Thesen & Co - Boat Building; Cape to Rio Yacht Race Winner

During World War II, on behlf of the British Admiralty, ten motor gunboats (110ft overall) of the Fairmile Class, were built and launched at Knysna, while over 600 life boats and smaller craft were also produced.  -   Industrial South Africa 1956.

Fairmile Motor Launch ML 4002 being launched at Knysna in early 1945 

Caption source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southafricansinww1ww2korea

Caption: 

The Thesen Family Centenary Sloop "Albatross II" sailing down the Knysna Lagoon en route to Cape Town to take part in the South Atlantic Cape to Rio Race 30 December, 1970.

With the Compliments of Thesen & Co (Pty) Ltd. 

Albatross II  - Winner of the first Cape to Rio Race in 1971

In 1971, two Van der Stadt 222 design, 42-foot sailing yachts were built to compete in the first Cape to Rio transatlantic ocean race. The first was the ‘Albatross II’, which was built in Knysna at the Thesen’s Boatbuilding Yard, the second was the ‘Mercury’, which was built in Bremen, West Germany. These two South African yachting teams sailed neck and neck for much of the race, but it was ‘Albatross ll’ that eventually took the lead and won the race, putting the Thesen Boatbuilding Yard, and Knysna, on the map. Also participating in the race was ‘Voortrekker 1’, the original South African flagship in the event, also built in Knysna by the Thesens. 

Source: 

https://www.southernyachting.co.za/take-to-the-helm-with-southern-yachting-academy/#:~:text=In%201971%2C%20two%20Van%20der,and%20Knysna%2C%20on%20the%20map.