May-June 1963

The 1963 sailing season began with the Central Atlantic District Throstles competing in the Potomac River Sailing Association's Annual Frostbite Regatta on March 23-24. Peter Hoyt dominated the conditions, winning despite mud banks, patchy winds, and difficult sailing marina courses. The event showcased local sailor expertise and challenging navigation through the dredged basin and main river channel.

The Hawaii winter series featured challenging weather with thirteen storm fronts and strong Kona winds. Tom Carpenter won the first race, followed by a second series where Paul Jay took the lead but was overtaken by Wyatt and Clark near the finish. Unprecedented conditions included Bruce Walker becoming airborne on his spinnaker before capsizing.

The editor thanks readers for submitting copy, tabulations, and photographs to The Bagpipe newsletter. He emphasizes that the publication's quality depends on material contributed by readers.

Connecticut's Ted Fontelieu won all three races of the Curling Trophy at the fourth annual Lower Intercoastal Regatta in Georgia, with 31 Thistles competing. The regatta featured ideal racing conditions and attracted sailors from the Southeast and beyond. Fontelieu's clean sweep demonstrated the quality of competition from the Northeast.

The Newport Harbor Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club held their winter regatta on January 26-27 with two races completed out of the planned three. Art Glazier from Fleet 84 took first place, while Bob Smith of Fleet 63 finished second and John Thorne third.

Dave Stein of Montgomery won the first long distance race held by the Dixie Sailing Club on March 28, accomplishing the feat with his wife and two young children aboard for the entire 2-hour race. Calm winds and shallow water made navigation challenging, with only a handful of the 21 boats finishing by evening.

Fracker describes the trials and techniques of sailing a Thistle with only two people aboard, contrasting with the typical three-person crew. He covers weight distribution, spinnaker handling, and the importance of minimal equipment adjustments when racing shorthanded, offering practical advice from his experiences at St. Pete.

John Martin Jr. won the Bottoms-Up Regatta at Shreveport Yacht Club on May 3-5 with favorable starting line position, narrowly beating Cecil Brooke. The regatta featured light, shifty winds typical of Cross Lake and attracted 17 Thistles from Delta, Lake Michigan, and South Atlantic Districts.

An examination of how the Thistle Class should select sites for the National Championships, considering both competitive racing conditions and family vacation appeal. The author argues that location selection should account for recreational facilities, dining, and housing to encourage family participation and support the development of the class.

The hardy Thistlers of the Delta District competed in the Houston Midwinter Regatta on February 9, braving severe winter weather with winds up to 20-30 mph that caused capsizes and split sails. George Broyles won the regatta despite the harsh conditions that tested both boats and sailors.

A satirical one-act play depicting Thistle racing drama on the water, featuring a home-town villain attempting to steal wind from a light-air racing specialist, with various characters including the Old Campaigner. The play uses humor to illustrate racing tactics and competitive dynamics.

The Kansas City Thistle Fleet designed and tested stern flotation blocks made from styrofoam logs to comply with TCA by-laws. Costing less than $20 each, these blocks were proven effective in high winds, with boats equipped with them successfully self-righting in 25-35 knot gusts without needing to lower sails.

Ben Wall of the Central Atlantic District won the highly coveted Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association Thistle High Point Championship for 1963. Ed Hoyt finished second and Eli Venning third, closing out a splendid first season for Venning in the Thistle Class.

Bill Bruce repeated his victory from the previous year at the Jackson Yacht Club's Spring Invitational, winning the highly contested opening regatta of the Dixie season. Larry Haupt finished second, John Martin third, and Oscar Cassibry fourth after a close final race.

The Thistle Class Association presents its balance sheet and financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1962, showing total assets of $10,192.04 and detailing receipts and disbursements for the organization.

Corrections and additions to the 1963 Regatta Schedule for Thistle fleets across multiple regions including California, Delta/Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, New Jersey & Long Island Sound, and various other locations, with dates and hosts listed.

Darling offers ten practical pieces of advice for improving sailing performance without purchasing new equipment, including competing in tough regattas, reading sailing literature, learning the rules, staying out of trouble, managing crew effectively, developing team unity, cultivating focus, planning races, avoiding equipment failures, and building confidence.

A comprehensive classifieds section containing boat-for-sale listings, equipment sales, crew sought, racing services, and other maritime marketplace items for Thistle sailors and the broader sailing community.