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Lot Essay
Thistle designed by G.L. Watson was intended as the Scottish challenger for the America's Cup in 1887. However, she lost two out of her three races against Volunteer. Despite a reputation of being hard to sail to windward, she collected over 20 trophies in her first year and was ultimately sold to the Kaiser. Re-rigged and re-named Meteor, she was the first of five magnificent racing yachts, each called Meteor, which he was to own over the next 25 years.
She is shown here in company with the Kaiser's second yacht Meteor II, also designed by G.L. Watson specifically to beat the famous Britannia.
She is shown here in company with the Kaiser's second yacht Meteor II, also designed by G.L. Watson specifically to beat the famous Britannia.