Sailing Yacht Thistle Sailing on the Clyde, 1887

Thistle

Type: Gaff Cutter                                                  Year of Launch: 1887

Builder: D & W Henderson, Glasgow               Designer: George L. Watson

L.O.A.: 108ft 4in (33.05m)                                   Beam: 20ft 2in (6.18m)

Draft: 11ft 10in (3.65m)                                       Sail Area: 8,963 sq ft (832.7 sq m)

Hull Material:  Steel

Built at the D & W Henderson dockyards on the River Clyde in Glasgow, thistle was commisioned by an all-Scottish syndicate to challenge for the America’s Cup. Designed by Geroge L. Watson – while the interiors were his brother Thomas’ project – this yacht was launched in April the same year. A shroud hid the hull and the underwater surfaces from prying eye, a counter-espionage innovation that many America’s Cup consortia would adopt in future so as to preserve their project’s technical secrets.

Thistle’s hull, displacing 138 tons, was built of steel, like many other British Boats – a sensible choice of material considering they were required by the rules of the Cup to sail across the Atlantic before competing on the start line of the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. Helmed by John Barr, older brother of the great Scottish skipper Charlie, the yacht was defeated 2-0 by the American defender Volunteer. Although she was fast reaching with the wind on her beam. Thistle’s pronounced leeway made her vulnerable when sailing close-hauled into the wind.

In 1891 Thistle changed owners and was given a new name. The new buyer was no less than German Kaiser Wilhelm II who, being a keen racer, has already been an owner of several sailing yachts. He gave the Yacht the name Meteor, as he did with four different yachts which came after Thistle. For four years running, the Kaiser had been shuttling between the North Sea and the Solent, where his yachts excelled in some thrilling races against his English cousin Edward (later to become Edward VII)who had Britannia built for this purpose alone. In 1896 Meteor was replaced by Meteor II, which was four meters longer than her predecessor (37 meters overall as opposed to 33 meters) and very similar to Britannia.

Later donated to the Imperial German Navy, the first Meteor became a cadet yacht, She was finally dismantled in 1921, two years after the German Empire had collapsed and Germany had adopted a republican constitution.

Text by Bruno Cianci – (Legendary Sailboats, Beken of Cowes)