The History of the Woods Hole Yacht Club

John Valois

PART! Both regions were fortunate to have many miles of surrounding coasdines. The natural beauty of these The Early Yacht Club 1896-1912 shorelines with their associated piclliresquc coves, har­ The summer of 1996 will celebrate the centennial of bors and bays encouraged the development of t-he the Woods Hole Yacht C lub which has enjoyed a hun­ "Summer Cottage," as a unique part of summer dred years of history richly connected to memorable resorts in . The yacht club wa s id eally suited occasions, deserved achieve ments and abundant plea­ for the lei surely life of summer. sures that come only (Tom yachting. Yachting in Amer­ The Yacht C lub characterized the era of ica was an outgrowth of Civil War prosperity along formal yacht club development in this country. coastal urban areas. The deep water seaports of New Founded in 1844, ule New Yo rk Yacht C lu b estab­ York and enjoyed extraordinary maritime li shed a sm ndard of yachting el:iqueLte that has been growth during this period and shipping success rap­ generally accepted as a basis of yacht club protocol in idly establi shed them as the financial capitals of the this country. nation.

Spritsailllec( readying (OT race at Yacht Club, ca. 1900. C rowell Coll ection. Courtesy WHHC. 3

The Boston Yacht Club was commissioned in 1866 present waterfront area owned by Woods Hole Ocea n ~ as the first New England yacht club. W iu1i n a decade ographic Ins tirution on Water Streer.) thi rty- five additional cl ubs had bee n established along Many residents of the newly developed Penza nce Point th e New England coast. TIl e growth of Buzzards Bay summer community attended the founders meeting. as a principal yachting center began at Wings Neck in Alexander Ferris, Edga r Harding, Henry K. Dyer, and Pocasset where the Beve rly Yacht Clu b establi shed its Henry Hi bbard were ea rly yacht cl ub supporters. first clubhouse in 1872. Bou1 New Bedford (1877) and Attending from the vill age were Charles Grinnell , fi sh­ Mattapoisett (1 889) were commiss ioned before erman, John Veeder, boat captain, Brahm Norton, Woods Hole. Geographica lly, Woods Hole was an ship's ca rpenter and Franklin Gifford, painting con­ exceptional location for a yacht club. It had a sheltered tractor. This group made up some of the most skilled deep water harbor, a newly active summer resort and small boat sailors in the area. was central to many of dle finest crui Sing areas.

Walter w scombe and Ho race Crowell were influ e n ~ The Fa lmouth Enterprise reported in late July of 1896 tial business leaders in the Woods Hole community. as follows: uTIlere is a movement on foot among the Mr. Crowell owned most of the Bar Neck Compa ny residents of th is place who are interested in yachting property wh ich included the site chosen for the yacht whi ch will soon result in the organization of the cl ub. Edga r Harding was elected Commodore. Hi s Woods Hole Yacht Club. Horace Crowell and Walter motor yacht, the 108' I.o.a. (length overall) Montclair O. Lu scombe are the prime movers in the enterp rise. was the most im pressive yacht in Great Harbor and It is the in tention of those having the matter in charge became the fl ags hip of the squadron. Mr. Crowell to build a 150 foot pier from Bar Neck wh arf and offered a piece of property for cllO yacht club which wa s erecting a modern clubhouse in the immed iate v i c in ~ gl adly accepted. The location of UlO property was ity. No better harbor for yachts can be found betwee n direcdy across dle street from the candle factory, a Provincetown and Newport than the waters off Bar stone building which is owned today by dle Marine Neck wharf afford . The anchorage is of the best, and BiolOgical Laboratory. The financial arrangements for ulere is a sufficient depth of water at all times to allow the operation of Ule yacht club were explained by trea­ the largest yachts to enter. TIle harbor is well protected surer Walter Luscombe. A Board o( Trustees would by the hills from heavy winds. There are many fast act as shareholders and own the assets of the club. boats here and all the boannen have taken a deep Members would pay an annual dues that would be interest. Commodore John Malcolm Forbes of held by the sharehold ers. The fi scal strategy was Naushon will probably be identified with the move­ adopted and Mr. w scombe was praised (or hi s pan ment.' An exploratory meeting on July 10, 1896 to in preparing 'the plan. determine the feasibility of constructing a yacht club The construction of the yacht club was completed in was held with exceUent :Jttend ance and ent.hu sias m for the late spring of 1899. Commodore Oyer hosted a the project. gal a celebration attended by the Falmouth selectmen, flag officers from other yacht clubs and invited village O nce assured th at there was sufficient interest to pro­ residents. ceed wi th an incorporators meeting, acting commo­ dore James K. Purd om arranged a meeting for August The clubhouse fearured a naurical motif. It was set out 4 at the office of Horace Crowell on Bar Neck wharf. on pilings about 200' from the shore. Wide prome­ (The Bar Neck wharf property comprised all of UlO nade decks led to the fl oats. An obsetvation area 4

