Visit to the Herreshoff Museum

Wendy and I just completed a trip to sightsee around Massachusetts.
We flew direct from Punta Gorda FL to Providence R.I.- and what happens to be near Providence R.I.? Why it's the Herreshoff Maritime Museum!
This was a highlight of our trip and worthy of a quick video here.
This museum is a "must see" for those of you who love classic boats - or even more "modern" ones.
Herreshoff was the definitive yacht designer of his time, and his design influences continue to this day. He was well ahead of his time. He designed (and preferred!) fin keel, bulb ballast, spade rudder designs ...in the 1890's. His fin keelers were so fast that the rating rules were altered to penalize them ...so he returned to full keel designs. He also designed a Catamaran that went 20 knots in 1876, and the catamarans were among his favorite boats to sail. These were built using WOOD. No carbon fiber, no foam core, no fiberglass. All of his boats were surprisingly light and built with very minimal scantlings. It is amazing that so many are still sailing to this day - a testament to building "just good enough" in order to go fast.
There are amazing design details to be seen by the sailor who notices things on all of his boats. The boats look deceptively simple, but they are truly elegant in the way their form follows their function.
If you are ever near Bristol Rhode Island, you owe it to yourself to visit the Herreshoff Maritime Museum! I was only able to spend a few hours there but could have easily spent a couple of days walking among the boats.
I hope that at least a few of you can appreciate this slideshow. Go back and pause on almost any photo and look closely... I can bet you will see something that makes you think. Sail On!