thistle class sailboat

Thistle Class Association

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One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 900+

Photo Credit:Saint Petersburg Yacht Club Media Team

Photo Credit: Saint Petersburg Yacht Club Media Team

Photo Credit: Sarah Bonner

About Thistle Class Association

Looking for fun people to sail with and against? We’d love to meet you and get you in a Thistle. You’ll be part of a welcoming community, and you’ll love the speed and responsiveness of the boat.

The Thistle is a high-performance one-design racing sailboat that is generally sailed with a three-person crew. Thistles have a main, jib and symmetrical spinnaker sail plan. They’re: • Consistently fast due to the high sail area to weight ratio • Quick to plane thanks to the wide, flat stern • Built to slice through waves with the plumb bow It’s a fun, fast, responsive boat that does well in a wide variety of conditions. Thistles plane easily in 10-12 knots of breeze and glide effortlessly in light air.

There are more than 50 active Thistle fleets across the US. Thistles age extremely well, so well cared-for older boats can be just as fast as new boats. Our one-design rules make sure that racing proves the quality of the sailor rather than the money invested in the boat. Thistles sail as a Corinthian class, which means you won’t be sailing against boats with paid crew members (or a paid driver).

The Thistle Class is a community of people who love the Thistle and get a thrill out of sailing it with our friends – new and old. The Thistle Class has been around since 1945 and is still growing and active; you can find Thistles – and Thistlers (that’s what we call ourselves) – all across the country.

We have as much fun on shore together as we do racing. You might see group yoga on the grass, a camping chair circle (always room for more!) or an impromptu training session at someone’s boat. We love sharing knowledge and getting people up to speed. Walk up to anyone in the parking lot and ask about their strategy, rigging, mast tune, anything! We’re glad to help.

Want to give the Thistle Class a try? Find a fleet near you with our interactive map: https://www.thistleclass.com/find-a-fleet/. If there’s no fleet nearby, give our class secretary a shout at [email protected]; there’s probably a Thistle owner or two close by.

Boats Produced: 4056

Class boat builder(s):

Beacon Composites Great Midwest Yachts

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 3800

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Find a fleet near you with our interactive map: https://www.thistleclass.com/find-a-fleet/. States with active fleets: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington.

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  3

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  3-person teams typically range from 425-500 lbs. Thistles can be double-handed in light or medium wind at approximately 300+ lbs.

Portsmouth Yardstick Rating:   83

Boat Designed in  1945

Length (feet/inches): 17’0”

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 515 lbs.

Draft: board up: 0′ 6″; board down: 4′ 6″

Mast Height: 24’6″

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• How To Measure

Thistle Measurements FAQs

Looking to measure your Thistle? That’s great! We’re here to help however we can.

Keep reading for commonly-asked questions when it comes to measurement, plus step-by-step instructions on how to take each measurement.

You’ll need the owner of a registered Thistle to help measure. Use the Find a Fleet map to find one!

THISTLE MEASUREMENT FAQS

Why measure your boat:.

Your boat has to be measured for you to be a registered and dues-paid member (you might hear us call it “R&D’d”). Why does that matter? Registered and dues paid sailors can participate in regattas and vote on class issues. Plus, your membership gives the class resources to better support you.

WHEN to measure your boat:

• If the boat is new to you. Each time a boat changes owners it needs to be measured.
• If the boat has had a major repair or an extensive rebuild.

WHO needs to help measure:

You will need the owner of a registered Thistle to assist in measuring. If you’re new to the class, check out our Find a Fleet map to find and contact a Thistler near you. Already a member and not sure who to ask? Give your District Governor a call.

HOW LONG Will Measuring Take:

It should take less than an hour (20 minutes if your trusted Thistler friend is a seasoned measurement professional).

