Herreshoff New York 40 “Jessica”

LOA: 59′0″/ 17.98m – LWL: 40′0″/ 12.19m – Beam: 14′6” / 4.42m – Draft: 8′2″ / 2.49m – Original Rig: Cutter – Hull Number: 779 – Designer: N.G. Herreshoff – Original Owner: Wilson Marshall, Jr chairman of the New York yacht club – Built: October 14, 1915 – Original Price: $10,000 – Boat Location: Amsterdam, NL – Current Name: Vixen II – Current Owner: – Sail Number:

Known Racing History:

In 1915, the New York Yacht Club commissioned a new one-design class, the NY40. Nathanael Herreshoff’s objective was to design a competitive racer that was seaworthy for ocean racing, as well as comfortable, for providing accommodations for coastal cruising. The NYYC rules committee required that the owners helm the yacht, except when the boat was on a run or a reach. Professional crews would be limited to four, with an additional two allowed when needed for racing. The rest of the crew would be comprised of so-called “Corinthian” sailors.

Twelve of the NY40 Class were launched in 1916 and the new design initially came under criticism for its wide beam and high freeboard – a major design shift from Herreshoff’s earlier class racers. The boat’s performance was proven on the racecourse and soon became known as the “Fighting Forties.”