loca ted on the second deck had a commanding view responsibili ty fo r the outstanding shares. In a move of of the harbor. good will, two-thirds of the Trustees offered their shares without compensation. M r. Crane paid all The racing classes consisted of a handicap class for invoices and in the following yea r, 1912, he gave the catboats. They raced on Sunday afternoons with the property and cl ubhouse to the Marine Biological Lab. spritsail s; these races were the main eve nt for the large oratory. crowd that regularly came to the yacht club to enjoy the competition. Friendly rivalries developed adding PART II more zest to dle raci ng. In time, unforeseen problems developed within the handicap class and sprits ails. The Informal Years 1912-1930 Catboats were too di ffi cul t to handicap because of "The war is over and eve rybody is prosperous," their major differences in design . The class eventually crowed Tho New Yo,k Hemld in 1919. Those decades voted not to race and became a part of the spectator following W orld W ar I were yea rs of continued enthu­ fleer. TIle spritsails were racing as a one-design cl ass sias m for water sports. Canoeing, rowing, swimming although there were very clear differences in their per­ and small boat sailing refl ected the nation's growing formances. As competition among the spri tsa ils recreational interests. Among the wealthy, a rerurn to increased, the trend toward custom designs also the building of magnificent yachts revived the golden attracted attention. Nat Herreshoff was commissioned era of yachting and crowned the social ambitions of [Q des ign a spritsail for Mr. Harrison that was called the times. Gee. She was built [Q very light scantlings and was extraordinarily fast, so much so that the race commit­ Increased prosperi ty, combined wim the nation's pas­ tee decided to separate raci ng spritsa il s from those sion for leisure activities, prepared the way for devel­ des ign ed as working boats. The des ignated opment of small one-des ign sa ilboats. At an earlier "fi sherman's class" of heavier working boats raced in time, there were strong prejudices against owning 3 the second division. It was a temporary solution that boat exac cly like your neighbor's. It was unthinkable eventually fai led. for a person of means not to have a custom design. The new vogue for fast one-des ign sail boats had very O ther problems arose among the membership con­ defin ite advantages. Costs could be ve ry much reduced cerning the dues structure. There were financial though construction efficiency. If a custom designed expenses that were attached to the general dues stare­ boat performed poorly its owner could enjoy vi sits to ments as assessments. Many members found this his fri endly naval archi tect. Serious disagreements practice arbi trary and unnecessary. involving the use of handicap rating systems had been a major factor in the decline of small boat hand icap The level of dissa tisfaction grew to the point that all racing. The problem was much improved wi th the social and racing events were ca ncelled in the summer advent of one-design cl ass racing. of 1910. Commodore Franklin Gifford offered many opportunities for conciliation without success. A Throughout the twenty,five yea r period of informal motion was made by the membership to decommis­ activities at the Woods Hole Yacht Club, there had sion the yacht club until such ti me that activities might been no loss of interest in maintaining a fas hionable be conti nued in a fri endlier siruation. It took another style of yachting. Edgar Harding's stea m yacht Mont. twenty years before that happened. Charles Richard clair, crewed by six professionals, set the standard for C rane of Junipe r Point generously accepted the G reat Harbor. In later years he preferred the peace 5

Naushon Island, Ralph E. Forbes' enormous schooner Merlin was a focal point for the small boat spetra· tor fl eet on a Sunday afternoon as she got underway (Tom Hadley Har# bor. The ultimate attraction for the spectator fl eet was the 106' I.o.a. Sloop Volunteer. She had success# fu lly defended the America's C up for d,e nation in 1887. She was sold to John Malcolm Forbes by his dose , General C harles Pai ne of Bos[on. Volun(eer was a great favor­ ite at Naushon and was kept by Mr. Forbes until his dead, in 1906.

Sailing emphasis shi fted from Great Harbor and Naushon to Uttle Har­ bor, Woods Hole, with the arrival of Newcomb Carlton, dlC Pres id ent of Western Union. His first yacht was a Bri tish cutter, Vendetta, which was This picrure of Volunteer is a fine example of the work of Boston Marine of traditional English design ... photographer N:llh:micl Stebbins. She was a white cutter when she defended the long and narrow. The American America's Cup in 1887. Following a collision in 1891 she was lengthened a bit, designed schooner appealed to Mr. rigged as a schooner and painted black. Courtesy dlC Society (or the PresclVaoon Carlcon (or its beauty and sa iling of New England Antiquities. ability. In 1911 he brought Sunsh ine and quiet of sa ili ng and purchased a hundred foot to Uttle Harbor and sailed her until World War I schooner yacht wh ich was christened Saxon. After when he bought Channian a smaller schooner of the

