Sail Number:
Vessel Type: Centerboard Sloop
“Sadie” Specifications:
LOA: 26’7” / 8.10m – LOD: 26’7” / 8.10m – LWL: 21′9″ / 6.63m – Beam: 7’11” / 2.41m – Draft: 2′8″ / .81m – Displacement: 5,792 lbs / 2,627 kg – Ballast: – Hull Number: 732 – Sail Area: 408 sq ft / 37.9sq m – Contract Date: 3/17/1914 – Contracted By: Elias Cornelius Benedict (Wall Street investor and former Seawanka Corinthian Yacht Club Commodore) – Original Price: $1,850 – Designer: N.G. Herreshoff
Historical:
In 1912 Nat Herreshoff at age 63 carved a half- model of a daysailer with a new form that inspires to this day.
In 1914 hull number of 732, a further improved Alerion design, was commissioned by E.C. Benedict, a prominent New York City banker and yachtsman. In order to make her less tender and wet in choppy conditions, Sadie was designed with more length, beam, flair, and internal ballast than her predecessor.
HMM founder Halsey Herreshoff described SADIE’s origins as follows: “… After Capt. Nat first sailed ALERION III in the windy water domains of Bermuda, upon his return home, my father asked his father how he liked the new boat. My Dad told me the reply was ‘Fine, but she is awful damn wet, but I’ll fix that.’ He did not actually change ALERION III, but when asked to produce a near sistership, which is the SADIE, now a property of the Museum on display here, he did make significant changes. The underbody of SADIE is nearly identical to that of ALERION, but the bow is drawn out longer by 6in., there is more wave shedding flair forward and the on-deck beam of SADIE was made 4in. more – all these changes to produce the same fine sailing small yacht but making her less wet for the crew sailing in a chop — ‘I’ll fix that.’ …”
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner: (1914-1920) – Elias Cornelius Benedict, Commodore of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, president of the Commercial Acetylene Gas Company, the Marine Engine Company, and along with his brother organized the Gold Exchange Bank.
Owner: (1920-1973) – James Greenway – Cos Cob, CT
Owner: (1973-1992) – Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum St. – Michaels, MD
Owner: (1992-XXXX) – Herreshoff Marine Museum – Bristol, RI