44' Herreshoff Fishers Island 31 Class Sloop (1930) - TORCH

Beautiful, durable, adaptable, and fast: Fishers Island 31s like TORCH (HMCo. #1153) are one of the very best racer/cruisers of all time. They’re an enlargement of N.G. Herreshoff’s own 26’ cabin daysailer ALERION III, tweaked by his son Sidney to create this handsome 44-footer. The announcement of “The Fisher’s Island Sound One-Design Class” was made in the April, 1928 issue of Yachting. Mr. Barklie Henry, former owner of the Newport 29 DOLPHIN (HMCo. #727) and owner of the first FI 31 CYRILLA IV (HMCo #1054), was most enthusiastic over the new boats, and said, “For anyone who wants a good turn of speed, coupled with comfortable living conditions and seaworthiness, I doubt if Herreshoff has ever turned out a better boat. They carry a perfect helm, are very sensitive on the tiller, and sail with their rail under without any griping. They are better to windward and running than reaching – to windward in a hard breeze they are exceptionally good. They handle beautifully under all conditions, and you have a feeling when sailing them that they will do whatever they are called upon to do. I have a great feeling of confidence in crowded harbors and narrow channels that they will make no mistakes.”