December, 1954

The Thistle Class Association has arranged a midwinter social gathering at the Princeton-Biscayne Club in New York on January 15, 1955. The event will feature cocktails, dinner, and speeches from prominent yachting figures. Governing Board members are urged to arrive early for a pre-event meeting at 2:30 PM.

Howard Boston, the current National Champion, won first place with 111 points in the 6th Annual Detroit River Ice Breaker Series held in October. Participants came from Ohio, Michigan, and other distant locations. The races were held in light air with intermittent rain.

The 1955 Winter Championships have been scheduled for February 11-13 at Sarasota Yacht Club in Florida. Five races are planned for the regatta.

The Thistle Class Association has nominated and approved the new Executive Committee for 1955. The committee members include William W. Heintz, Gordon L. Douglass, Jack Fordyce, Doug Westin, and Howard Boston.

Thistle No. 357, owned by Pink Sands on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, has been put into use as a charter boat for a resort. The boat has proven to be extremely popular for this purpose and is well-maintained by its operators.

Bill Heintz has appointed Jack Stevens and Jack O'Shea to a committee tasked with rewriting the Thistle Class Association's Constitution and By-Laws. The revised document will be submitted to the Governing Board for review and then published for member consideration before the Annual Meeting.

Ray Feibusch, the Thistle Class Association's jewelry salesman, has been overwhelmed with orders. Despite efforts to expedite delivery, the unexpected volume of sales has caused some delays.

Fleet Secretaries are reminded that membership dues must be collected in January and forwarded to the T.C.A. Secretary-Treasurer. An up-to-date fleet roster and annual report are also required by the Constitution.

A comprehensive examination of jib sheet rigging systems used on Thistles. The article compares five common methods: the original Douglass rig, blocks with snubbing winch, two-part jib sheets, automatic cleats, and bulking jam cleats. Each system is evaluated for advantages and disadvantages in various wind conditions.

Chief Measurer George Devlin addresses two frequently asked questions regarding fiberglass protection on centerboards and rudders, and the legality of sliding gooseneck fittings. He confirms that metal or fiberglass wrapping is permissible and that sliding goosenecks are prohibited by the rules.

A biographical feature on Gordon K. 'Sandy' Douglass, designer of the Thistle class and prominent sailor. Douglass is a native of New Jersey and New York with a distinguished sailing heritage spanning from 1838. He has won multiple championships in canoe sailing, designed several boat classes including the Thistle and Highlander, and is an accomplished portrait painter and barbershop quartet singer.

Classified listings including boats for sale and wanted advertisements. Features Thistle No. 616 with Boston cotton sails, Thistle No. 722 with complete rigging, and Thistle No. 599 with multiple sail sets. Also includes notices for wanted spinmaker and sails for sale.

Practical advice for storing a Thistle during winter. Covers protection from elements, indoor versus outdoor storage, proper support methods, mast storage, centerboard and rudder care, and preparation for spring launching. Emphasizes that unheated storage is preferable to heated facilities.

An editorial discussion of the controversial hiking straps issue that continues to resurface in the association. The editor presents arguments from Ron Small and Neil Patzer regarding the safety, performance, and legal status of hiking straps, noting that this issue was previously defeated at Racine in 1953 but remains contested.

Six Thistles competed in the Great South Bay Race Week held from August 2-7. The event featured varied weather conditions ranging from light and fluky to rugged. Rowdy II, skippered by Dick Hutton, finished first overall.

A brief announcement that the next issue of The Bagpipe will feature Part 1 of an article titled 'Sailing a Thistle in Heavy Winds' written by the editor.