The S-Class Sloop was designed by Nat Herreshoff late in 1919 and comprise one of the most significant one-design racing classes of the era. They are revered by their owners for their responsive helm, for their ability to stand up to a breeze, and for their ability to ghost along in light air.The S Boat has a five-eighths rig and a powerful sail plan consisting of a self-tending jib, a main and a spinnaker. The 42-foot spruce mast is tapered, hollow, and curved. The running backstays and overhanging boom carry about 426 square feet of sail and provide a thrilling ride. The cockpit is comfortable and reasonably dry, and there is a small cabin for protection from the weather, storage, and a porta-potti.
- Osprey
- Firefly, Mischief & Surprise
The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company built 94 S boats, George Lawley Sons built an additional 7 to Captain Nats design, and the US Navy built another 2 examples in Hawaii. As is typical of a Herreshoff design, the boats have light scantlings. They are constructed with cedar planking over steamed white oak frames and a bronze-strapped keel. There are 3350 pounds of external lead, giving the boat a stiff ballast ratio of 50. Today about half of these boats are still sailing and many are actively racing.
- Squaw, Mischief & Aquila
- Aquila
There are large fleets in Narragansett Bay and Western Long Island Sound, and the regatta schedule is quite busy. The powerful sail plan and sweet hull combine to create a competitive racer that has been active for 90 years and still going strong.
Information courtesy of the Herreshoff Registry