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{{Infobox Sailboat Specifications
{{short description|Sailboat class}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
|image = Lettenmaier.jpg
{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}
|class_symbol = [[Image:Thistleclass.png|60x120px]]
{{Infobox sailboat specifications
|crew = 3
|loa = {{convert|5.20|m|abbr=on}}
|name =
|lwl =
|insignia = File:Thistleclass.png
|insignia size = 100px
|beam = {{convert|1.80|m|abbr=on}}
|draft = {{convert|1.40|m|abbr=on}}
|insignia alt =
|insignia caption =
|hull = {{convert|233|kg|abbr=on}}
|mastheight =
|line drawing =
|line size =
|mainsailandjib= {{convert|17.1|m2|abbr=on}}
|mainsail =
|line alt =
|jib =
|line caption =
|image boat = File:Thistle dinghy with skipper Terry Lettenmaier sailing downwind.jpg
|spinnaker = {{convert|20.4|m2|abbr=on}}
|d-pn =
|image size =
|rya-pn =
|image alt =
|phrf =
|image caption =

|updated =
|olympic = no
|designer = [[Sandy Douglass]]
|architect =
|location = [[United States]]
|year = 1945
|no built = 4,000
|design =
|class =
|brand =
|builder = [[Douglass & McLeod]]<br>[[Clark Boat Company]]<br>[[W. D. Schock Corp]]<br>[[Northwest One Design]]<br>[[Great Midwest Yacht Company]]

|role =

|boats =
|crew =
|trapeze =
|draft = {{convert|4.50|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the [[centreboard]] down
|air draft =
|displacement = {{convert|515|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|hulls =
|hull type = [[Monohull]]
|construction = [[Fiberglass]]
|loa = {{convert|17.00|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|loh =
|lwl = {{convert|17.00|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|beam = {{convert|6.00|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|hull draft =
|hull weight =
|engine =

|appendages =
|keel type = centreboard
|ballast =
|rudder type = transom-mounted [[rudder]]

|rigs =
|rig type = [[Bermuda rig]]
|I =
|J =
|P =
|E =
|mast length =
|rig other =

|sails =
|sailplan = [[Fractional rig]]ged [[sloop]] [[Masthead sloop]]
|sailarea main = {{convert|136|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea headsail = {{convert|55|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea spin = {{convert|220|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea gen =
|sails other =
|sailarea upwind =
|sailarea downwind =
|sailarea total = {{convert|191|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

|rating =
|d-pn = 83.0
|rya-pn =
|phrf =

|status =
|previous =
|successor =
}}
}}
The '''Thistle''' is a high-performance [[One-Design|one-design]] [[Dinghy racing|racing dinghy]], also used for [[Dinghy sailing|day sailing]], popular in the [[United States]]. The Thistle was designed by [[Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass]] who later designed the [[Highlander (dinghy)|Highlander]] and [[Flying Scot (dinghy)|Flying Scot]]. (These names commemorate Douglass’s [[Scotland|Scots]] heritage.) Starting in 1945, 4040+ boats have now been built. Their construction originally used molded [[plywood]]. The builders started using [[Glass-reinforced plastic|Glass-reinforced polyester]] or "fibreglass" in the late 1950s. The current hull configuration uses a glass-reinforced polyester molded boat with wooden rails, centre board trunk, thwart, fore grating, and [[aft]] grating. The [[spars]] were once made from spruce, but are now of entirely [[extrusion|extruded]] aluminum construction.


The '''Thistle''' is an American [[Planing (boat)|planing]] [[sailing dinghy]] that was designed by [[Sandy Douglass]] as a [[one-design]] [[Sailing (sport)|racer]] and first built in 1945.<ref name="Data">{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/thistle|title= Thistle sailboat |access-date= 2 October 2020|last= McArthur| first= Bruce |work= sailboatdata.com|year= 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20201002224254/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/thistle|archive-date= 2 October 2020 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/designer/douglass-gordon-k-sandy|title= Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass 1904 - 1992 |access-date= 2 October 2020|last= McArthur| first= Bruce |work= sailboatdata.com|year= 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20201003145531/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/douglass-gordon-k-sandy|archive-date= 3 October 2020 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Sherwood">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}}</ref>
The Thistle Class Association,[http://www.ThistleClass.com] with fleets across the United States, holds local, regional, and national regattas throughout the year. All Thistles are built to the same lines by authorized builders. Class rules limit innovations in rigging, restrict sail purchases, and prohibit electronic navigation gear. Old and new boats are evenly matched, with the owner of Thistle number 1 winning the national championship in 1990. Newer fibreglass hulls tend to "soften" over a period of 20 years, depending on use. "Softer" boats are still fast, but not competitive at the very highest level.

