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Dinghy

Thistle

dinghy

Sandy Douglass' 1945 three-person planing sloop, big on sail area and speed, still filling over 100 fleets across the US.

LOA
5.18
M
YEAR DESIGNED
1945
DESIGNER
Gordon K. "Sandy" Douglass
One-Design Sails

Sails For This Class

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Technical Data

Specifications

LOA
5.18
M
Beam
1.83
M
Draft
1.37
M
Hull Weight
234
KG
Crew Min
2
Crew Max
3
Year Designed
1945
Mainsail Area
13.22
M²
Jib Area
5.18
M²
Spinnaker Area
20.4
M²
Class Profile

Class Facts & History

Category
Dinghy
Type
dinghy
Designer
Gordon K. "Sandy" Douglass
Class Association
Thistle Class Association

History

Sandy Douglass designed the Thistle in 1945, right after the war, as a fast, comfortable three-person one-design for club sailors. More than 4,000 hulls have been built since by a succession of builders, and the class was raced in over 150 fleets by the mid-1990s.

Sailing Characteristics

She carries a lot of sail for her length and it shows, the Thistle planes readily and rewards a crew that trims actively and keeps her flat. Three spreaders and aluminium spars on a fractional sloop rig mean there is real depth to tuning her for conditions.

Racing Context

The Thistle Class Association runs a national championship plus district and regional events, with the strongest fleets across the US Midwest and East Coast and a handful sailing internationally.

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