At this time the minds of our yachtsmen were sorely fretted by the performance of the cutter 'Minerva' from Scotland. She laid all low who dared to wrestle with her, and not until the concentrated strength of our great designer was invoked could she be beaten. Even then the 'Gossoon' could not always outstrip her, but the newly developed skill that she set in motion did not rest with the beating of 'Minerva,' and to-day she would have no chance. Great strides were made in 1891, placing on an even footing the famous 46-foot class with yachts of 20 ft. superior length.
| Over all | W. L. | Beam | Draught | Tons | Date | |||||
| ft. | in. | ft. | in. | ft. | in. | ft. | in. | |||
| Schooners:— | ||||||||||
| Sachem, C.B. | 105 | 0 | 86 | 6 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 5 | — | 1886 |
| Marguerite, C.B. | 97 | 0 | 79 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65 | 1888 |
| Quickstep, C.B. | 83 | 0 | 65 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 54 | 1889 |
| Cutters:— | ||||||||||
| Volunteer, C.B. | 104 | 0 | 85 | 9 | 23 | 2 | 10 | 0 | — | 1887 |
| Mayflower, C.B. | 96 | 9 | 85 | 7 | 23 | 5 | 10 | 0 | — | 1886 |
| Puritan, C.B. | 93 | 0 | 81 | 1 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 2 | — | 1885 |
| Harpoon, C.B. | 63 | 0 | 45 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 5 | — | 1891 |
| Oweene, K. | 62 | 0 | 45 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 23 | 1891 |
| Gossoon, K. | 53 | 0 | 39 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 2 | — | 1890 |
| Hawk, C.B. | 42 | 0 | 29 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1890 |
| Titania, C.B. | 81 | 5 | 69 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 1887 |
C.B. Centreboard. K. Keel boats. W.L. Water-line.
The year of 1891 was famous in bringing to a climax the development of the new idea; several new designers of merit appeared, notably Mr. William Gardiner of New York. His 'Lyris' was a marvel of speed, and in her class she was well nigh invincible. 1891, indeed, opened with every nerve at the highest tension. One incident was the return of Mr. N. G. Herreshoff to the field of sail-yacht designing from which he had retired nineteen years before. To add to the interest and excitement, several designers contributed their skill in forming the famous class of 46-footers that rendered that season long remembered in yachting annals. Burgess had four, and Fife of Scotland, General Paine of Boston, Herreshoff of Bristol, and J. R. Maxwell of New York, each sent one yacht to the lists; so the new fleet represented, not only well-tried skill, but the work of several who were new in the field.
No one of the fleet of racers attracted so much interest and discussion as the cutter 'Gloriana,' keel, the Herreshoff production; she was a decided departure from accepted forms, and destined to create a revolution in the science of naval architecture.
Criticism was poured upon 'Gloriana' from every side—a very few thought she might sail moderately fast, but the majority who expressed their minds all united in declaring that nothing but abject failure could follow such an act of boldness as her model appeared to all but her designer, and perhaps her owner, Mr. E. D. Morgan.
'Gossoon,' keel boat, 1890. Designed by E. Burgess.
Mr. Herreshoff, however, had built a small craft in the autumn of 1890 which was on much the same lines as 'Gloriana,' except that the latter was a more complete representative of the new system; the trial boat of the previous autumn showed qualities in sailing and handling that gave the designer of 'Gloriana' courage to proceed with a craft that called forth general condemnation before she was launched, a feeling which was quickly changed to astonishment and approval as soon as she was tried against other members of her class. The feature of 'Gloriana' that marked her amongst all other yachts of that season was her abnormal overhang, showing a length over all of 70 ft. to that on water of 45 ft. 3 in.