January-February 1973

Official statement of ownership, management, and circulation for The Bagpipe, with editor's notes on the change from Volume XXV to XXVI and the publication schedule.

Announcement of the 1973 Mid-Winter Championships to be held in St. Petersburg, Florida, February 24 through March 4, with details about facilities and attractions for competitors.

Detailed schedule of events for the 1973 Mid-Winter Championships including race times, social events, meals, and facility information for competitors.

Comprehensive guide to refinishing wooden Thistle hulls, covering hull removal, reconstruction planning, structural work, and detailed techniques for replacing inwales, outwales, gratings, and structural components.

Expert roundtable discussion on sailing techniques for offwind racing in waves, with contributions from experienced sailors offering practical advice on steering, sail trim, and boat balance.

Technical article on the new aluminum mast now in production for Thistles, with detailed specifications, test results, and information about availability through ARO Spar Company.

Expert commentary from Chuck Steigerwald, Bob White, and Doug Laber on the new aluminum mast, discussing its performance characteristics compared to wood and discussing advantages for high-performance sailing.

Profile of Bob Dance, a commercial artist and illustrator who has been working on Thistle promotional materials and is featured prominently in the Thistle Class yearbook.

Opinion piece discussing rule changes and waivers in Thistle sailing, arguing for consistent enforcement while acknowledging that some rules may need reconsideration by the fleet.

Report of the Southeastern Fall Series regatta won by Art Menke, with details on the series participants and winning performances across multiple races.

Report of Steve Schmitter's victory at the Nyack Boat Club regatta, detailing his first-place finish and wind conditions during the event.

Report of the Red Chevron regatta held in the Puget Sound District where Clark emerged victorious in competitive conditions with strong fleet participation.

Report of the Bottoms Up regatta won by Koblenzer, describing competitive sailing conditions and the performance of various competitors in this Lake Murray event.

Report of Ron Meissner's victory in the Broken Crank regatta with details on racing conditions and competitor standings.

Report of Art Were's victory in the International Old Goats championship held at Cowan Lake, with details on competition and participants.

Report of Art Menke's victory at the Bloody Mary regatta held at Western Carolina, with detailed race results and participant information.

Brief notice of Glenn Clark's victory in the Hawaii State Sailing Championships, noting his participation as one of the top competitors in the state.

Report of the Hawaii Districts regatta won by Tom Carpenter, detailing the competitive conditions and race results from Kaneche Bay.

Report of the annual Old Goat regatta held at Lake Lanier on September 16-17, describing the racing conditions and results across multiple heats.

Report of the Island Bay Yacht Club's annual Mid-States regatta held in Springfield, Illinois, describing challenging wind and water conditions experienced by competitors.

Report of the Carlyle Sailing Association's annual regatta where Jack Phelps demonstrated his racing skills with victories in competitive sailing weather.

Humorous report of an unusual regatta at Icecraker where boats flipped and capsized but racing continued, with participant information and results.

Collection of classified advertisements including boats for sale, equipment, services, insurance, and merchandise for Thistle sailors and enthusiasts.