Sheila
Sheila was built for Paul Hammond in 1921 by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Inc (along with Cygnet launched the following year) from a design by William Starling Burgess. The construction plans were drawn up by Lewis Francis Herreshoff, (son of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff , owner of the company).
Sheila was launched in April 1921. and was one of the four American Six Metres built in 1921 for the British American Cup, along with Grebe, Montauk and Jeanie.
The British American Cup was founded after meetings between Paul Hammond of Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club and representatives of British Royal Yacht Squadron and a host of British yacht clubs. Hammond commissioned Sheila but also encouraged the building of the three other Sixes launched in 1921.
After the 1921 competition, Sheila remained in the UK and was later the subject of Ian Rutherford’s (owner of then “Suilven” from 1933) memoir “At the Tiller” published in 1946.
Sheila has since changed owners and sail numbers a number of times in the UK. She has recently reverted to her original sail number of US4 and is now gaff-rigged. Sheila remains in the UK.
Detailed history and further photographs can be found in the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co Catalogue Raisonne
She features in the Six Metre Story “The Boats That Sailed a Century Ago.”
Click here.
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