Thistle (dinghy)

The Thistle is an American planing sailing dinghy that was designed by Sandy Douglass as a one-design racer and first built in 1945.[1][2][3]

Development
DesignerSandy Douglass
LocationUnited States
Year1945
No. built4,000
Builder(s)Douglass & McLeod
Clark Boat Company
W. D. Schock Corp
Northwest One Design
Great Midwest Yacht Company
Boat
Boat weight515 lb (234 kg)
Draft4.50 ft (1.37 m) with the centreboard down
Hull
TypeMonohull Catamaran
ConstructionFiberglass
LOA17.00 ft (5.18 m)
LWL17.00 ft (5.18 m)
Beam6.00 ft (1.83 m)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typecentreboard
Rudder(s)transom-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
Sails
SailplanFractional rigged sloop Masthead sloop
Mainsail area136 sq ft (12.6 m2)
Jib/genoa area55 sq ft (5.1 m2)
Spinnaker area220 sq ft (20 m2)
Total sail area191 sq ft (17.7 m2)
Racing
D-PN83.0

Production

The design was originally built by Douglass & McLeod in the United States, but the company went out of business in 1971. Since then production has passed to several American builders, including the Clark Boat Company, W. D. Schock Corp, Northwest One Design and the current builder since 1975, Great Midwest Yacht Company. More than 4,000 boats of this design have been completed.[1][3][4][5][6][7]

Design

The Thistle is a recreational sailboat, with the earlier production models made from molded plywood and the more recent models built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood structural members and trim. The seats are a fiberglass-sandwich construction. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars and three spreader bars. The hull has no decks, a plumb stem and transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a retractable, drum-mounted centerboard. It displaces 515 lb (234 kg).[1][3]

The boat has a draft of 4.50 ft (1.37 m) with the centerboard extended and 6 in (15 cm) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.[1]

For sailing the design is equipped with symmetrical spinnaker of 220 sq ft (20 m2) and built-in flotation.[3]

The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 83.0 and is normally raced with a crew of three sailors, although it has a capacity of six people.[3]

Operational history

By 1994 the design was being raced in more than 150 fleets.[3]

In a 1994 review Richard Sherwood wrote, "the Thistle was influenced by English dinghy design and is similar to the International 14, another racing dinghy with a plumb bow and flat run. Originally, boats were of molded wood. Racing crew is three, but the Thistle will carry six. She will fit into a garage. The Thistle has a lot of sail and a lot of speed. Class rules are strict. Gear that may be technically legal but provides an advantage is not allowed ... The Thistle is the boat used as the primary yardstick for Portsmouth Numbers."[3]

National Championships

Source: Thistle Class Association[8]

