High Seas Winner

When the Cohoe, a seven-ton, 32-foot sloop, sailed into Plymouth harbor in the Bermuda to England sailing race this summer, her four-man crew, which included John Halstead '45, was looking forward to a long sound sleep. The voyage through rough seas with waves reaching 20 feet in height had taken over 14 days.

The Cohoe, although actually third in time of arrival, was judged the winner of the race when race officials had weighed the handicaps. All five competing yachts were British owned. Halstead was the only American in any of the crews.

During the stormy crossing, Halstead and his fellow crew members had to shout to be heard above the noise of the sea. They slept for only an hour or two at a time and then usually in wet clothing. One night the wash of a liner added to the heavy sea to force the yacht to heel completely over, but she righted herself and little damage resulted.

The Cohoe and the Samuel Pepys, another seven-ton competitor, are believed to be the smallest ships ever to cross the Atlantic.