Outstanding craft in the Herreshofi 'S" Class Assn. of Lonq Island Sound last year was Bill Donovan's Fidget. Boat Number S-56.
 
OVER-ALL LENGTH: 27 ½ FT. WATER-LINE LENGTH: 20½ FT. BEAM: 7 FT. 2 IN. DRAFT: 4 FT. 9 IN. SAILS: 425 SQ. FT. DISPLACEMENT: 5,750 LBS.
 
The "S" boat was designed by Herreshofi, "The Wizard of Bristol," and built by the Herreshofi Manufacturing Co. about 25 years ago. Although developed primarily for class racing, it is large enough so that when fitted with berths and a stove, it is quite comfortable on short cruises in protected and coastal waters. The rig, with winches for both halyards, is so arranged that one man or woman can handle it under any condition. Like all Herreshoff boats, the "S" was built by expert mechanics from the finest materials. As a consequence, "S" boats are still racing actively today while many of their contemporaries have long been forgotten.
 
As regularly built, the boat has a watertight bulkhead just forward of the mast. The compartment thus formed in the bow will keep the boat afloat in case it fills with water. Some of the craft have deep, open cockpits while others have shallow, self-bailing ones. The cabins are about 8 ft. long. The boats are of the heavy-displacement type and very sturdy, but at the same time are quite fast and will give a good account of themselves in any weather. When new, they cost about $4,000 apiece.

For a dozen years, a fleet of 16 "S" boats was owned by members of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, Long Island. In 1938, however, the club members decided that the time had come to sponsor a new class with a more modern rig. This they did and as a consequence their "S" boats were put on the market. A group of Western Long Island Sound yachtsmen under the leadership of James W. Benfield bought most of them and organized the Herreshoff "S" Class Association of Long Island Sound to race them.

Top left: Gale, S-10, is owned by Harry M. Wootten. who is the Chairman of the Herreshoff "S" Class Association. Gale took third in the 1951 YRA annual races.

Middle left: Nepenthe. 8-51. is owned by Dr. James W. Beniield, the founder of the Herreshoff "S" Class and at present the Honorary Chairman of the "S" Association.

Bottom left: Kestrel, S-60. was chartered by Dave Crampton, of Short Hills. N. I., last season. She took second place in 1951 Yacht Racing Association competition.

Right: Start of an "S" Class race. This photo by Rosenfeld is one of the best racing shots ever taken. Despite their heavy displacement, the boats are fast and responsive.

Of the nearly 80 boats originally built by Herreshoff, 39 are now sailed by members of this association. Races are scheduled for each Saturday and Sunday throughout the season. The results of the races are added up and class leaders are named for both the Saturday Series and the Sunday Series. In addition, winners are selected for subdivisions of the season—there are leaders in the Spring Series, the Summer Series, and the Fall Series. A great amount of interest is thus maintained throughout the season, for a skipper who hasn't done well in the Spring Series has a chance to recoup in the Summer or Fall Series. Then, too, an owner who cannot race on Saturdays can still be a prize winner by placing high in the Sunday Series. At the end of the season, all the races are calculated and Combined Series winners are announced.

In addition to these regular activities, the "S" boats also compete in the annual Yacht Racing Association races, in an annual Long-Distance Race, and during the Race Weeks at Manhasset Bay and Larchmont. The outstanding boat in the fleet last year was Bill Donovan's Fidget. She won the Summer Series, the Sunday Series, the Combined Series, the YRA Championship, and the Championship at Larchmont.

After the regular season is over, an intersectional team match with the Narragan-sett Bay (R. I.) "S" Fleet is held. The winner is awarded the Edward B. Tiffany Trophy. The 1951 match was held over Columbus Day week end in Narragansett Bay. Rhode Island won two out of the three races sailed, but Long Island eked out a victory in the cumulative scoring. The final score was 82 1/4 to 811/2.

The sale of boats by members of the Herreshoff "S" Class Association of Long Island Sound is restricted by a provision which requires that an owner wishing to sell must give the class an option on his boat for not less than four weeks, during which time the class endeavors to find an acceptable purchaser. The present Chairman of the Association is Harry M.Wootten, 405 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...