REBEKAH
Hull No: HMCo. #673
1907 Buzzards Bay 15
Length Over All: 24' 6"
Length Water Line: 15' 0"
Draft: 2' 3"
Beam: 6' 9"
Rig: Marconi sloop
Once called “Little COLUMBIA’s” for their resemblance in miniature to the famous 1899 Cup Defender, the 15-foot waterline classes represent the oldest HMCo. one designs still extant. REBEKAH is a Buzzards Bay 15 Class gaff-rigged centerboard sloop. This popular one-design class debuted in 1899. HMCo. would go on to build nearly one hundred boats to this 1899 model, including the Newport 15’s, which were identical to the Buzzards Bay 15’s except for having keels six inches deeper, and the Marconi-rigged Watch Hill 15s, which debuted in 1922-1923. A small number of one-off’s with slightly different drafts (such as FLICKER, HMCo. #674 on display around the corner) were also built between 1899 and 1928. The Buzzards Bay 15’s originally sailed out of the Beverly Yacht Club in the shallow waters of the north reaches of the Buzzards Bay, prior to the construction of the Cape Cod Canal. Originally built for Franklin Hobbs, REBEKAH (then named AWAHNEE) was purchased in 1915 by Chandler Hovey, a prominent Boston yachtsman who later owned the J boats RAINBOW and YANKEE, and the 12-meter, EASTERNER. David and Daniel Cheever bought AWAHNEE in the late 1940’s, kept her in pristine condition, and sailed extensively in Buzzards Bay. In 1997 the Cheever’s donated the boat to the museum for display after a 90-year sailing career
The sail plan for the Buzzards Bay 15 showing the gaff rig; the later Watch Hill 15s would be equipped with Marconi rigs. Plan courtesy the MIT Museum
The original 15 construction drawing, which was used for all the various classes; plan courtesy of the MIT Museum
Two views of the 15 model currently on display in the N.G. Herreshoff Model Room at HMM
REBEKAH, then named AWAHNEE, circa 1936; image from the HMM photographic archive
REBEKAH, then named AWAHNEE, circa 1936; image from the HMM photographic archive
REBEKAH, then named AWAHNEE, circa 1936; image from the HMM photographic archive
The sail plan for the Buzzards Bay 15 showing the gaff rig; the later Watch Hill 15s would be equipped with Marconi rigs. Plan courtesy the MIT Museum
The original 15 construction drawing, which was used for all the various classes; plan courtesy of the MIT Museum
Two views of the 15 model currently on display in the N.G. Herreshoff Model Room at HMM
