June-July 1962

An editorial discussing the prevalence of boats using vangs while beating and questions about whether this practice is legal under class rules. The author explores the technical purpose of the vang and argues for clear interpretation of the bylaws.

An announcement of the Third Annual Thistle Class Fall Series to be held in September between September 5 and October 14, with an extended version of the prior year's schedule. Persons wishing to be eligible for series prizes must compete in all races in the four scheduled weeks.

A message from the Chief Measurer discussing recent protest decisions regarding boat measurements. The Measurer notes that Thistle 1233 has been reinstated and is now considered qualified for competition, with warnings about requiring proper measurement certification.

A report of the death of Ernest Bucher (925), who drowned while sailing his Thistle on Lake Erie near Port Harbor on May 29. The article describes the incident and aftermath, noting that Bucher was an enthusiastic competitor and active in the Thistle fleet.

A report of the Milford Spring Series Early Bird races held at the Milford Yacht Club. The Grey Ghost captured first place out of a possible time series, with Walt Stubner and Dennis Powey winning second and third races respectively in consecutive weekend sailing.

A detailed account of the Admiral Farragut race that took place May 12 on the Tennessee River. Bob Bauer won first place hard-ware after a series of races with the old pro Howison and others in shifting breezes. The article describes the challenging race conditions and tactics used by competitors.

A race report from the 1962 Cotton Carnival regatta held on McKellar Lake in Memphis. John D. Martin won the morning and afternoon races, with races won by different skippers. The article details the sailing conditions and results, followed by a scoring table.

An analysis of what it takes to win a regatta, examining regatta scoring patterns and statistics from 1400 competitors over two years. The article presents graphs and discusses the relationship between fleet size and average finishing position, showing that winning requires consistency across multiple races.

A report of the Erie One-Of-A-Kind regatta where a Thistle placed third overall. The article notes this is a significant achievement as the Thistle competed successfully against other boat classes. A race results table shows the standings of various boat classes.

A report of the Punch Bowl Regatta held on Marlin Lake near Worthington. Two Saturday races were held with moderate winds. The event included various Thistle competitors, with Mead winning first place in the overall standings.

A photo essay with captions showing the exciting finish of the Admiral Farragut race. The images capture Bob Bauer approaching the finish line with Faiclough booming in on port task, and their close competition for the top spots.

A report of the Damfull regatta won by Marlin Abramson (924). The article describes the races held on June 8-9 in Columbus, Ohio, with detailed race results and notes about outstanding performances and record finishes.

A report on the 1962 Dixie Regatta judged by all participants to be the best ever held. Two races were sailed Saturday, May 26, with a breeze, and the results are presented in a detailed race table with honors going to various competitors.

A listing of upcoming Thistle regattas including Long Island Sound races, Championship regattas, and other scheduled events throughout the summer and early fall.

An announcement of the Candlewood Yacht Club's regatta on July 28-29. The event will feature racing by all Thistles in the same time slot, with prizes for winners. The club has four Thistles and more are promised for the season.

A report of a challenge race at Cowan Lake involving the world's largest Thistle fleet. The exuberant Thistles of Fleet 21 faced visiting boats in back-to-back races. The article describes the competitive nature of the event and the final results, with Cowan winning the overall contest.

A report of Thistle racing in Shreveport, Louisiana. Fourteen Thistles from the best fleet participated in the 101 boats entered in the Shreveport Sailing Club and Boat Association regatta held on Crass Lake, May 19 and 18. The article describes the sailing conditions and placement of competitors.

A personal account of a sailing cruise to Catalina Island from the Los Angeles Yacht Club. The author describes the voyage, the ports visited, weather conditions, and the experiences of the crew sailing to and around the island. The cruise included interesting encounters with other boats and memorable moments at various coves and anchorages.

A race report from the Second Annual Cananoaigua Club Regatta held in Canandaigua, New York, jointly sponsored by the Canandaigua Yacht Club and Rochester Canoe Club. Starting in beautiful clear weather, Jim Roberts led the competition, with the rest of the field following suit in defending their positions throughout the races.

A rules interpretation discussion with diagrams showing a sailing situation where Thistle A protests Thistle A on the basis of Rule 41.4, claiming jibing simultaneously. The article discusses the interpretation of the rule and asks readers to judge whether the protest is valid based on the circumstances described.

A section containing classified advertisements and marketplace listings for Thistle-related products and services, including boat sales, rental properties, insurance, and marine products.