HOW To Measure Your Boat

• Find a seasoned Thistler (the skipper of a registered boat) who’s familiar with these measurements.
• Print a copy of the official Thistle measurement certificate .
• Gather the necessary measurement equipment (see list below).
• Use the instructions below and go to it!
• Submit one completed and signed certificate to the Thistle Class National Secretary.
• Pay the $20 measurement certificate registration fee (online at the TCA store or as a check to the TCA).

ON MEASURING THE HULL

By Ron Smith (#1285) and updated by the TCA measurement committee in 2020

If you are new to the Class, or if you are thinking about buying or selling a Thistle, or if you’re willing to help new Thistlers get their boats measured, this information is for you. If you’re an old hand at it, look it over anyway. You’ll be reassured that you’re doing it right. So let’s go down the list of hull measurements on the official measurement certificate.

Equipment needed (bolded in each section):

• Official Thistle Measurement Certificate
• Steel tape measure (all)
• Straight edge (S, T, C, D requires 2)
• Large square (M and J)
• Optional: 18 feet of thin wire, 2 boards, 2 clamps (for R measurements, which aren’t on the current measurement sheet)

When you’re done, please send the completed form to the Thistle Class National Secretary.

Make sure you include:

• Boat owner’s signature
• Witness’s signature
• $20 registration fee (either online at our class store or as a check to the TCA)

Email a PDF copy to: [email protected]

Send the paper copy to: Thistle Class Association 645 E. Park Avenue Barberton, OH 44203

Dimension L

L is the length from the aft face of the transom to the “stem.” By “stem” is meant the front extreme of the boat not counting the stem molding or bow plate. Use a steel tape measure held parallel to the lines of the hull. Measure from the stem to a straight edge held against the transom and projecting above it. The “lines” of the hull are level when the boat has the bottom of its transom 9 inches above the very bottom of the hull at station 6 as shown on the measurement certificate.

Dimension S

Measure “S” from the top of the stem (not including the bow plate) down to the point of intersection of the stem line and the bottom line. This point may be premarked on a straight edge held against the stem. This measurement is to be made as if there were no moldings screwed to or molded into the hull.

Dimension T

First, determine and mark the “top” of the transom using a straight edge connecting the sheers at both sides of the transom. Measure the center height from this point down to the bottom of the transom. Again, exclude the moldings from your measurement.

Dimension C

First, find the front of the centerboard slot by separating the gasket and make a mark there. Measure the distance from this mark to the stem line. Again, you need a straight edge to extend the stem line downward and, again, stretch the tape parallel to the hull “lines.”

Dimensions M & J

These are measured with the mast rigged with normal rig tension applied, of course. For the “M” measurement, locate the aft edge of the intersection of the jib stay with the bow plate. If you have a jib stay tang extending above the bow-plate, the intersection can be located by using a straight edge against the jib stay. If the stay fastens below the bowplate, then the point in question is the bearing point of the stay against the bow plate. Measure “M” from this point to the stem excluding the molding. The “J” dimension is measured from this point back to the front edge of the mast at the mast step. This measurement is tricky because it is taken parallel to the hull lines. Use a large square to do it right. Set the square up against the mast with the short leg pointing up and the long leg forward. Level the long leg to be parallel to the hull lines and then measure “J” from the back edge of the square keeping the tape level at the same time. It isn’t hard with three pairs of hands working. Note that there are two different J’s listed in the certificate. J1 is for the old masts and J2 is for the new mast.

Dimension B

B is the beam at station 5’6”. It is measured between the outer edges of the sheer. If the sheers are hidden under a one-piece rail, just measure to the outer edge of the rails and subtract the width of the outwhales.

Dimension D

D is the height of the sheer at station 5’6” and it’s another tricky one. Two long straight edges are needed, one laid across the top of the sheer and one blocked up against the bottom, both located at station 5’6”. You don’t need to get the bottom one level if you measure straight down from the sheer. Measure the distance between the straight edges on both sides of the hull and average the two readings. Now, subtract out the thickness of the bottom molding.

