Description

A section of the main mast of the J-class America's Cup contender Whirlwind, designed by L. Francis Herreshoff. This mast section was given to the Hart Nautical Museum (prior to merger with MIT Museum) via George Owen by Bror Tamm, who was head of the spar and rigging shop of the yacht builder, George Lawley and Son, Neponset, MA. The majority of the 170', 4,500 pound mast was hollow -- this section is probably a lower section below deck that was not hollow. At the time of construction, Bror Tamm was considered a master builder of these complex hollow spars. Whirlwind was not selected to defend the Cup in 1930 and was broken up soon after.