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1887
Thistle was the first of George Lennox Watson's four America's Cup challengers, designed by him. He went to the United States the previous year to watch the Cup races sailed by Galatea and Mayflower to understand the sea and wind conditions. He felt that the challenger was under-canvassed.
Thistle was built during 1886-87 winter in the biggest secrecy. It was also the first Cup yacht to be launched with its hull hidden by huge canvas covers to keep it away from prying eyes. The media and the Americans were astonished by this. It was obvious that the Scottish yachtsmen and particularly James Bell were determined to win! This secrecy, already tried by John Beavor-Webb the previous year when he refused to show Galatea when it was dry-docked in New York, has become a major component of the America's Cup since that time.
Thistle skipper, John Barr raced 15 regattas before leaving Scotland. He won 11 races and came second twice.
The pressure was on the defenders. When Thistle arrived in New York, a local newspaper asked for a diver to sketch the hull of the challenger, but it was a poor drawing. The controversy only increased when after measurement, the LWL of Thistle was longer than previously declared.
America's Cup races: September 27 to 30, 1887, New York
Best two out of three races.
Thistle vs. Volunteer
Alternating Inside & Outside Course as follows: 20 miles to windward off Scotland Lightship and return
Races: two sailed.
Results:
Volunteer beat Thistle by two wins to nil!
- September 27, 1st race, 32.6 miles, Inside Course: Volunteer beat Thistle by 19 minutes 23 sec in corrected time.
- September 30, 2nd race, 40 miles, Outside Course: Volunteer beat Thistle by 11 minutes 48 sec in corrected time.
Soon after the races, James Bell tried to sell Thistle for 10 000 pounds sterling, but without success. It sailed to Scotland on October 14th, 1887.
1888-1890
Thistle had a superb racing career in British waters.
1891
Thistle was sold to the German emperor, Wilhelm II for 90.000 gold Marks. It was renamed Meteor and became the Kaiser's racing yacht. Meteor was the first yacht registered on the Imperial German Yacht Club lists, founded at Kiel in 1891. It regularly raced in Cowes.
1895
Le Kaiser owned Meteor II and offered his Meteor I ex-Thistle to the German Navy. It was renamed Comet. It was sailed as school yacht.
1921
Comet, ex-Meteor I, ex-Thistle is broken up…
J.T.
THISTLE
1887
GBR
Yacht Club: Royal Clyde Yacht Club, Scotland.
Unsuccessful challenger of the seventh America's Cup Challenge
Owner: Syndicate headed by James Bell and formed by William Clark, John Clark, Andrew Coates, William Coates, James Coates, George Coates, J. Hilliard Bell, and William Bell.
Keel cutter
Length and sail area rule.
Designer: George Lennox Watson
Builder: D. & W. Henderson & C°, at Meadowside, Partick on the Clyde, Scotland.
Sailmaker: Lapthorn & Ratsey
Launched: April 26th, 1887
Skipper: John Barr
Afterguard: William Bell, James York, George L. Watson and Captain W.R. Gibson.
Data:
Construction -
All metal, Martin Siemens steel.
Keel: Lead inside
Frames: Steel
Hull: Steel plates riveted
Deck: Teak
Dimensions -
L.O.A.: 33.05 m
L.W.L.: 26.35 m
Beam: 6.20 m
Draft: 4.16 m
Displacement: 138 tons
Ballast: 70 tons.
Sail area: 807 m2
Rating (length and sail area rule): 88.46
Mast: 23.10 m
Boom: 23.85 m
Bowsprit: 9.75 m
Topmast: 15.39 m
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Year of building
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1887 |
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Launched
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26/4/1887 |
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Edition 7(1887)
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Crew
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Hull
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Steel |
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Mast
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Steel |
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L.O.A
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33.05 |
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L.W.L
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26.35 |
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Mast
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23.1 |
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Beam
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6.2 |
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Boom
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23.85 |
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Sail Area
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Displacament
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138 |
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Draft
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4.16 |
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Rating
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Ballast
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70 |
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