I Class?

[shemandr]

Is there a Herreshoff I Class?  I am trying to ID some yachts I have seen in photos in a friend's home.  They have the insignia "I" on the sail.  The numbers on the two shown in the photos are 4 and 5.  Any help?

[Steve]

Welcome to the Registry.  As far as I know, there is no specific Herreshoff "I" Class.  Boats that competed under the Universal Rule were assigned a letter rating based upon their measurements.  The "I" Class was the largest category, even larger than the famous "J" boats.  I'm not sure if any were actually built.  The would have had an LOA of about 150 feet.  Are the boats you have photos of this large?  Can you post the photos?

[Adam]

Pics didn't show - can you try uploading them, post a link, or send them to me and I will put them up for you....

[Adam]

I got thinking.....Were any of your pics schooners (esp. Sail #5)? I believe the largest "class" were the big racing International Rule "A" class - most of which were schooners - See Westward (which is sail #5). Britannia was also in this class and of course not a schooner (she was Sail #1). They were all pretty close to the J-class size, a touch bigger, and competitive with the J's - although I think they were a bit bigger in displacement.

[shemandr]

Thanks for  your replies.  The photos are on a friend's living room wall in Vermont.  I'm on LI.  I'll be up there in March and will remember to take pics of them.  Two are Rosenfeld's.   The boats are probably in the 40' range and are sloops, I believe.  They were racing in Western LI Sound, I think.  Anyway, I was hoping to do a bit of research on them and provide my friend a narrative of their history or more specifically the racing history between sail #4 and #5.  It will have to wait for another snowy day.  Good day to all.

[Pat]

I confirm letter I for 7mR class of the international metric rule. In this rule letter A was for large schooners and letter B was for 23mR class and so and so.
Now about Herreshoff universal rule I think letters A to G were for schooners and ketchs, letter I for 150 ft class, letter J for 120 ft class then down to letter S for 18 ft (basically a one design).

Probably a 40 ft universal rule boat would be a R-boats like n°R1 SIR TOM ?
I did not get the opportunity to know about n°5 and n°6. Maybe Adam knows?

Well ... I have a question for specialists:
In USA you say LOS (lenght over spars), we say LOA (lenght over all) = from front of bowsprit to end of the boom.
You say LOA (lenght over all), we say LOD (lenght on deck) = hull lenght at deck level
We all say LWL (lenght water line).
Is this correct Steve, Adam?

Regards all

[Steve]

Pat:  I have not heard the term "LOS" before.  In common use here are:

LOA:  Length Over All - from tip of bowsprit to tip of boom or stern, whichever is longer
LWL:  Length at Water Line (or Load Water Line) - length of the boat at the waterline
LOD:  Length On Deck - hull length at deck level. 

[Adam]

I agree with Steve on the LOS comment - But on LOA - I usually see it represented as LOD as Pat stated. I'm looking at a Sidney Herreshoff plan as we speak and LOA does not include the bowsprit on his drawing....Not sure I've ever seen an official "true" LOA...How about "I really mean it this time overall length"?