Sail Number: NY 15
Type: New York 30
LOA: 43′ 6″ / 13.26m – LWL: 30′ 0″ / 9.14m – Beam: 8′ 9″ / 2.67m – Draft: 6′ 4″ / 1.92m – Hull Number: 640 – Displacement: 17,632 lbs / 7,998 kg – Sail Area: 1,085 sq ft / 100.8 sq m – Original Owner: Newberry D. Lawton – Current Owner: B. Hunt Lawrence – Designer: NG Herreshoff – Built by: Herreshoff Manufacturing, Co, Bristol RI – Year Launched: March 15, 1905 – Banzai Film:
Restoration:
2009/2010 – Wooden Boatworks, Greenport, NY – Completely replanked (double- planked) the hull, replaced 60% of framing, installed new floor timbers, a new Dynel deck, new systems, power plant and drive train as well as all the keel bolts. Wooden Boatworks restored the interior – of which almost half was original, having been safeguarded in a barn for forty years. Maintained and winters in-water with Wooden Boatworks.
Historical:
The New York 30 Class( NY30), formed through the by laws of the New York Yacht Club( NYYC) “thirty feet load waterline length, if single masted, and resentation or not entitled to representation, with power to procure from naval architects designs and estimates, and to submit the same to the members who may contemplate building in such classes,”
The Committee included the future commissioning owner of Banzai, Newbury D. Lawton, a circular was sent out stipulating the following. “A proposition having been made by a number of members of the New York Y.C. for the building of restricted or one-design class, and a committee having been appointed to take up the matter and put it in shape for consideration by such members as may be interested; following out the views of those who have originated the idea, the committee have prepared the following suggestions, as to the details for the class:
“Type. – A keel boat, about 30ft. waterline, short overhangs and of moderate beam and draft.
“Plan. – Cabin house not less than 10ft. 6in. in length, about 4 ft. wide, having straight sides with glass transom lights, toilet room with closet and basin, berth for man, forward, cockpit not less than 6ft. long with rail set outside to form seat on deck.
“Fittings.- Complete but simple outfit for cruising; transom cushions; stove, ice box; tank.
“Sails and Rigging,- Sail area about 1,000 sq. ft.; jib and mainsail rig; spinnaker and balloon jib allowed; solid spars.
“Regulation.- Yachts to be steered by a member or amateur. Two paid hands allowed. Crew all told limited to four persons. Entire cruising outfit to be carried.
“Special specifications to be agreed upon for sizes, weights and details of outfit.
“Preliminary plans, specifications and estimated have been obtained.
“The committee would be glad to learn if you are interested in building in this that she is a full-decked vessel, reasonable cockpit excepted; and, further, by her design, and construction she is well suited to accompany the Squadron on a cruise.”
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1905-1906) – Newberry D. Lawton
Owner/Guardian: (1906-1909) – Clifford Day Mallory
Owner/Guardian: (1909-1914) – Gottfried Piel
Owner/Guardian: (1914-1927) – Edmund Lang, New York
Owner/Guardian:: (1940-1965) – Mike Mulligan
Owner/Guardian: (1969-1974) – Herbert W. Evans, Jr – American Yacht Club, Rye, New York – President Woolsey Marine Paints
Owner/Guardian: (1974-Unknown) – Banzai was gifted to the Mystic Seaport by Herbert W. Evans, Jr
Owner/Guardian: (1988-2008) – Carlo D’Antonio – Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard – Cabinetmaker
Owner/Guardian: (2008-Current) – B. Hunt Lawrence