Sailing yachts
Full specification
Wooden Ships Comments on this Herreshoff 6 Meter
Designed by Starling Burgess to the Six Metre rule and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in 1921. She was part of the first ever team of American 6m yachts to be campaigned in England and she carried sail number US4.
After the racing she remained in the UK and her well documented history took her cruising around Scotland, Ireland and over to Norway with various owners who have written books and memoirs about their time with the boat.
A major 2015 refit included refastening of the hull and plenty of structural repairs, but also gave her a new gaff sloop rig to replace her original Bermudan rig design. Although her original rig and spars are with the boat still, she has been raced very successfully in recent years as a gaffer and won a lot of silverware.
When purchased by the current owner in 2020 a lot of time and money was put into the boat to optimise her for racing. The hull was strengthened and the rig design looked at carefully, replacing all hardware with modern equipment such as Harken CarboAir and Black Magic Air blocks. She has a complete integrated B&G system with 4 x H5000 displays.
The boat is engineless as she was originally and the interior has been stripped out for racing.
She has proved to be a very competitive boat, winning Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic regatta and has consistently been at the head of the fleet in other regattas and local races. In recent years she has won at Fowey Classics, Dartmouth Classics, Cowes Classic Week and Hamble Classics twice. She was overall winner of the West Country Classics series. She has the potential to do extremely well in classic events both here and in the Mediterranean and could be a cost effective yacht in which to enjoy these regattas with a good chance of winning some silverware.
Available to view as part of an open day of the yard near Southampton on 17th August 2025
Length Overall 27’4″
Length on Deck 27’4″
Beam 7′
Draft 5’6″
Thames Tonnage 5TM
Construction
Carvel planked in 3/4″ Honduras mahogany all bronze screw fastened to steam bent oak timbers at 6″ centres. 90% of the hull was re-fastened in 2015.
Hull is splined throughout, these splines were all renewed in 2015.
Wooden structural floors across the centreline. All centreline bolts from stem to stern replaced in phosphor bronze in 2015.
External lead ballast keel of 2.5 tons fastened with bronze keel bolts. Half the bolts replaced in phosphor bronze in 2015. 4 new bolts fitted 2024.
New hanging knees in way of the mast form an effective ring frame the strengthen the hull.
Deck laid in T&G yellow pine, overlaid with 1/4″ Robins marine plywood and sheathed externally with epoxy glass cloth. Deck re-painted in 2024. Varnished Honduras mahogany toe rails and rubbing strakes.
Pair of circular cockpits, one for the helm and one for the crew, both with varnished teak coamings.
Tiller steering with a new rudder from 2015. All new hangings and rudder stock.
Rig
Gaff sloop rig completely new in 2015.
Keel stepped varnished spruce hollow mast with an internal plywood structural web, new in 2016. The bare mast only weighs 40kg.
Varnished hollow spruce boom and gaff. Hollow spruce spinnaker pole plus a carbon fibre pole.
Standing and running rigging
Stainless steel standing rigging to internal bronze chain plates. New bronze chain plate bolts in 2015. Rigging and rigging screws new in 2024.
Running back stays run below decks and tensioned on the winches.
Running rigging all new with Southern Ropes Beige SuperT braid on braid (dyneema equivalent core)
Halyards all controlled below deck with Lewmar clutches.
All modern Harken blocks, either Carbos Airs or Black Magic Airs.
Winches
3 x self tailing Harken winches mounted on the deck and 3 x self tailing Harken winches below decks.
Sails
Mainsail 2016, topsail
3 x Jibs from One Sails (2022 & 2023).
Jackyard topsail re-cut 2023.
Asymmetric by One Sails 2024.
Original bermudan rig complete with rigging and sails still with the boat and able to be fitted directly back in if required, uses same chain plates and mast step .
Machinery
12 volt battery with a Solar Panel from Hartnell Marine.
Powers bilge pump and instruments.
Equipment
Integrated B&G system
4 x H5000 displays – compass, traducer, wind sensor and receiver
B&G GPS screen
Harken rig hardware
Mainsail – 2016
3 x jibs from One Sails (2 x 2022 and 1 x 2023)
Jackyard topsail – re-cut by One Sails 2023
Asymmetric spinnaker – One Sails 2024
6 x Harken self tailing winches
Electric auto bilge pump
Manual bilge pump
Custom designed all over cover
Mainsail cover
Mooring warps
Fenders
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Disclaimer:
These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.











