September-October 1963

Ed Walsh's selection as the new National Champion for the 1964 National Championship sparks discussion about hosting future championships. The article explores the process for bidding on the National Championship and describes what is required for a fleet to host this major event.

Chief Measurer Dave Minton reports new rulings from the Governing Board Meeting in Sayrille, Long Island on August 20, 1963. The memo covers measurement specifications for jibs, board materials, tack grommets, spinnaker poles, and other technical Thistle class rules.

A brief notice about the printer's cut selection process for photographs in each issue of Bagpipe, requesting contributions of photos and drawings from readers.

Ed Walsh with wife Marge and daughter Linda sailing DAN-E-BOY (818) won the 1963 National Championship at Sayville Yacht Club. After early leads and a conservative finish strategy, Walsh clinched victory with a second-place finish in the final race, continuing the Walsh family's National Championship legacy.

Comprehensive race results table from the 1963 Thistle National Championship at Sayville Yacht Club, plus detailed listing of awards by placement and special awards for various racing achievements and skipper categories.

The Sayville Yacht Club Race Committee, co-chaired by Carl Fick and Doug Westin, established new standards for perfection in handling the National Championship. The article details innovative race management techniques including perpendicular starting lines, weather mark settings, and safety procedures that set new benchmarks for Thistle racing.

Port Clinton Yacht Club hosted a Thistle summer invitational regatta on August 10 and 11, with participation from the Lake Erie West District. Dave Minton won the regatta with strong performances, while John Proctor placed second and other skippers competed in the three-race series.

Richard Otter of Eagle Lake won the Michiana Regatta held at Diamond Lake on July 30 and 31 with a near-perfect score of two wins and a second. Jack LaFollette of Indianapolis finished second, while Bill Borough took third place.

Thistle Fleet No. 79 of Lake Lanier Sailing Club honored "Sinny" Sinclair for his decades of service to Thistles with the inaugural "Old Goat" Regatta in September. The article describes the regatta held on Lake Lanier and discusses plans for future annual races in Sinclair's honor.

Art Glasier won the Pacific Coast Championships at Huntington Lake on July 13 and 14, taking three firsts, a second, and a fifth place finish. The article describes the sailing conditions and race results from this Inter-District championship.

The Lake Erie West District regatta sponsored by Fleet 65 (Cowan Lake) was held on Sandusky Bay July 13-14. Tom Wilson won the event, with George Butts second and Bill Cunnings third, sailing in moderate winds with a double triangle course that tested all competitors.

Peter Hale, sailing Limulus (198), retained the Niagara Frontier District championship by the narrowest of margins in a closely contested regatta. The forty-four boats competed in moderate winds on Lake Ontario, with Peter Hale taking first place by dominating the later races.

The 70th annual Inter-Lake Yachting Association Regatta was held at Put-In Bay on August 5-7, with twenty-two Thistles participating in a three-race series on a triangular course. Harry White won with a near-perfect record, while Pythagurning Yacht Club swept the finishing positions.

Bob Kaiser posted his fourth consecutive victory at the Great Lakes Championship at Racine July 20 and 21 by finishing fourth, third, and second for a decisive win. Jack Wanenmacher took second and Herb Zimmers third, with Kaiser and Zimmers demonstrating mastery of the shifting wind conditions.

The editor reflects on a year of producing the Bagpipe newsletter, discussing the challenges of gathering and publishing news stories while highlighting major social events and regional championships held throughout the year.

Bobby White of Leatherips Y.D. in Columbus, Ohio won the Mallory Cup North American Men's Championship semi-finals with performances in 2, 3, 1, 3 races. The semi-finals were sailed in Thistles in unusual wind conditions, with White securing a clean sweep to advance to the finals at Annapolis.

Bruno Markeliunas of Blauveldt, New York won the Thistle fleet championship at Long Island Sound District for the second time in six years, defeating strong competitors in a scheduled three-race regatta that had to be adjusted due to weather conditions.

George Hills won the Richmond County Yacht Club Open Regatta with a fourth, third, and second-place finish in strong southerly winds of 15 to 20 knots. Ed Fracker dominated the early races while Hills finished strong with strategic sailing to secure the championship.

Classified advertisements for Thistle boats for sale, insurance services, boat covers, model boats, and advertisements for upcoming races and merchandise.