Dimension W

W is the width of the rails. This is measured across the extreme inner and outer edges of the rail.

Dimension X

X is measured on the transom between the outer edges of the hull skin at the sheer. Simple!

Dimension TH - CMR 70

On boats using a traveler as permitted by CMR 4, the transom height (TH) is defined as the distance between the top of the traveler track at the centerline and the keel at station 17, excluding the molding. Travelers installed in accordance with CMR 4 must be installed so that they maintain an arc as close to the original as possible.

Dimension Y

Be sure to take this dimension at the halfway point between the Break Point and the tip of the board. Unlike the mainsail you can’t fold the board in half to determine the halfway point, it is a good idea to measure the halfway point from both the Break Point and the tip to be sure they agree. Then measure the Y dimension to the trailing edge of the board perpendicular to the leading edge.

Cross Section of Boom

Even though they are typically equal for aluminum booms, please remember to record both height and width of boom on the measurement form.

Dimensions R1, R2, & R13 (Optional Measurement)

These are not on the current measurement certificate but, nonetheless, they are extremely important because they control the so-called “Rocker Curve.” Stretch a wire between two boards , one clamped to the transom and one held on the stem. This taut wire is to intersect the transom board at a point 9 inches below the bottom of the transom and should just barely touch the bottom (somewhere near station 6), being adjusted up or down by moving the board held at the bow. You are now ready to make the “R” measurements. At station 1, measure vertically from the wire to the bottom (ignoring the molding)—this is R1. Do the same at stations 2 and 13 and you are finished.

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One-Design Showcase

About the Thistle

The Thistle is a high performance one design racing sailboat that is generally sailed with a three person crew. The Thistle Class Association is recognized as one of the largest and best one-design classes in the country.

Thistle fleets are located throughout the US and welcome new and experienced sailors. Fleet members are happy to take new Thistle sailors out sailing and help get new boat owners up to speed. Joining a fleet and crewing is an excellent way to get started in the Thistle. Instructional DVD’s also help sailors get up to speed.

The TCA publishes a top-notch magazine, the Bagpipe, which not only reports on all the class news, but often includes rigging and go-fast tips.

The class culture makes this Thistle unique. The competitive design and caliber of sailors attracts top sailors. The class also enjoys family camaraderie and often teams are comprised of family members. The Thistle is ideal for junior sailors and many regattas encourage youth participation with reduced fees for junior members.

Designed by Sandy Douglass, the Thistle debuted in 1945. The sail plan consists of a main, jib, and spinnaker. The boat planes easily in 10-12 knots of breeze yet will also glide effortlessly in light air. The class firmly believes in the one-design principles thus keeping all boats competitive.

New boats are available from the class-approved builder, Great Midwest Yacht Company. Used boats can be found at a variety of price points. The best places to find used boats include the “Classifieds” page  here .

The Thistle Class Association is a proud member of US SAILING.

Class Information:

Class Contact:  Joy Martin

Class Contact Email:   [email protected]

Class Contact Phone:  315-945-4571

Class Website:   ThistleClass.com

Social Media:   Facebook  |  Twitter  

Class Specs

LOA:  17 ft.

Beam:  6 ft.

Draft (up/dn):  6 ft. / 4 ft. 6 in.

Weight:  515 lbs.

Sail Area (main/jib):  191 sq. ft.

Sail Area (spib):   220 sq. ft. 

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• Sailboat Guide

Thistle is a 16 ′ 11 ″ / 5.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass and built by Schock W.D., Douglass & McLeod, and Clark Boat Company starting in 1945.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Spin area: 220 sq ft.

