The schooner Idler in New off Castle Gardens New York 1870

Oil on Canvas 12x24

Idler 1864

Designer /Modeler ; Sam Pook

Builder ; Sam Pook Fairhaven Conn

Commissioning Owner T Durant

Sailing Qualities

“ Stately Idler” Idler was a compromise between the shoal Center board and deep keel schooner. Idler was a favorite for beauty with her sharply raking masts. Idler was a very fast vessel on the wind, one of the fastest and most weatherly vessels in the New York Yacht Club fleet . Quick and maneuverable she would always be at the head of the fleet in a beat and close reach to the Sandy Hook Light vessel.  Idler would often be over powered with the wind free or aft by the larger schooners in the fleet.

In 1873 , she came out with a new counter which enhanced her beauty. There was work to be done in getting her ballast right, with some removed she appeared lively doing better with the wind free than formerly, but at a little  cost of her windward qualities.

In 1874 she was observed going to windward of the whole fleet, “she was most stunning to watch, as she crowed on she heeled down to her leerail throwing spray along her deck intending to carry sail or drag it. She sailed like a witch with the wind free, and was good down wind”

In 1876 she was again rebuilt and lengthened by Steers.

Idler later raced on the great lakes before tragically foundering off Cape Hatteras  on jan 26th 1915 while on her way to Havana to pick up her owner Mr Jefferson. She was to have cruised extensively in the Caribbean before passing through the Panama Canal to cruise in the Pacific.

Racing History

NYYC Regatta 1869 winner

Americas Cup   1870 2nd

                             1876 defeated by Madeline in an unofficial trial race with Tidal Wave;

Brenton Reef Cup July 27^th 1876

Cap May Cup Sept 7^th 1877

Cape May Regatta; 2^nd behind Madeline July 13^th 1873

Flag Officers Cup; Sept 19^th 1876

Match Races Defeated by Cambria Aug 18^th 1870 after suffering gear failure

                         Defeated by Atalanta in Ocean Race

Ownership

1864 T Durant

1873 Sam Colgate
1885 A.J Fisher

The above information has been gleaned from various newspaper reports and is by no means complete yet.

Specifications

LOA;- 96ft2 then 100ft 1inch

LWL;-87ft 6inch then 96ft 9 inch

Beam;-22ft 4inch

Depth 8ft 5inch then 9ft 7inch

Draft 6ft 8inch then 9ft 2 inch

Tons 143.5 old.