Sidney DeW. Herreshoff

Sidney DeWolf Herreshoff (February 25, 1890 – October 12, 1972), often stylized as Sidney DeW. Herreshoff, was a distinguished American naval architect and yacht designer, the youngest son of the legendary Nathanael G. Herreshoff, whose innovative genius shaped the America's Cup era. Born in Bristol, Rhode Island, into the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company's maritime dynasty, Sidney apprenticed under his father and uncle, honing his craft amid the boatyards that produced over 3,000 vessels, including iconic J-Class racers like Enterprise and Rainbow. After serving in World War I with the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ships, he co-founded the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company with his brother Francis in 1924, succeeding their father's firm and pioneering fiberglass construction in the 1940s—a revolutionary shift that democratized high-performance sailing. Among his 170+ designs, standouts include the resilient H-28 cruiser (1946), the nimble Bull's Eye daysailer (1949, with over 10,000 built), and the elegant 12½-footer (a 1930s collaboration refined in later years), blending speed, seaworthiness, and simplicity for both racers and cruisers. A lifelong advocate for one-design racing, Sidney influenced organizations like the New York Yacht Club and authored influential texts on yacht design; his legacy endures through the Herreshoff Marine Museum, where his meticulous lines and forward-thinking materials continue to inspire modern naval architecture.