Windvane History

[Earl Boebert]

I'm the Historian for the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group and will be giving a lecture at the Herreshoff Museum on 6 August on the interrelations between model and full-size yachting, with an emphasis on Herreshoff family activities. I've got the model side of wind vane steering development pretty well pinned down, but am on shakier ground with regard to full size practice. Here's what I've been able to dig up so far from Google, Dijkstra, and Belcher:

1875: N.G. Herreshoff invents vane gear to control test model of catamaran.

Late 1920s -early 1930s: N.G. Herreshoff builds several vane-steered models for his own amusement in retirement.

1932: Start of serious vane gear development by model yachtsmen. "The Model Yachtsman" publishes letter by N.G. Herreshoff vouching for the technique.

1935: Sam O. Berge wins "Yachting Monthly" Cup (the "America's Cup of model yachting") with vane gear.

1936: Marine artist Marin-Marie puts vane on 43 foot diesel trawler "Arielle" (steadying sail only -- Atlantic crossing).

1953: H. G. "Blondie" Hasler begins experimenting with vane gears. [When did he make first crossing in "Jester"?]

1955: Michael Henderson applies vane gear to "Mick the Miller" (Atlantic crossing).

1956: Ian Major applies vane gear to "Buttercup" (Atlantic crossing) [Some references say 1955]

1960: OSTAR starts and vane gears become popular.

Any additions and/or corrections to this list would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Earl