In commissioning Mitena's design, William Strawbridge began a long relationship with LFH and became a patron second only to Charlie Welch. In all, LFH designed eight different boats for Strawbridge, whose yacht just prior to Mitena had been the M-class sloop Istalena [#1131s]. (The 55' yawl Persephone was his subsequent one.) Mitena is the last of LFH's racing double-enders and his last design done to the International Rule. In overall length, she's several feet longer than most 12-Meters because of the extent of her graceful pointed stern. Although Mitena never excelled on the race course, she's an exceptionally lovely craft --- maybe the prettiest 12-Meter ever built. The drawings are beautiful as well, most from the fine hand of Fenwick Williams. Below, the U-shaped settee in her great cabin aft can seat a crowd, while the owner can enjoy privacy in Mitena's small stateroom to starboard. Sleeping for all hands, however, is on pipe berths which, when not pulled down for sleeping, serve as backrests for the settees. Like Istalena and Whirlwind before her, Mitena's deck structures show the streamlining that prevailed at the time. She's of composite construction (part metal and part wood) with bronze frames, deck-beams, diagonal strapping, and keel plate, with yellow pine planking, mahogany forward and aft keel timbers and sternpost, and oak stems at the bow and stern. Judging from the photographs, the craftsmen at the Herreshoff Mfg. Co., where she was built, did their usual fine job of it. Bill Strawbridge must have felt a good deal of pride as he picked up her 8'-long tiller for the first time, sheeted in her sails, and felt Mitena come to life." (Source: Bray, Anne and Maynard. Boat Plans at Mystic Seaport. Mystic, CT, 2000, p. 56.)

"[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:] Typed page titled 'Lloyd's Scantlings for 12-Metre [#1275s MITENA]'." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.129. Scantlings. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder L. Francis - Hull No. 1275s MITENA. 1935.)
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"[Item Description:] Notes and Correspondence (Brightman, Alder, LFH, Brechin, Lloyds) relating to #1275s MITENA." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.129. Notes and Correspondence. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder L. Francis - Hull No. 1275s MITENA. 1935.)
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"[Item Description:] Wood sample with penciled note Port Orford Cedar OK' on one side and '6 x 2x 1/16' and '1.48 ounces = 30.4lbs/cb ft' and '#1275s [MITENA] Decking. Mr. Heck. 2/26/35' on the other side." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.138. Wood Sample. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Samples. 1935-02-26.)
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"[Item Description:] Typed page marked 'Copy' titled 'Desciption of Interior of [LFH Design no.] # 62 [#1275s MITENA]'. With penciled note 'Mr. [Thomas] Brightman inquired of L.F.H. in letter about stove. 3/15/35'." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.129. Text. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder L. Francis - Hull No. 1275s MITENA. ca1935-03-15.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled list titled 'Mr. Alder 3/13/35' and signed by 'B' [Thomas Brightman describing what appears to be a short work list for #1275s MITENA." (Source: Brightman, Thomas (creator). Note. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.129. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder L. Francis - Hull No. 1275s MITENA. ca1935-03-15.)
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"[Item Description:] Two pages with penciled list of drawings for #1275s MITENA. One page with note 'Drawing sent to Mr. N.G. Herreshoff for inspection 7/10/35'." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.129. List of Blue Prints. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder L. Francis - Hull No. 1275s MITENA. 1935-07-10.)
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"[Item Description:] sandbaggers, Pat McGiehan and Jake Schmidt, Tom Ratsey, Herrick Duggan and the Seawanhaka Cup in 1896, on looking up Forest and Stream I find that my first visit to Bristol was described in the issue of April 16, 1885, your father showed me the operation of the ballast car of #187004es JULIA and you took me into a little boathouse and showed me #400s CONSUELO, I was at City Island last Monday and saw #402s CLARA at her moorings; I met Rufus Murray and he gave me a piece of planking knocked out by a motorboat which stove a hole in her starboard bow, above water, I am sending it to you with Murray's compliments, breaking up of WHIRLWIND, #1275s MITENA, ISTALENA, #186403es KELPIE, schooner AGNES, #187106es SHADOW, SNIKERSNEE; [This letter published as 'Letter Seven' in Herreshoff, Stephens. Their Last Letters 1930-1938. Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, RI, 1988, p. 41.]" (Source: Stephens, William P. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_20620. Correspondence, Folder 59. 1935-07-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint lines plan with body, sheer lines and water lines titled 'No 62 [#1275s MITENA]. Lines. L. Francis Herreshoff, Designer. Marblehead, Mass. Jan. 19, 1936' and marked in pencil 'N.G. no change'." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00750. Folder [no #]. 1936-01-19.)
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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 #1275s Mitena even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #1275s Mitena, 12mR.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Bristol, RI, January 22, 1935. (1,279 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Herreshoff Marine Museum. Original building contract (builder's copy). Vessel description, scantlings, payment terms, delivery date.
• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #1275s Mitena, 12mR.] Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Coll. 138 - Box 15, Folder 11. Bristol, RI, January 22, 1935. (316 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Mystic Seaport Museum. Original building contract (designer's copy). Vessel description, scantlings, payment terms, delivery date.

• Mitena (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Mitena (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.

• design 062 S01275 Mitena
• 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.

Year: 1935
E/P/S: S
No.: 1275
Name: Mitena
Amount: Cost plus
Notes Constr. Record: Twelve meter.
Last Name: Strawbridge
First Name: Wm. J.

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.

"L. Francis Herreshoff design # 62." (Source: Bolger, Philip C. "L. Francis Herreshoff. Part II." Wooden Boat, January/February 1984, p. 38-447.)

"[See also:] Mitena 1275 list, Lloyd's scantlings for 12-Meter (1935) - Notes on interior of #62. In: Technical and Business Records pertaining to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Series VI, Folder HH.6.129 (L. Francis - 1275 Mitena), Box HAFH.6.4B." (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.)

"Date of contract '22th day of January 1935' from original contract in collection of Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 15, 2015.)

"Built in 136 days (contract to launch; equivalent to 206 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Sail area '1771 sq. ft." from LFH sail area." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Net Register Tons (14) from the 1940 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Gross Register Tons were reported as 19) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

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