World War I service with the Navy I she was replaced Seawanaka Class 58' 1.0.3. He (ound her too smnll by another lovely black schooner KUlasind. I.o.a. 84'. and uncomfortable. She was extensively sa iled by his son, the late Winslow Carlton. The steam yacht Elsana, was owned by Gates McGarrah of Penzance Point who moored in fro nt of O n Buzzards Bay, the Beve rly Yacht Club had hi s majestiC boat house in G reat Harbor. The boat attracted the most avid sa ilors who enjoyed racing. house was lost in the hurricane of 1938, but Long Two fami lies from Uttle Harbor raced successfully and House which had been his residence for almost twenty regularly at Wings Neck. W illiam Frazier Harrison's years remains [he dominate summer cottage on Pen z# Qilakeress II , usually skippered by her professional, ance Point. Sa m Cahoon, was a New York 30 class gaff rigged The trend toward large schooners, built to yacht qual­ sloop. Anita was another New York 30 owned by ity, peaked during the period of the "twenties." At C harles R. C rane and sailed by his son Richard. 6

This class or twelve boats at Beverly Yacht C lub offered the most exciting and competitive sailing on Buzzards Bay.

Following Seward Prosser's purchase of the Harding estate on Penza nee Point, yachting traditions returned to Great Harbor in dlC "grand manner." Mr. Prosser was a complete yachtsman who enjoyed all aspects and the whole ambience of sailing. In the minds of many, his two yachts. Medora and Consta nce, were unequalled (or their exquisite lines and exceptional sailing ability. Medora was designed by William Gard~ ncr and built at C ity Island, New York. Medora' s lines were similar to the New York 50 class; however, her subtle differences made her incomparable. She was sold back to Long Island Sound in 1924 where she entered the raci ng fl eet. The sad ness fel t in W oods Hole was short lived, for in the (ollowing year a breath, taking black schooner named ConsIt1 nce appeared on Medora's mooring. She wa s a knockaboul schooner of

Black slaysail schooner Consr ance, owned by Seward Prosse r or Penzance Poinl. Courtesy WHI-IC

90' I.o.a. and with her came the sa me crew from Tollesbury, England which hod served on Medora. All wa s well with the W oods Hole warerfronc and Mr. Prosser was once again a hero.

GeoffTey Whitney owned a number of large yachts ca lled Gos ling of various designs. Gosling 11 wa s a large motor sail or with schooner rig which her owner pre­ ferred to power rather than to sail.

Nobody used his yach lS more th:1I1 Dr. George Jewett of Penzance Point. His 60' schooner Marilyn was a Sam Cahoon, yacht capmin (or the Harrison (.1 mily, Church cl assic black G louceste r design. After many yea rs of StTCCt. Cahoon Coll ection. Courtesy WI-IH C. pleasurable sailing she was rep la~ed by the cutter, 7