Other builders:

Northwest One Design

Great Midwest Yacht Company Doug Laber Box 364 140 E Granville Street Sunbury, OH 43074 740-965-4511

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Published on July 27th, 2021 | by Assoc Editor

Thistle Class: celebrating 75 years

Published on July 27th, 2021 by Assoc Editor -->

More than 100 three-person teams will descend on the Cleveland Yachting Club in Rocky River, Ohio to compete for the 75th Thistle National Championship, taking place July 31 to August 6, 2021. Situated on an island at the mouth of the Rocky River, eight miles west of downtown Cleveland, CYC is home to Thistle Fleet No. 1 and last hosted Thistle Nationals in 1995 for the class’s 50th anniversary.

Racing begins this Saturday, July 31, as the Junior Nationals (20 and under) and Women’s Nationals get the party started with one-day series to determine their respective champions. On Sunday, August 1, the standard practice race for the Thistle National Championship gets an upgrade.

This year, it serves as the 75th Anniversary Race, with all boats starting on one line. It’s bound to be an unforgettable sight for racers and spectators, alike. Opening ceremonies on Sunday night will officially kick the regatta off, with nightly parties on the island to follow all week long.

The seven-race series for the Thistle National Championship officially begins on Monday, August 2. The large fleet will be split into four divisions for a three-race round-robin qualifying series over the first two days, after which a cut will be made to determine the Championship Fleet and President’s fleets.

Boats in the Championship fleet will retain their scores from the first two days and race for the National Championship, while boats in the President’s Fleet will start fresh on Wednesday and sail a four-race series of their own through Friday, August 6. The Nationals races typically follow “triangle-windward-leeward” courses, with each leg approximately one nautical mile in length.

In a first for the Thistle class, boats in the Championship Fleet will be outfitted with GPS trackers, allowing spectators to follow the competition live via TracTrac. In addition to live race tracking, Tim Wilkes will be providing daily photos and videos.

The 2021 Thistle National Championship is the culmination of the class’s summer circuit. Forty boats from 11 different states competed in the Thistle Great Lakes Championship at North Cape Yacht Club in LaSalle, Michigan two weeks ago. Similar regattas also took place for the Pacific Coast Championship, Atlantic Coast Championship, and Southeastern Championship.

This year’s Great Lakes Championship served as a feeder event for those looking for some Lake Erie sailing before the Nationals, with many of those boats dry docked at CYC in the time since, patiently waiting for measurement and weigh-in to begin on Friday, July 30.

After a year-long pandemic delay—the 75th Nationals were originally scheduled for 2020—the Thistle Class is eager to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The prospect of a full week of racing on the class’ home waters has attracted a large and talented fleet, which is sure to make for one of best Thistle Nationals yet.

Follow the action at ThistleNationals2021.com

Source: Mike Lovett, event media

Tags: Thistle , Thistle National Championship

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Thistle Class

Paving the Way as Clean Class

Sailors for the Sea collaborated with the Thistle Class Association to develop and pilot the Clean Class initiative. The dedicated leadership and volunteers worked together to determine the necessary steps to scale up the sustainability success of individual regattas and for the whole class to take responsibility for their impact on the environment.

Between 2012 and 2020, a total of 13 Thistle events participated in the Clean Regattas program. During the first full year of the pilot in 2021, the Thistle Class registered 21 new Clean Regattas, a 420% increase in Thistle events participating in the program. In 2022, six additional events registered, with many of the recurring regattas achieving higher levels of sustainability certification.

• Are you a Thistler? Get Involved
• Thistle Class Unites to Earn Platinum Level Clean Regatta Certification
• New Life for Old Boats

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Thistle Rigging

West Coast Sailing offers a full range of one design running rigging and custom solutions for the Thistle including halyards, sheets, and control lines, designed with input from top sailors in the fleet and expertly assembled by the riggers in our Rig Shop.

