December-January 1960

The Thistle Mid-Winter Nationals will be held in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 26-29 with a tace-up race and four races sailed between January 27-29. Registration will open January 26, and interested persons can contact Bill Margold for information.

The TCA Governing Board is expected to vote at the Mid-Winter meeting in St. Petersburg on approving a Fiberglass Thistle design. The decision comes after the class approved Fiberglass construction in 1959, and a Development Committee is working on specifications for a fiberglass boat that meets TCA requirements.

The Schock-manufactured aluminum Thistle mast was rejected for class sanction by TCA Measurer George Devlin after extensive testing. Although the class approved a proposal to use aluminum spars in 1959, Devlin determined this specific mast design did not conform to Thistle specifications and was therefore not permitted.

The Bagpipe editor outlines the publication schedule and closure deadlines for articles. Issues are produced about six weeks after closing deadlines, so contributors must plan ahead and submit material early to ensure timely publication.

An explanation of how the Bagpipe is written by Thistle correspondents across the country, edited in Annapolis, and mailed from Atlanta, with closing dates that require planning six weeks in advance.

Fleet 82 of the Gaguac Yacht Club at Battle Creek had an active 1959 racing season with two races each weekend interspersed with regular week-end racing. Vaughn Kelly won the Gaguac Invitational regatta, contributing to a very successful season for the fleet.

Measurer George Devlin answers several questions from Walt Stubner about centerboard slot specifications, cover boards, rubber seals, and other class construction details in a Q&A format.

A listing of upcoming Thistle regattas for the spring and early summer of 1960, including the Admiral Farragut Championship and Cotton Carnival Regatta.

The Long Island Sound District races were held at Milford, Connecticut with 44 boats participating. Doug Westin won the season, with Dennis Posey and Pete Bordes also finishing as top winners in their respective series.

For the second consecutive year, Itaca Yacht Club's North Freeman led Fleet 54 locals to sweep both events of the Delaware River Heather Bowl regatta against the Dragons, repeating wins in the Heather Bowl and Governor's Cup events.

In past seasons some thirteen Thistles assembled for New Jersey Governor's Cup regatta at Riverton Y.C. where twelve or more were defending themselves against other competitors and wind patterns that created unpredictable racing conditions.

Seventeen-year-old Hank Maust of Bellport won the championship of Great South Bay Thistle fleet for the second consecutive year, taking three straight firsts in the Bellport Yacht Club Labor Day series and maintaining his leadership throughout.

The Michiana District's newest fleet, No. 87 at Bloomington, Indiana, wound up its first season with the 1st Annual Dinner of the organization. Fleet Captain Ted Deppe was elected, and the fleet had a successful year with multiple races and strong participation.

America's newest state, Hawaii, contributed the first fully reported, fully dues-paid Thistle Fleet for 1960, according to TCA Secretary-Treasurer Pollye Norton who extended congratulations on their achievement.

The Delta District and Newport Harbor Fleet brought out publications like THISTLEDOWN and THISTLEGRAM to supplement national Bagpipe coverage with heavy local interest, classified sections, and more intensive coverage of Thistle activities.

Bob Kaiser, a newcomer to the ranks, won first place at Kentucky Lake and walked away with the Thistle trophy as well as an adjusted time basis. This Cup was originally started by a competitor competing for the trophy to keep all Thistles saluting Bob Kaiser for bringing credit to the Thistle Class Association.

For his final duty as Fleet 34 Official Scorer for 1959, new Fleet Captain Hal Weil handed over to new Fleet Captain Hal Weil (480) bundled over new Fleet regulations which shows fleet championship competition for the season just past. The Winner: Ben Weil (480).

Fleet Captain Charlie Althaus describes an unusual sailing adventure in San Francisco Bay where he and crew encountered seals in a slough, navigated through mud, and discovered California mud is extremely thick and sticky at the bottom.

Fleet 55 of Chula Vista, California, defunct for some time, is scheduled to be re-activated this Spring according to Tom Walker of that city. Walker recently wrote TCA President Evans Harrell enclosing measurement certificates for three boats and adding his congratulations.

Classified advertisements and marketplace listings for Thistle boats and equipment, including sail purchases, wanted notices, and boat sales across various regions.