Zaida, once belonging to the famed sailmaker and were in the crowded office were George Clowes, Eric yachtsman, Colin Ratsey. and Vera Warbasse, Frank Frost and Comstock Gla~ ser, all excited by the prospect of a revitalized yacht After World War II Great Harbor continued to host, club. Mr. Gifford made a motion to transfer all of the in a much more limited way, the opulence of the past assets, including the right to the Woods Hole golden era. Richard King Mellon brought a revival of Yacht Club name,to the new Officers and Governors. the times with two motor yachts called Cassiar. The Mrs. Crane was elected to the office of Commodore second was a great LTihute to the wooden boat building and at her suggestion Mr. Edward Norman was traditions of the Maine yard of Goudy and Stevens. elected Secretary/Treasurer, one of the most forrunate Launched in 1968 as a magnificent example of a grand events for the yacht dub's furure development. Mr. yacht, she stayed in Woods Hole until the death of Norman's vision for the yacht club was clear. It would Mrs. Mellon. Cassiar was Woods Hole's last wonhy be a vigorous racing and sailing club. Social functions memory of an era of towering ambitions and majestic would be of minor importance. Handicap racing yachts. would be discouraged and there would be a limit of PART III 1930- 1996 just four one-design classes. His energy and dedication were indispensable factors in the rapid success and T he Years of Revival growth of the club. His SLTong position on how one~ The Woods Hole Yacht Club had never truly ceased design classes were (0 be selected led (0 the acceptance operations during the two decades of inactivity. The of the S-boats, Cape Cod Knockabouts, Buzzards Bay yachts of little and Great Harbors had frequently Knockabouts (Herreshoff twelve and a half footers) flown the burgee of the yacht club. Following rl1e offi· and the seventeen foot Cape Cod dory. All of these cial closing of the clubhouse, in 1910, Mr. William classes were already sailing at Woods Hole in various Harrison of little Harbor continued to sponsor the numbers. The Herreshoff twelves were extremely pop­ club's most popular annual events, the clambake and ular throughout aU of Buzzards Bay. catboat race. Other events were conducted at the A tener of wonderful insight regarding dle revival of Anchorage of Henry K. Dyer and Gladheim, the estate the yacht club was written by Dr. George H.A. of James P. Warbasse at the end of Penzance Point. It Clowes, Jr. shortly before his death in 1988. was quite apparent that yachting could be an activity Dr.Clowes was one or" the most ardent and capable without the need of Commodores and clubhouses. young sailors in the middle thirties. His S-boat Aeolus The essentials were boats, docks and a spirit of will~ was a frequent winner in the class. His sLTong imprint ingness. on cruising boat handicap racing in this area has had By 1930, long smoldering interest in revitalizing the no equal to the present time. His ownership of Sirocco yacht club had become pervasive. All of the reasons and Golden Hind convinced him that he was too com­ for disbanding decades ago were now lost and forgot­ mined to top level racing to own slow cruising boats. ten memories of a previous time. At the request of In 1957 he had AlI"i/o built in Sweden with the hope Mrs. Murray Crane four past members agreed to meet of a successful Bermuda race. She was a superb boat at the Western Union office on July 12, 1930. Past but could not overcome the vagaries of that race. In Commodore Franklin Gifford chaired the meeting. 1972 he sailed the ocean race to Spain wid, Shea"",,· Mrs. C rane explained the need (or reactivating I.he [er. She was dismasted en route and was forced to yacht club. Speaking (or the younger members who rerum for a new mast. Following repairs she contin- 8

lied the crossing and later that summer entered the (amed British Fasmet Race. Always intrigued by d,e current trend in yacht design, Dr. Clowes had Chnllenge built in Finland (rom design s by hi s (avorite Cirm, Sparkman and Stevens. Hi s last boars were Per­ egrine and A/acrit), one for crui sing in Europe and the other for racing in home waters.

His letter is as written: "In 1929 when I wa s twelve years old, my (ather purchased through the good offi ces o( Captain Robert Veeder, a 17' dory. He brought a nllmber of them (rom Wareham to Woods Hole. She was called Dorine and lhat summer was the start of real happiness. At a meeting in Mrs. Murray Crane's house, it was decided that the Cape Cod Woods Hole 17' dory, designed (or junior racing by Knockabout and dory classes would race together. In Wareham Shi pbuil ding Co. John Veeder brought (our to th e early days Dr. Raymond Montgomery and Charles WHYC. George Clowes , Hugh Momgomery, Isabel Emery Wheeler were my crew. Arthur and Wismr Meigs had and Wislar Meigs raced them. Courtesy Woods Hole Yacht Club. a similar dory. W e had many good races bU[lhe dories were slowe r than the knockabours so that any win by dock. Meetings were held at Mrs. C rane's living room a dory was a great tTiumph. Mrs. Crane made her or at Mr. Frost's boat house. As the years went by, the motor lau nch Limu/us available as a race committee S-boars were owned by Mr. Norman, Dr. Harold boat. She was under the command of Captain Bos# Bradley, John G i(ford. Francis Bartow and others in worth. Mrs. Crane frequently watched the races from Woods Hole. In Quissett, Isabel Emery, Harold Ke ith , the deck of widl her parasol if dle weadler limit/us, Charles Rogers and Lawrason Riggs o( N:llI shon were too sunny. Mr. Frost's boat house, with irs large Island were owners. We raced wi til a (ew W ianno fl oars, at the entrance to Penzance Point was used for Seniors in the W ednesday series at Woods Hole. O n headquarters. Everyone tied their dinghies to this Sarurdays, dle Quissett Yacht Clu b ran the more important races . Ones lasting impreSSion is that o( sun, southwest winds and glorious good times."

Having the deserved reputation as one o( lhe {inest racing sailors in the area, Sa m Cah oon had been prominencly associated widl the yacht club at the ttlm o( the cenrury as the professional racing captain for William Harrison. In 1915 Captain Cahoon bought me Harbor Vi ew {i sh market in Woods Hole and tem­ porarily le(t yacht raci ng until 1932 when he joined [he Cape Cod Knockabollt class at clle yacht club. He maintained the sa me pro(essional standards dlat were Mrs. Harrison and son sa iling with Sa m Cahoon, lheir me custom of an earlier time. It was a ming of pure boatman, on left. Cahoon Collection. Counesy WHHC . joy to watch the preparation of Whit or Mat: Win 9