==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.<ref name="Data"/><ref name="Sherwood"/><ref>{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/builder/douglass-mcleod|title= Douglass & McLeod|access-date= 2 October 2020|last= McArthur| first= Bruce |work= sailboatdata.com|year= 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20201002224410/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/douglass-mcleod|archive-date= 2 October 2020 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/builder/clark-boat-company|title= Clark Boat Company|access-date= 2 October 2020|last= McArthur| first= Bruce |work= sailboatdata.com|year= 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20201002224359/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/clark-boat-company|archive-date= 2 October 2020 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/builder/schock-wd|title= Schock W.D.|access-date= 2 October 2020|last= McArthur| first= Bruce |work= sailboatdata.com|year= 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20200718211515/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/schock-wd|archive-date= 18 July 2020 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Official">{{cite web|url= http://www.nowwebsites.net/|title= Great Midwest Yacht Designs|access-date= 2 October 2020|author= Great Midwest Yacht Company |work= nowwebsites.net|archive-url= https://archive.today/20201002225126/http://www.nowwebsites.net/|archive-date= 2 October 2020|url-status= live}}</ref>

W. D. Schock Corp records indicate that they built 250 boats between 1959 and 1975.<ref name="Prod">{{cite web|url= http://wdschock.com/history/boatlist.htm|title= Boats built by W.D. Schock|access-date= 9 August 2022|author= W. D. Schock Corp|author-link= W. D. Schock Corp|work= wdschock.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221183356/http://wdschock.com/history/boatlist.htm|archive-date= 21 February 2010|url-status= dead}}</ref>

==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, and provide built-in flotation. It has a [[Fractional rig|fractional]] [[sloop]] rig with [[aluminum]] spars and three spreader bars. The hull has no decks, a [[plumb stem]] and [[Transom (nautical)|transom]], a transom-hung [[rudder]] controlled by a [[tiller]] and a retractable, drum-mounted [[centerboard]]. It displaces {{convert|515|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Data"/><ref name="Sherwood"/>

The boat has a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|4.50|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the centerboard extended and {{convert|6|in|cm|abbr=on}} with it retracted, allowing [[Beaching (nautical)|beaching]] or ground transportation on a [[Boat trailer|trailer]].<ref name="Data"/>

For sailing the design is equipped with symmetrical [[spinnaker]] of {{convert|220|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and built-in flotation.<ref name="Sherwood"/>

The design has a [[Portsmouth Yardstick]] racing average handicap of 83.0 and is normally raced with a crew of three [[sailor]]s, although it has a capacity of six people.<ref name="Sherwood"/>

==Operational history==
By 1994 the design was being raced in more than 150 fleets.<ref name="Sherwood"/>

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."<ref name="Sherwood"/>


===Racing===
Thistle hulls are relatively light for their size; they have no decking or spray protection, which saves weight. The sail plan is large for a boat of this size, consisting of a [[bermuda rig|marconi rig]] with a [[mainsail|main]], [[jib]], and symmetrical [[spinnaker]]. The sail plan is larger for the boat’s weight than in many other dinghies, which makes Thistles perform extremely well in light wind. Their hulls have wide, rounded bottoms, allowing the boats to [[planing (sailing)|plane]] in winds as low as 10 knots. It is not uncommon to see Thistles efficiently making their way, while other dinghys of similar design are becalmed.
{{Main|List of Thistle (dinghy) championships}}


==See also==
Thistles are generally raced with a three-person crew: a skipper, a middle, and a forward person. The optimal total crew weight is generally 450 lb to 480 lb (US) depending on wind. The crew weight, however, is generally not the deciding factor in determining the outcome of the races. In fact, class rules do not limit crew weight. In all but the strongest winds, an experienced two-person crew can manage the boat. [[hiking (sailing)|Hiking]] straps are permitted for either droop or straight leg hiking, but a [[Trapeze (sailing)|trapeze]] is not. The class is generally family friendly, though experienced sailors will still be challenged at the higher levels of competition.
*[[List of sailing boat types]]


'''Similar sailboats'''
The Thistle is used as the baseline for the U.S. version of the [[Portsmouth yardstick]] system for handicapping small boats in mixed-class fleets.
*[[International 14]]


==References==
The 2015 Thistle National Championship took place at the Fort Walton Yacht Club in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Skipper Mike Ingham with crew Dan Fein and Sarah Paisley won the event.<ref>http://www.thistleclass.com/home/thistle-class-news/mikeinghamdanfeinandsarahpailseywinthe2015thistlenationalchampionship</ref>
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Thistle-class sailing dinghy}}
*[http://www.thistleclass.com/ Thistle Class Association web site]
*[http://www.lycracing.com/ LYC Racing builds Thistle Sailboats]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGzjmT92K7Y Thistle Sailing in Jacksonville video on Youtube]


{{Douglass & McLeod}}
{{WD Schock Corp}}
{{WD Schock Corp}}
{{Clark Boat Company}}
{{Sailing Dinghies and Skiffs}}
{{Sailing dinghies and skiffs}}


[[Category:Dinghies]]
[[Category:Thistle (dinghy)]]
{{Reflist}}

Latest revision as of 00:11, 21 June 2024

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
Displacement515 lb (234 kg)
Draft4.50 ft (1.37 m) with the centreboard down
Hull
TypeMonohull
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
[edit on Wikidata]

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]

Production

[edit]

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]

W. D. Schock Corp records indicate that they built 250 boats between 1959 and 1975.[8]

Design

[edit]

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, and provide built-in flotation. 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

[edit]

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]

Racing

[edit]
Main article: List of Thistle (dinghy) championships

See also

[edit]

Similar sailboats

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ W. D. Schock Corp. "Boats built by W.D. Schock". wdschock.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
[edit]
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