After Guard and large racing crew                       Fore Deck crew              Scottish Challenger THISTLE                      Signature of artist

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BRIEF HISTORY OF THISTLE VS VOLUNTEER: The only challenge to come from Scotland for the America's Cup in THISTLE in 1887 was instrumental in the New York Yacht Club again changing the Deed of Gift after finding itself under time pressure to construct a defender capable of meeting a challenger. THISTLE was designed by the legendary Scottish designer, G L Watson but was defeated decisively by the Defender, Volunteer.

 

Halsey Herreshoff writes "Despite secrecy on both sides of the Atlantic the challenger and defender of 1887 were remarkably similar. Both George L. Watson's THISTLE and Edward (Ned) Burgess's VOLUNTEER were clipper-bowed sloops having large low sail plans. Even their hull lines were strikingly similar, though VOLUNTEER had a larger beam/draft ratio in keeping with the aforementioned national practices. A substantial difference was that VOLUNTEER was fitted with a centerboard that greatly enhanced her pointing ability to windward.

 

Volunteer's lines are particularly natural and pleasing. This triumph of Edward Burgess decisively beat her predecessor yachts PURITAN and MAYFLOWER and was named the Cup Defender after an abbreviated set of trials. She then decisively won the 1887 Cup Races."  

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