being towed to the fishing dock before an afternoon twenty-five year lease. In 1958 the lease would have to race. Sail s were bent, all lines ready as Captain be renegotiated. Mr. Norman fclt that Lllis arr:mge­ Cahoon le(t hi s desk at the fi sh market, placed a pipe ment was the best th at could be done at Llle ti me. On in his mouth and had the look of a man in heaven as June 25, 1935 President Roosevelt signed the Bill two he walked to his boat. days before he left for a long summer Vacation. While waiting for the Presidenr's signature, Mr. Nor­ Anomer long time Woods Hole res ident, Prince man was assured Lllat there were no imped iments in C rowell, joined the yacht club in 1936 at the sugges­ dle land purchase, and immed iate action could be tion of Sam Cahoon. Hi s sa iling experience ca me taken in locating contractors and obtaining permits from boyhood, mosLly as a catboat sa ilor. He had a job for building the clubhouse, parking lot and stone pier delivering mail and ship stores [0 the Red Farm House with att.1ched fl oats. l-I . V. Lawrence signed as d1e at Tarpaulin Cove. His knowledge of local conditions principal contractor for bu ilding and designing Llle related to tides and wind were immense. Messieurs clubhouse and adjace nt parking lot. Mr. Ames of Crowell and Cahoon were both close friends and arch Falmouth was hired to build dle fl oats and Sidney racing rivals at Woods Hole. Memories of the two Lawrence agreed to construct dle stone pier. maste rs racing are precious to all who saw Lll em race. Mr. Norman had envisioned a commiss ioning cere­ The Woods Hole Yacht Clu b had no official club­ mony (or mid-July if work proceeded as planned. He house for the fir st few years of oper:ltion. Mr. Frost and Mrs. Crane ge nerously gave Llle club the use of thei r boats and docks. However, treasurer Norman recognized that Llle im position to the fam ilies was a potentially se rious problem and al so that the growth of the yacht club could be hindered. At the annual meeting in 1932, he proposed cl,e need (or a yacht club independent o( its neighbor's good will . He had searched for possible sites and found th at property owned by the U. S. Government was not bei ng used and possibly could be purchased. In 1883 Joseph Story Fay had made a gift of property between Bar Neck and G reat Harbor to the U.S. Bureau of Fisher­ ies in recognition of his friend, Spencer Fullerton Baird, Commiss ioner of Fisheries. Confident Lllat this land could be bought, Mr. Norman began fund rais­ ing. It was discovered that in dle Deed of Gift were stipuintions to the effect dlat should Llle Government not use the land for intended purposes, the land would revert to the Fay heirs and their descendants. A Bill was prepared for Llle Congressional transfer of dle property provided the heirs were willing. Approval Commander Edward A. Norman during his wan:ime yea rs, was received through a waiver of Llle stipulations for a ca. 1944. Courtesy Andrew Norman and Nancy Lassalle. 10

Hurricane Carol losses in Great Harbor, sttn (Tom Woods Hole Yacht Club. Phoro by Dorothy I. Crossley. was called away to Europe on business unexpeccedly fortunate for the sailing fl eet It has only been in very in March believing that all details had been properly r&eO[ times that the sailing season has been extended delegated. Upon returning a few months later, he to five months or even mo re for some dedicated found littl e progress had been made. Rumors had yachtsmen. The typical launching of the sailing season been heard that there was no available money for the a few decades ago was July Fourth, and haul out was contractors. Mr. Norman went into action and within around Labor Day. At Woods Hole most of the small a few weeks had obtained all the necessary permits, boats had been put away for the winter and only a few while at the same time raising $5,000 including a gift larger sailing auxiliaries were still in the water. Com­ of $1 ,000 from Cha rles R. Crane. which covered the pletely destroyed were QatO Vadis, Molly and fu ll cost of construction. The grand opening was held Maprema. Dr. Jewea's schooner MaTil::m was found on on August 27 , 1935 atrended by the dub membership top of his boat house. The total financial damage done with invited guests. to the yacht dub totaled $6,000.

The surprise hurricane of 1938 was the most darnag~ During the war years from 1941 to 1946 the yacht ing storm of the century for the New England coast. club activities were very much restricted to harbor rac­ Many lives were lost and property devastation was of ing and sailing. All boats were required to have iden­ a magnirude not seen since. The Woods Hole Yacht tification cards which included the owner's Club was moderately damaged compared to the dam­ fingerprints and photograph. The majority of the age incurred in 1954 from hurricane Carol. The 1938 membership was serving in the war, but occasionally storm carne late in the month of September which was a few were able to come on brief leaves to enjoy a few 11

