Gossoon, 1890

An Edward Burgess design

Designed by Edward Burgess and built by George Lawley & Son, South Boston, Mass., in 1890 for Charles F. Adams, 2nd, and George C. Adams. Length overall, 53 feet; length on waterline, 40 feet; beam, 12 feet; depth, 8 feet 10 inches; draft, 9 feet. Gossoon was the last of the 40-foot class built to beat Minerva; at the end of the season of 1890 each had won five races with a question of measurement in one race never decided.

• Length overall, 53 feet 0 inches
• Waterline length, 39 feet 10 inches
• Beam, 12 feet 0 inches;
• Depth, 8 feet 10 inches
• Draft. 9 feet 0 inches

A notable stimulus to the sport of yacht racing, both in England and America, was the success of Minerva in 1889 and 1890. This cutter, designed for the then 40-foot waterline class of America under the (L + √S.A.) / 2 Rule was a little “sweetheart," both as to appearance and performance. Designed and built in Scotland by William Fife, Jr., in 1888, she was an excellent representation of the type of boat then produced under the British (L x √S.A.) / 6000 Rule. Coming to the United States in 1889 she "cleaned up" in the celebrated 40-foot class against the best designs of Edward Burgess, A. Cary Smith, and William Gardner. The following season, 1890, Minerva again led the class for the season’s average in spite of the hottest kind of competition by the Adams brothers owned and sailed 40-footer Gossoon designed expressly to beat her. However, in match racing between the two it would appear that Gossoon held a slight edge.