Cup History: Scottish challenge source of intrigue

1887

"Did they really get a diver, or was it a duck?" - Scotsman James Bell on reports of a mysterious keel on the Thistle.


Espionage and secrecy suddenly became weapons of the America's Cup when Scotland made their first challenge in 1887.

The syndicate from the Royal Clyde Yacht Club wanted to give away nothing about their steel boat, Thistle, which triggered a thunder-ous outcry from the defenders.

When the boat was launched, it was shrouded in canvas, which led the way for today's underskirts.

When the New York Yacht Club asked for details of the boat's dimensions, the syndicate head, James Bell, would only give the yacht's name and her length at the waterline, 85ft.

New York was incensed by Bell's "arrogance." When the boat was measured after arriving in the United States, and her length was found to be 45cm longer than reported, the defenders went to town, demanding Thistle be disqualified.

A New York newspaper hired a diver to look at the bottom of the boat in the dead of night. The reports of a bizarre keel led Bell to ask: "Did they really get a diver or was it a duck?"

Thistle, in fact, was not unlike the American defender Volunteer - and that was no surprise. The Scottish designer, G.L. Watson, had been allowed to study building techniques in the United States before he drew up the challenger.

The crew of 40 on Thistle were instructed to remove the carpets, doors and extra deck fittings on the boat before she raced.

But it made little difference. Volunteer was the smarter boat, and she won the best-of-three series in two races, by margins of 19 minutes and 11 minutes.

The Scottish went home empty-handed but left a sour taste in the mouths of New York's yachting fraternity.

"For ignorance and deceit, the owners and designers of the Thistle take the cake - we take the cup," wrote an American yachting correspondent.