Type: Sloop
POLLY Specifications:
LOA: 56’0″ / 17.06m – LWL: 37’0″ / 11.27m – Beam: 11’5″ / 3.47m – Draft: 7’8” / 2.33m – Hull Number: – Designer: Nevins Associate (R.O. Davis formerly of W.H. Hand) – Original Owner: Henry Nevins – Current Owner: Peter Gallant – Launched: September 22, 1945 – Built By: Henry B. Nevins, City Island, NY – Hull Material: Wood – Gross Displacement: 33,000 lbs – Sail Number: – Sail Area: 1,125 sq ft (main 801 sq ft; jib 324 sq ft) Ratsey & Lapthorn.
Historical:
One of the first post war pleasure boats launched, and the first post war pleasure boat built by Nevins. The shipyard after having built some 29 war effort yachts, had both the men and materials to built the owner of the yard Henry B. Nevins his own personal yacht. Nevins’ design associates, George C. Crouch and R.O. Davis, drew up the plans before restrictions were lifted. The long anticipated cherished projected started after last war effort vessel was completed, PT- 596. After having suffered a serious fall in 1949 at the ship yard, Nevins passed the following year, but not before he was asked to be carried on board Polly, to feel the water through her once more.
In Attendance at her Launching on September 22, 1945
Just before noon, Mrs Nevins christened with woven red, white and blue ribbon champagne upon the stemhead, floating exactly to her painted line.
- Owners – Mr. and Mrs. Nevins, Henry B. Nevins Yacht Builders.
- Mr. and Mrs. Ratsey (Ernest) and daughter (Principle of Ratsey & Lapthorn Sailmakers, Commodore of the Cruising Club of America.)
- Mr. and Mrs Ratsey (Colin) and daughter (Principle of Ratsey & Lapthorn Sailmakers, and Commodore of the American Yacht Club.)
- Mr. and Mrs L.E. Manley.
- Mr. and Mrs Drake Sparkman (partner of Sparkman & Stephens – Original partners, Drake Sparkman, James Sparkman, James Murray, Rod & Olin Stephens.)
- Ralph Manny – Larchmont.
- Rober Bavier.
- G.W. Ford – New Rochelle.
- Fleet Captain Downs and W.E. Lundgren.
- W.P. Stephens and daughter.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1945-1950) – Henry B. Nevins
Owner/Guardian: (1950) – Captain D. Dwight Douglas, Grosse Point, Michigan
Owner/Guardian: Peter Gallant
Comments
Jeff Bolster – September 19, 2018
I am writing an article on Henry B Nevins sloop, POLLY, and would like to use the photo on this Classicsailboats.org website. Would you be so kind as to tell me who has the rights to the original picture, and where I might find it. Best wishes, Jeff Bolster
James Holmes – September 4, 2019
I am pretty sure I sailed on POLLY back in 1981 or 82. I was twenty years old and took off with a pack on my back. I grew up sailing on the Great Lakes and I headed to Beaufort North Carolina to get on a boat heading to the Caribbean. I met up with POLLY in Beaufort and got on pretty much right away. We took off and headed towards the Virgin Islands. Due to some issues with the boat, we altered course and and ended up in Nassau. I stayed on the boat for about five weeks. We ended up back in Weat Palm beach Fla where I got off the Polly and onto another cruising vessel. I never saw Polly again after that. I believe it has been restored to original type of condition. I hope so.