Doris was built in 1905 and launched that May by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. At 77 feet, 6 inches long, she was the largest all-wooden sailing vessel built by the yard. Doris was also the first yacht built to the then-new Universal Rule, a yacht rating regulation that changed the course of yacht design. Because of this she was given National Historic Recognition in 1984.
Just one month after her launch, Doris raced against Wasp and Gloriana from Marblehead, Massachusetts, around the Isles of Shoals, off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and back to Marblehead. Throughout the day Doris managed to keep to the front of the pack, though Wasp and Gloriana stayed on her heels. Nearing the finish, the sloops dropped their spinnakers and Doris took off with over a cable’s length to spare. She finished 75 seconds before Gloriana crossed in second place, with Wasp in third.
Doris continued to dominate in other races as she moved between owners, who made slight changes to the vessel. Between 1934 and 1940 Doris was named Astarte, Huntress and Vayu. Eventually, Doris landed in Crocker’s Boatyard in New London, Connecticut, where she sat for 30 years. She was destined to be scrapped in August 2013, until an enthusiastic mariner commissioned Snediker Yacht Restoration of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, to come to her rescue. Now, Doris is getting a new lease on life.
The process to return Doris to her former glory is no small task. The sloop is being restored with Peltogyne (purpleheart), White oak, Douglas fir, teak, and Iroko (from West Africa). The first step in her restoration involved the creation of molds and steam-bent frames. They were then installed on the original hull, along with a new center line. Once that was set up, the team began fairing the frames, so planking could begin. One plank at a time, the hull took shape, and Doris became recognizable once again. The hardware and rudder were then added, and the builders had the joy of removing the molds.
The restoration project is still underway but the team at Snediker hopes to finish her in the next few years.
This article was originally published in the February 2024 issue.
