Herreshoff New York 30 Sloop 1905 - Sold

According to legend; NY 30 owners sailed under full canvas even in 40 knots of wind. This design surely performs well in wind and waves - making the NY 30 probably the most seaworthy of Herreshoff’s One designs. If the New York Yacht Club wanted a racing class suitable for strong winds then the Wizard of Bristol fulfilled their expectations in full.

In the restoration the shipyard followed Herreshoff’s original plans exactly - from the timber used, her rig and her interior to the bronze fittings on deck. A period piece she may be but one that can win on the Classic Regatta Circuit sailing with just friends and family.

At the end of 1904, the New York Yacht Club launched a tender for the construction of 18 one-design regatta sail boats. The specification stated it had to be specifically designed for day races. It had to be small, fast, easy to handle with a small and recreational crew, while providing the opportunity to have a cosy little cabin, to accommodate the crew for a drink after the race and even spend a night on board.

Another important detail of the tender; all 18 boats had to be built by June 1, 1905. At that time, only the famous shipyard Herreshoff Manufacturing Company could achieve such a feat so they were awarded the order. The great naval architect Nathaniel Herreshoff went to his drawing board in December and the first boat ALERA made its first test in late January 1905. The last boat of the series was delivered in late May 1905.

By the summer of 1905, most of the 18 boats would meet in Newport Bay (RI) to compete in real time regattas. Nat Herreshoff and the New York Yacht Club had effectively invented the one design! Their impact on the yachting world has been extensive and the individual histories of each yacht remarkable. Today many continue their racing careers in New England and the Mediterranean. In 2005, the New York Yacht Club organised in Newport the centenary of the NYYC 30 series. Out of the twelve NY30 still sailing, six of them attended this centennial including ORIOLE, just out of the restoration shipyard. Two NY30s are currently based in Europe; No 10, LINNET based in Italy and No 11 ORIOLE, in France.

The great naval architect and designer Olin Stephens commented: "....As far as I am concerned, the NY30 Class is ideal, essentially as the result of its fantastic simplicity and ease of use, combined with excellent performance......(they) are fast and seaworthy, easy to maintain, and provide the perfect direct opposite to today's yachts that have become, in my view, too complicated ....... For those who prefer to spend their time sailing rather than fixing or tweaking gadgets, the NY30 seems the boat for "all navigations" perfect. "

Since her re launch into Boothbay harbour in July 2005 and participation in the NY 30 centenary celebrations ORIOLE was shipped across the Atlantic and has since been an active member of the Mediterranean racing circuit from 2005 to date. Among the classic events have been; Monaco, Imperia, Cannes, St Tropez, Argentario and Brest. In these events she has more than held her own and has collected a number of first – and other trophies on the way.

ORIOLE’S first owner was Mr Lyman Delano. In the early 50s she was bought by John Quincy Adams, who took part with her in the 50th anniversary celebrations for NYYC 30. Shortly thereafter she was converted into a Marconi yawl and for cruising. In 2003 ORIOLE was bought by the Historical Boat Revival syndicate of American and European owners who had her restored and fitted out for racing on the Med circuit

- All the New York Yacht Club 30s were identical - and the same materials used for the restoration
- Single planked heart pine for the garboards and the broads up to beneath the turn of the bilge
- Double planked Oregon pine over cypress the rest of the way up to the sheer
- Bronze fastenings
- Hull diagonally strapped with bronze
- American white oak frames, ribs, floor timbers, backbone, keel and cockpit
- Oregon pine deck covered with a waterproof and painted canvas
- Mahogany coamings, trunk cabin, coach roof, strake and interior joinery

- All bronze deck hardware renovated in 2005 by Herreshoff fittings specialist JM Reineck as original
- Mahogany toe and cap rail
- Main sheet horse and blocks
- Fairleads each side
- Raised cockpit coamings, cleats outboard each side aft
- Folding boom crutch
- Lazarette hatch
- Long cockpit with deck level seating each side and grated sole
- Tiller
- Manual bilge pump
- Engine controls
- Cleats on coaming each side fwd
- Small open pocket lockers forward each side
- Raised trunk cabin with sliding hatch on centreline fwd
- 6 x Port lights each side and 2 x circular ports fwd
- Butterfly skylight hatch
- Mounting for life raft
- Solid hatch cover
- Keel stepped mast fwd of trunk cabin
- Fore hatch with solid cap
- Cleats each side
- Herreshoff / Reineck capstan
- Danforth 30 kg anchor and 40 m chain
- Mooring hawser
- Bowsprit

From aft
- Companionway steps down into large cabin well lit by the ports each side and skylight
- 2 x berths aft extending beneath cockpit

Saloon fwd
- 2 x Settee berths; one each side
- Shelves outboard
- Drop leaf dining table on centreline

Head compartment fwd to port
- Manual WC
- Wash basin

Galley space to stbd with stowage for food and utensils

Focsle
- Stowage for sails etc
- Mattresses and cushions in green protective material

- Gaff head sloop rig by Patrick Moreau
- Sitka spruce spars; hollow mast, boom, gaff, spinnaker boom and bowsprit
- Stainless steel standing rigging
- Dyneema and “Champagne” Polyester running rigging

All sails cut by Elvstrom / Sobstad in Cannes

- Mainsail 2009
- Jib 2009
- Jib 2015
- Storm jib never used
- Light Genoa 2009
- Light Genoa 2013
- Small spinnaker
- Large spinnaker.
- Covers for main and foresail

- Nanni 21HP Diesel engine 2005
- New electric panel 2014
- 2 x 12 V batteries 2013
- 5 x Interior lights
- Masthead navigation lights
- Steering compass
- Flexible 60 litre fuel tank
- Rigid 60 litre fresh water tank
- Black water holding tank

- Bombard 8 pax life raft
- 6 x Auto inflatable harnesses
- 8 x European standard life jackets
- Manual bilge pump
- Electric bilge pump

ORIOLE was sailing regularly in Maine USA when she was bought in 2003 by the current owner. During the 50s she had been converted for cruising rather than racing and given a new lengthened coach roof all the way to the fore hatch. The interior had been divided into several cabins with plywood partitions, Formica lined head compartment and galley spaces, etc. and most significantly given a Marconi yawl rig.

The new owner decided to return ORIOLE to her original state in accordance with the plans obtained from the Haffenreffer / Herreshoff collection at MIT. The boat builders William Cannell of Camden, Maine, were selected to undertake a total restoration – for which the budget was in excess of $400,000. Apart from the shell, hull, companionway ladder and the tiller; the yacht had to be pretty well fully rebuilt.

For the sake of authenticity, the same types of timber were used: white oak, mahogany, Oregon pine - and Sitka spruce for the spars and of course and Oregon pine slats for the deck (covered by canvas). The installation of the engine and the rigging were completed in 2005 by the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

- Since her re launch in 2005 ORIOLE has been kept ashore under cover from October to April
- Repainted and varnished every year
- Rigging checked and replaced as necessary