Thorvald Schogaard Poekel
Thorvald Schogaard Julius Poekel (Pöckel) (1862-1940) was a Danish-American naval architect, mechanical engineer, yacht design innovator boatyard owner.
Poekel was born in Næstved, Denmark, on December 12, 1962. He received engineering training in Denmark, and served as an engineer in the Danish Navy. He emigrated to the United States in 1887 and became a naturalized citizen in 1893.[1]
During the 1890's Poekel was employed by the Herfeshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, Rhode Island. There he served as Chief Draftsman, and worked on several undefeated America's Cup defenders. According to W.P. Stephens "Poekel was the real designer of VIGILANT, GLORIANA, NIAGARA and DEFENDER. He was also one of DEFENDER'S best crew".[2]
After leaving the Herreshoffs, Poekel became the Superintendent of the Racine Boat Manufacturing Company in Racine, Wisconsin.
It was at Racine where Poekel designed the VENCEDOR.[3] According to the Logansport Pharos: "[Poekel] had some reputation as chief draughtsman for the Herrescoffs (sic) and designed a number of fast yachts they had turned out. But this reputation was shared with his employers. In his new position he could create a racer which should be all his own idea. He drew much of his inspiration from the lines of the Defender and Niagara. Adding some invention of his own he had the theory of a craft which he fondly hoped would sail away from anything of its class yet built."[4]
The VENCEDOR which was the first American yacht to race in the U.S.- Canada competition on the Great Lakes in 1896.[5] According to the New York Times "the Vencedor was built at Racine, Wis. from designs by T. Poekel, in 1896, at a cost of about $10,000, and is one of the most celebrated boats that ever sailed the great lakes."[6] The Vencedor lost to Canada, the Canadian entry, and similar to America's Cup, the race was subsequently called "Canada's Cup."
He also designed the PATHFINDER for the Chicago magnate Frank W. Morgan and was called "the finest and best equipped steam yacht on the chain of lakes." The Pathfinder served as the judge's boat during the Canada's Cup Competition. In the early 1900's Poekel served as the Chief Engineer for the Lawleys Boatyard. According to the Boston Globe "Poekel was a very clever engineering draftsman and had full charge of the construction of the torpedo boats BLAKELY and DE LONG for Lawler."[7]
Poekel finally had his own business on the banks of the Neponset River in Neponset, Massachusetts, where he established T. Sch. Poekel & Co., Yacht, Boat and Engine builders, which he operated until his retirement in 1925.
He retired to Green Cove Springs, Florida, in 1925 where he and his wife Anna raised three grandsons, Irving, Charles and Carl. Died 1940.
References[edit]
- ↑ Naturalization Index, 1791-1906.
- ↑ Forest and Stream, February, 1897.
- ↑ "Forest And Stream". 48 (1). January 2, 1897: 14.
- ↑ Logansport Pharos, August 22, 1896.
- ↑ "Canada's Cup". Wikipedia. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ↑ "The New York Times from New York, New York on February 6, 1901 · Page 7". Newspapers.com. The New York Times. February 6, 1901.
- ↑ The Boston Sunday Globe, December 23, 1900.
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