days o( sailing. Drs. Eliot C lark and Robert Paine O ne of me most damaging east coast storms was hur­ Bigelow maintained the spi rit and mo~ l e o( the club ricane Carol in 1954. The carastTophi c effects o( this during Lhese yea rs. They held races (or t.hose who were storm paradoxically brought some long term benefi ts able to participate. Dr. Clark wrote o( these years in a La the yacht club. Commodore Anson Barker saw the summary o( WWIl years: "Uke all o( dle other yacht damage as too dcvasL"Hin g (or rebuilding and directed clubs, th e W.H.Y.C. has contributed [0 the U.S. hi s anention to alternatives that migllL be ava il able (or Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine, a consid­ club members. Most o( t.he repa irs could not be erable number of young men and women. Besides (unded through normal borrowing methods because these conLTibutions o( man power, several o( ule large of lease restTictions. The prevailing atmosphere was yachts have been loaned or sold to the Navy. It is mostly one o( de (eat and depression , Lhough this hoped that it wi ll be obvious uut dlis yacht club is very attirude was not shared by Robert Otis Bigelow, Com" much alive. It is urged that all continue their member­ modore elect at the age o( twenty·(jve. Standing on ship in order that when the war is over, full activities broken timbers and smashed noats, all in a single pil e, may be resumed at once." he took ove r the duties o( leadershi p by announcing Elected Commodore in 1940, Mr. Norman could not that there were no plans [Q abandon the yacht club complete his term when offered a commiss ion in the and rerum the property to the Fisheries. An agenda U. S. Navy. For Lhe next five years, Le. Commander was prepared (or the annual meeting to be held as Norman's duties we re (HI ed by Dr. Clark who served scheduled in a (ew days. The mess:1ge wa s clea r that as acting Commodore dlfollgh 1947 . In 1950 Dr. there would be no plans other than to accept the Clark was elected to a Linee year term as Commodore. challenge o( rebuild ing. The reviralization plan ga ined

Hurricane rescue at Woods H. ole Yael\[ Clu b. Photo by Dorothy I. C rossley. 12

strong support at the annual meeting, and changed would be interested in property d13t could not be sold the mood to a spirit of joint effort. The two most seri­ with a d ea r tide were both correct. The Wocxls Hole ous problems were financing the reconstruction and Yacht Club had its property and only needed the sig­ finding boats to rebuild the fleets, especially the nature of President John Kennedy to complete the Knockabouts which had suffered severe damage. transaction. Throughout the winter months of 1955 major prog­ The financial reserves had been kept untouched for a ress was made. A well organized financial campaign number of years pending the outcome of the land pur­ produced me necessary revenues to cover construction. chase. It was time to begin the expansion of the water­ The Knockalx >ut dass was brought back to its original front facilities in an effort to accommodate a rapidly strength by new purchases or professional repairs to growing membership. The interest in boating surged badly damaged boats. [n June of 1955, d,e yacht club during the fifties, principally due to fibergla ss boats. was commissioned with a completely rebuilt club­ The opportunity to own an inexpensive trouble free house and all fl oats and docks in place. There was boat was an irresistible temptation. The Cape Cod almost no recognizable reminder that hurricane Carol Knockabout Class entered into agreements wilh builders had ever dueatened the life of the Woods Hole Yacht of fibergl ass boats to provide a quality reproduction of Club. the wooden boa~ By 1962 the Knockabouts had demonstrated their abili ty to race evenly with wocxlen Wid, the probability of furure storms and the large boats. Orders were placed at the level of more than investment of capital to rebuild the damaged property, ten boats annually for a number of years The majority Commodore Bigelow decided once again to explore of new owners in the Knocbbout Class came from the possibilities of a land purchase from the U .S. Gov­ the scientific community in Woods Hole. ernment. The conditions had not changed from the The great benefit to the yacht club membership from ea rlier attempt of past Commodore Norman. The this group was their active participation in yacht club approval from the membership to begin action on the administration and racing. Fifteen of the la st seven­ purchase was very favorable. Vice Commodore Walter teen commodores carne fTOm the Knockabout class, Garrey wa s given many of the executive responsibili­ and of this group nine were from dle scientific com­ ties [Q proceed with Congressman Donald Nickerson munity. For many years the racing fleet of Knock­ in preparing a Bill for Congressional action. Govern· abouts averaged about twenty-five boats for the Sunday ment lawyers advised the yacht club of critical risks series races. During the peak years of racing as many that would have to be assumed should the yacht club as seventeen races, including the special races, com· wish to go ahead with the purchase. The purchase prised the summer sdledule. could not be completed under present regu lations unless the property was auctioned to the highest bid­ The strength of d,e Knockabout Class dominated all der, and the Government would retain all rights to the aspects of the yacht club during dlese years. Dr. John properlY in times of national crisis. The yacht club Buck introduced a program for children's sailing decided to take all ri sks and fil e cl,e Bill. [n 1962 a which emphasized basic seamanship and evennl3l1y Government letter informed the yacht club that the racing. His daily supervision of the program included land would be sold to them at f.1ir market value. The direct participation in lectures and teaching. The pres­ assumptions that no heir or descendant of Joseph ent day sailing programs are well attended and highly Story Fay wou ld object to Ihe sal e, and that no bidder regarded . 13

