'Wasp,' 1892. Herreshoff's design.
A novel and interesting feature of the yachting season of 1892 was the 'fin-keel' boat, a production of N. G. Herreshoff. It will be seen from the cut below that some of the peculiarities of the 'Gloriana' form are embodied in this singular craft—namely, the long overhang and the rounded elongation of the bilge to the extreme limits of the bow and stern.
The chief characteristic, however, is the fin, or in effect a fixed centreboard carrying a weight of lead on its lower edge sufficient to give the craft stability enough to balance the rigging and press of wind in the sails.
The most successful fin-keel boats have a length on water equal to three-and-a-half beams, and as the section of the hull is round or nearly so, stability is gained in a manner already explained.
Fin-keel and bulb.
The first of this style of craft was built and launched in the autumn of 1891, and was called 'Dilemma'; she had a very moderate-sized rig, the jib-stay being secured to the extreme point of the bow, but with this she easily beat the old style of cat-boat, and showed, besides unusual speed, many other desirable qualities.