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Restoration of a Classic Woodenboat

New York 32

The New York 32 is a premier one-design class by Sparkman & Stephens. Only twenty boats were built in 1936 to the oreder of the New York Yacht Club. The job was commissioned to Nevins Shipyard. The New York Club asked to build a small number so they can kept control of the owners and the class. The NY32 were designed to replace a 1905 Nathaniel Herreshoff's design: New York Club 30's. It combined the attributes of a truly ocean racer with some features that make her suited for pleasure navigation as well. The New York 32 are 45'4" LOA, 32' LWL with a beam of 10' 7" and a draft of 6'6". They have 990 sq. ft sail area with marconi mainsail, and 7/8 main mast with running back stays. There reamin 17 boats out of the original 20. Our boat is hull # 5. It originally belonged to John Kean Roosevelt, who was a first cousin once removed of President Theodore Roosevelt and a sixth cousin once removed of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1). He named her Esmeralda. Later, the boat was renamed "Vitesse" by her second owner. We came third, still thinking about her name.

If you would like more information about this class, please refer to: Bray, Maynard: The New York 32s. In WoodenBoat, #73, 1986, 42-51. Also visit the Sparkman and Stephens web site. (1) We would like to thank to Mr. Raymond Teichman Supervisory Archivist at the Roosevelt National Archive, who kindly provided us with this information