Commodore James Mavor, although an early member of the Knockabout class, turned his attention toward COMMODORES 1896-1996 the development of a high perfonnance class. As a I. Edgar Harding 1896-1899 2. Henry K. Oyer 1899-1902 trained naval architect, he was very much aware of the 3. Franklin Gifford 1902-1903 sea rch (or speed through light construction. He dem# 4. Henry L Howes 1903-1905 onstrated the ability of such boats by the purchase of 5. John Veeder 1905-1910 a Jolly boat and later a Rying Dutchman. Neither class 6. Robert N. Veeder 1910-1911 appealed to the average sailor. While in England Com# Yacht Club decommissioned, Franklin Gifford modore Mavor noticed a small boat called a Mirror elected principal Trustee for duration of Club's inactivity. John Milligan Acting Commodore for which had great appeal to him. He had a kit shipped this period. Subordinate Trustees elected were to Woods Hole. The design of this boat favored the Walter Luscombe and Charles Grinnell sa iling conditions of the area and was an outstanding 7. Mrs. W . Munay Crane 1930-1932 small boat for racing. The class membership in 8. Frank Frost 1932-1935 Europe had soared to an incred ible 10,000 in the first 9. Harold Bradley 1935-1939 few years of building. For a while it was the largest 10. Edward Norman 1940-1947 class in the world with numbers over a 100,000. 11. Eliot Clark (Aaing Commodo.. ) 1941 -1946 12. Eliot Clark 1947-1950 Woods Hole had been waiting for an appealing small 13. Anson Barker 1950-1954 boat class that could be a children's boat as well as one 14. RobertO. Bigelow 1954-1958 suitable for adult dinghy racing. TIle Mirror class was 15. Walter Garrey 1958-1962 a recognized success and in a few brief years about 25 16. Sears P. Crowell 1962-1964 boats were being sailed off the beach at Great Harbor. 17. James Mavor 1964-1966 The racing emhusiasts organized a Sarurday morning 18. Jonathan Leiby 1966-1969 19. John Valois 1969-1973 series which remains very popular. 20. Harlyn Halvorson 1973-1976 21. John Darling 1976- 1978 Lasers, Thistles and Javelins have also enjoyed pe riods 22. Bertram Silver 1978-1 980 of success over time. Past Commooore Tom Browne 23. Thomas Browne 1980-1981 (I 98()'1981) promoted the Thistle Class expecting that 24. Peggy Clark Kelley 1981-1983 its excell ent sa iling qualities and strong national orga# 25. Barbara Garrey 1983-1986 27. Moise Goldstein 1986-1988 nization might attract high performance sa il ors to Buz# 28. Paul Spens 1988-1990 zards Bay conditions. For a num ber of years the class 29. Allan Gordon 1990-1993 prospered enjoying new imerest from invited guests, 30. Brian Swiller 1993-1995 but in spite o( all the dedicated effort to o((er an alter­ 31. Kate Foster 1995- native class, the sa iling conditions controlled by the strong prevailing soudlwesterlies favored the Knock# on l..h ~ SOUdl side of Cape Cod. Commodore Leiby about as the long term survivor. had dle energy and abililY to see what needed to be done and dle ski ll s to do it. The pri ncipal problem Jonathan Leiby became Commodore during the that needed fixing was the complication caused by period of transition from a small family yacht club to populalion groWdl. There had been no attempt to one representing a wide range of yachting interests. limit membership although the subject had appeared There were those who enjoyed livin g on mei r cru ising a number of times on the agendas of the Board of boats and others who travelled long dismnces to sa il Governors. Commodore Leiby's proposals were 14