YearCarron 1stSeneca Bowl 2ndFairhope 3rdSt Pete Trophy 4thRichmond 5th
1946Gordon Sandy Douglass
1947J. Lovett
1948Gordon Douglass
1949W. Lawson
1950F. Marquardt
1951Gordon Douglass
1952J. Hendricksen
1953R. Brainard
1954H. Boston
1955Gordon Douglass
1956Gordon Douglass
1957J. HendricksenSamuel Merrick
1958J. JenningsHoward W. Mead
1959J. JenkinsJ. JenningsCharles MorganW.D. Mangold
1960Bruce GoldsmithHoward L. BostonJerry JenkinsEd Walsh
1961Ed WalshBruce GoldsmithJames HendricksenJohn Proctor
1962P. BordesA. Walter StubnerJames MillerElmer RichardsLee Sutton 510
1963E. WalshJack WanenmacherDennis PoseyBob DuffJon Carriel 821
1964P. BordesJon CarrielDennis PoseyWalt StubnerBruno Markeliunas 1234
1965P. BordesDennis PoseyNils DaileyJim FaircloughJohn Proctor 1222
1966W. StubnerTom WilsonCharles WileyP. BordesNils Dailey 1399
1967P. BordesBill AlexanderTom WilsonWilliam PooleEd Fracker 1109
1968D. ClarkEd FrackerTom WilsonWilliam AlexanderChuck Steigerwald 1619
1969J. MillerBob WhiteLewis WakeNed LockwoodDennis Clark
1970K. FosterDennis ClarkCharles SteigerwaldBob WhiteCharlie Pollak 1708
1971R. MeissnerJames MillerTed FontelieuCharlie PollakGene Wood 3003
1972Charles SteigerwaldBob WhiteDennis ClarkRod GloverFuller Moore 3152
1973J. FosterChristopher PollakMark GillilandJames MillerRon Meissner 3170
1974T. DykstraRon RostoferChris PollakFuller MooreSteve Klotz 1
1975T. DykstraCliff SeighWalt StubnerRon RostorferJerry Pignolet 2830
1976Mark GillilandLarry KleinAndy BarnesJack BauerBob White 124
1977Robert WhiteMark GillilandJack BauerJim MoyerDave Ullman 3485
1978Andy BarnesChamp CloverMark GillilandJack F. BauerMark Laura
1979Christopher PollakBrent BarbehennGreg FisherSandy RappMark Gilliland 2995
1980Dave UllmanLarry KleinGreg FisherMark LauraKen Van Wagnen 3574
1981Christopher PollakAndy FoxBrent BarbehennSandy RappChed Proctor 3428
1982Brent BarbehennAndy FoxChed ProctorLarry KleinGreg Fisher 3748
1983Greg FisherMark GillilandChamp GloverFred HungerBrent Barbehenn 3731
1984Brent BarbehennGreg FisherChris PollakJack BauerChed Proctor 1049
1985David DellenbaughWayne PignoletChris KlotzBill EhrhornJack Bauer 3743
1986B. EhrhornGreg FisherChris KlotzChris PollakJohn Lovett 3608
1987Greg FisherDavid DellenbaughJohn LovettFred HungerBrent Barbehenn
1988Greg FisherJohn LovettMark LauraKelson ElamFred Hunger
1989David DellenbaughChed ProctorAnnie MacLeanBrent BarbehennJohn Wallace
1990Chris KlotzBrent BarbehennChris PollakGreg FisherDave Dellenbaugh
1991David DellenbaughChed ProctorChris KlotzPeter BreamChris Pollak
1992David DellenbaughAlex SmigelskiChris KlotzBill DraheimFred Hunger
1993Bill DraheimBill WilsonDave DellenbaughMarty SeeligAlex Smigelski
1994David DellenbaughChed ProctorMarty SeeligSjoerd-Jan VanderhorstChirs Klotz
1995Jack FrancoBryce DrydenBill DraheimJohn LovettChirs Klotz
1996David DellenbaughMike InghamBryce DrydenChed ProctorBrad Thompson
1997Mike InghamChed ProctorGeorge SzaboSkip DieballChris Klotz
1998Bryce DrydenMike InghamJoe BurcarChed ProctorEric Gesner
1999Bryce DrydenBrad ThomsonJack FinefrockTerry LettenmaierEric Gesner
2000Mike InghamDoug KaukeinenBruce KingEric GesnerBryce Dryden
2001Bruce KingMike InghamChris MurphyJack FinefrockErik Goethert
2002Mike InghamBruce KingBlair DrydenEric GesnerTerry Lettenmaier
2003Brent BarbehennMike InghamEric GesnerBlair DrydenCraig Koschalk
2004Eric GesnerBruce KingSkip DieballMike InghamCraig Koschalk
2005Mike InghamBruce KingD. DellenbaughC. KoschalkPaul Abdullah
2006Greg FisherSkip DieballPaul AbdullahKyle FinefrockChris Murphy
2007Mike InghamScott GriffinTerry LettenmaierGreg FisherLloyd Kitchin
2008Greg FisherMike InghamPaul AbdullahBrad ThompsonGreg Griffin
2009Dave DellenbaughBrain KitchenMike InghamBrent BarbehennCharles Kreitler
2010Mike InghamGreg GriffinGreg FisherBrent BarbehennGreg Griffin
2011Skip DieballMike InghamAllan TerhuneChris MurphyPaul Abdullah
2012Allan TerhuneSkip DieballMike InghamDavid TillsonBrent Barbehenn
2013Allan TerhuneSkip DieballSteve WhiteChris MurphySam Ingham
2014Lloyd KitchinJohn BakerSkip DieballMike InghamScott Griffin
2015Mike InghamPaul AbdullahSam InghamGreg GriffinJohn Baker
2016Mike InghamPaul AbdullahKyle FinefrockJohn BakerMike Gillum
2017Mike InghamPaul AbdullahBrent BarbehennBen FranceSamuel Ingham
2018Brad RussellDave DellenbaughDan HessePaul AbdullahMatt Fisher
2019Greg GriffinScott MeyerPaul AbdullahJesse SheddenDoug Kaukeinen
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

See also

Similar sailboats

References
  1. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Thistle sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  2. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass 1904 - 1992". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  3. Sherwood, Richard M.: A Field Guide to Sailboats of North America, Second Edition, pages 84-85. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. ISBN 0-395-65239-1
  4. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Douglass & McLeod". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Clark Boat Company". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Schock W.D." sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. Great Midwest Yacht Company. "Great Midwest Yacht Designs". nowwebsites.net. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  8. Thistle Class Association. "Class Trophy History". thistleclass.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
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