The IYRS Maritime Library today (April 18) announced that it has recently restored a unique, color film of the Herreshoff catamaran “Amaryllis II”, filmed off Bristol, Rhode Island, in September 1933. This unique film, as well as the research on the boat and film, can be seen on iyrs.edu, or by visiting the library located at 449 Thames Street, Newport, RI, 02840.
The film was shot on Kodacolor film which was introduced in 1928 and was the first color film available for amateurs. The Amaryllis II film was acquired in the 1960s or 70s by the Olympic and America’s Cup sailor and boat builder, George O’Day, whose film collection was donated to the library last year.
The catamaran, “Amaryllis II”, was based on Nathanael Herrehoff’s catamaran designs of the 1870s, and was commissioned by a group of auto executives from Detroit, including Walter Chrysler and Edsel Ford. The 33-foot vessel was constructed in only a few months, and was launched in Bristol, RI in early September 1933. Trials took place over the next few weeks, where she proved to be very fast, recording a speed one day of almost 20 mph.
The film, shot on September 18, 1933, was shown to then 85-year-old Nat Herreshoff later that month but has remained largely unseen until now. The Library has recently had the film restored and digitized, and has done extensive research on the boat, the film type, as well as the likely film maker and his choice of camera.
The IYRS Maritime Library is open to the public Wednesday-Saturday from noon-5 p.m. For more information on IYRS’s Maritime Library, visit iyrs.edu/about/library.