greeted with a mixture of acceptance and concern . Hi s events. All of the commodores have bee n active sa ilors recommendations for an enlarged parking area, a in both racing and day sa iling. newly constructed cruisi ng boat dock, relocation of In the present decade rhe most noticeable trend in fl oats and docks and the bUilding of a marine railway yachting has been rhe preference for cruiSing ove r r:l C~ for larger boats were of major significance to dle trea ~ ing by many successful ski ppers. About sevemy c rlli s~ surer. About the same time that the Board gave its ing boats are registered at rhe yacht club. C ruising has final approval, the bulldozer was digging a larger park. been the owner's principal usc of tile hoat. A number ing lot, a steam crane was hammering piles, new mare-­ of members have enjoyed successful cmising and rac~ rial s were being off·loaded on the street and the ing: Albert Wilson, Nichola s Newman, Jim Clark and redevelopment program wa s underway. Not since the others. Albert Wilson has owned a succession of c1 as~ days of Commodore Norman had there been such a sic designs including a Pilot, Cal 40, Grand Banks crescendo of noise and activity. and Pea rson 35. Nicholas and Kathy Newman have The most amazing fearure of this consttuction was that raced their Morgan 38, Katrina, and cruised her to Commodore Leiby did it himself. He ran cl,e bull· Europe and back. dozer, repa ired the steam crane, arranged for the The mysterious fl eet of hOll se boats that moor in an waterfTOnt permits, spread the concrete and occas i o n ~ area referred to as "Sampan Village" are members ally rested. There were times when Dan Clark and his loosely connected Witll the yacht club. They are waved professional crew of dock workers came over to share at and spoken to on Sa rurday mornings during the in the spirit of fun . The achievements of Commodore Mirror dinghy races which use the water around t.he Leiby solved a problem of increasing congestion and village. They are ve ry curious about racing terms such should not be forgotten. as "You have no rights!" and "Do your circles!" It is In 1973 Commodore Harlyn Halvorson tOOK office a community of sublime thinkers and friendly m e m ~ and promptly turned hi s attention to enlarging the bers even if dleir boats are houses. sa iling school, especially establishing programs for The distinction of bei ng the centennial commodore of teenage sailors. He acquired a fl eet of" 420 college din~ the Woods Hole Yacht Clu b goes to Kare Wilson, ghies" for insttuction purposes. The program was s uc~ who is, in the present tradition of commodores, a cessful until the need for extensive repairs and other Knockabout sailor. She is also the fourth woman com­ costs led to the ca ncellation of the program. His belief modore. in the importance of social events inaugurated the Commodores Cocktail Party that continues as the With pride, this centennial may be dedicated to the club's most popular event. almost two thousand members who found some of their happiest memories in sailing at the yacht dub. For the next twenty years the progression of twelve Deep appreciation mu st be given to tile hundreds of commodores recognized that the yacht club was in a comminee members and offi cers who have se rved tile very favorable stable condition and needed a rest from yacht club. We owe much to the vision of the founders further land transactions, hurricane devasrotion and while we wonder if they eve r tllOught there would be building construction. These commodores, led by a centennial celebration. their Board of Governors, who were in rum advised by dleir membership of over six hundred individuals, Looking into the future we know from life's expe ri­ became mainstream managers of policy and social ences that changes will come from the most unex- 15

peeled sources al the mOS I unpredictable times. Boats to im pose new chall enges and creale greiu pleasure for today :He certai nly different (rol11 those boats thai c r e~ all sailors. HAPPY I3lRTHDAY LITTLE YACHT aled Woods Hole Yacht C lu b hi srol)! during its first CLUB AND MANY MORE' centu ry. We can predict that boats in the fUlure will John Valois has lived, worked and sai led in Woods Hole (or be sailed by computers wilh sai ls of a fab ric yet LO be almost fifty years. His f3 scina[ion (or all 3SpCClS o( the sea , invented using technical equipment that C3n nO[ be especi3l1 y its animals and pbnlS, developed in ea rl y childhood. He is recently recired (rom the Marine Biological bbor:tto ry inugined. Technology wi ll always find acceptance where he directed t.he Depamnent of Marine Resources for even as we honor tTad ition. The ocean will conlinue twenty years.

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Cape Cod Kn oc.kabom race off Nobsb . Photo by Dorothy 1. C rossley. 16

Woods Hole Yacht Club

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Mrs. W. Murray Crane's boathouse, 1933. Gaff rigged sloop in center of picrure is Eric Warbassc's Manchester 17'. Courtesy Woods Hole Yacht Club.

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Committee Boat, Umul us, owned by Mrs. W. Mu rray Crane, coming in afte r a small boar race, 1933. Photo by Ra lph Shein. Counesy Woods Hole Yacht C lub. 17

in the' 30s, Photo Essay

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W;ncr SpoIlS, Frost BO,'llhouse on Penzancc Point, August 30, 1933. PhOlO by 1t1.lph Shein. COllnesy Woods Hole Yacht Club.

New York Yacht Clu b in Great Harbor. Tenr:nivciy idcntincd bo.'us are: schooner on lefl, Rost:U'a 1; Seawanhab cla ss schooner ncx(to her, Newcomb Carleton's Charmian; da rk schooner is Dr. Jewett's Marilyn; while schooner, Phill ip Case's Onward 111; and tJ,C wh irc schooner on d,C right is Ru ssel Leonard's Kelpie. Councsy Woods Hole Yacht Club.