• Qty in Cart

Thistle Main Halyard Tapered (6mm Excel)

Thistle Spinsheet Continuous Tapered (6mm Excel Racing)

Thistle Mainsheet (9mm Kmix)

Thistle Mainsheet (8mm Bzzz)

Thistle Spinnaker Halyard Tapered (5mm Dinghy Control)

Thistle Spinnaker Halyard (4mm Dinghy Control)

Thistle Jib Halyard (5mm Dinghy Control)

Thistle Main Halyard (4mm Excel)

Thistle Continuous Spinsheet (6mm SSR)

Thistle Jibsheet (8mm SSR)

Thistle Mainsheet Tapered (8mm Marlow D2)

Thistle Mainsheet (8mm SSR)

Thistle Headstay (One Piece)

Thistle Shroud (Standard Shroud Adjuster)

• Total: items /
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Thistle Spinnaker Halyards Our Thistle Spinnaker Halyards are built to a class recommended length and available in either straight or tapered assembly. Tapered version helps reduce bulk and weight aloft in your rig.

Thistle Spin Halyard Thistle Spin Halyard - Tapered

Thistle Main Halyards Like our Spin Halyards, our Thistle Spinnaker Halyards are built to a class recommended length and available in either straight or tapered assembly. Tapered version helps reduce bulk and weight aloft in your rig.

Thistle Main Halyard Thistle Spin Halyard - Tapered

Thistle Jib Halyards Our Thistle Jib Halyards are built to a class recommended length and finished with a stopper ball.

Thistle Jib Halyard

Thistle Spinnaker Sheets Built for a single line, continuous setup, our Thistle Spinnaker Sheets are made from high performance dyneema blend line with end whips for a tidy finish. Select our Tapered option to reduce weight, featuring a taper on each end where tied off to the spinnaker.

Thistle Spinnaker Sheet - Continuous Thistle Spinnaker Sheet - Continuous (Tapered)

Thistle Main Sheets Our Thistle Mainsheets are built to a class recommended length and available in both tapered and nontapered style in a variety of diameters to suit your specific preferences. The 8mm SSR is our lightest untapered sheet, 8mm Bzzz has the most comfortable hand feel, and 9mm Kmix is best for heavy air or for those who prefer a larger diameter sheet.

Thistle Main Sheet 8mm SSR Thistle Main Sheet 8mm Bzzz Thistle Main Sheet 9mm Kmix Thistle Main Sheet - Tapered

Thistle Jib Sheets Individual Thistle Jib Sheets available in a standard and tapered version. Order two for a complete set.

Thistle Jib Sheet Thistle Jib Sheet - Tapered

Thistle Standing Rigging Upgrade your Thistle with a new set of wires, expertly assembled from 1x19 stainless wire per class spec.

Thistle Headstay (One Piece) Thistle Shroud (Sta-Master) Thistle Shroud (Standard)

Other Rigging & Hardware West Coast Sailing can also produce control lines, spinnaker poles, and other rigging not specified on this page. Contact us at [email protected] to discuss your Thistle rigging needs!

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Spouse: Diana

     Eric, Tonia, and Daughters Sydnee and Erica      Sean, Michelle and Daughter Madison      Quyen and Melissa

Hello all you old Bears!

I was only in Moscow for our senior year and haven't been back very often.  Do look forward to this reunion and will only recognize a few of you from the pictures.   I think we have all gotten a lot better looking though.

Diana and I have lived in the Seattle area for all but one of our 33 years together.  Our children and grandchildren are in the area and we are thankful they are a regular and exciting part of lives.

Diana retired five years ago and travels with me frequently.  Not being one to do a lot of shopping for cloths, I lived in uniform with a full time career in the Washington State Patrol and retired in 1995 after the last 8 years as the commander of the patrol operations in South Seattle.  The other retirement came from the Army Reserve in 1997 as a Colonel.  My last active duty was in the first gulf war.  What a shame for our young military personnel that we didn't get it right the first time.

I am currently consulting for a world wide engineering firm.  My work has taken Diana and I to all 50 states and several countries.  I do not plan on retiring again soon but will slow down when we move to our retirement home on Hood Canal later this year.

Thanks to Bill for this excellent web site.