August/September 1991

President Finefrock describes the positive momentum and publicity surrounding the Thistle Class Association. He emphasizes the need for all members to get involved in promotional activities, welcome new sailors, and leverage the existing 'green book' and Bagpipe articles to attract new members to the class.

Gowans reflects on his participation in local regattas and discusses what makes the Thistle Class special. He addresses criticism from an earlier letter and argues that the Class still maintains its unique atmosphere and spirit despite changes over time, citing examples from Admiral Farragut, Dixie, and Bottoms-Up regattas.

Klotz discusses his experience racing Thistles in high winds at the Mallory quarter-finals, analyzing what causes mast failures and offering practical advice for preventing damage. He addresses tradeoffs in mast design and emphasizes the importance of proper vang tension and careful jibing technique.

Collection of letters from readers addressing various topics including governing board procedures, Thistle chassis selection, women's participation in sailing, measurement protests, and encouragement for new sailors. Topics include rules interpretation, boat design appreciation, and welcoming new members to the class.

An account of a dramatic lightning strike incident at the Richmond County Yacht Club regatta in Staten Island that struck multiple boats, destroying masts and injuring crew members. The article provides historical safety rules for responding to lightning storms at sea and emphasizes personal responsibility for outdoor sailing decisions.

Hamilton launches a new regular column in the Bagpipe dedicated to promoting women's participation in Thistle sailing. She discusses the various roles women play in the class, encourages more women to take the helm as skippers, and invites readers to suggest topics for future columns addressing women's specific interests and needs.

Martell describes her first Thistle regatta in Indianapolis in April, attended by her husband Stu and their son Jake. Despite cold, rainy weather, a broken boom, and difficult conditions, the family had a great time and enjoyed the camaraderie and atmosphere of the Thistle racing community.

A detailed technical guide to executing roll tacks in Thistle sailing, with 14 numbered steps covering the movement and coordination of the entire crew. The article emphasizes proper crew positioning, timing, and the specific responsibilities of the middle crew, skipper, and other crew members to execute a smooth, efficient tack.

A comparative wind pattern study analyzing sailing conditions on Long Island Sound between the 1960s and 1980s. Using data from 1965-1967 compared to 1986-1989, the authors present statistical analysis showing changes in wind directions and strength, with several key findings about shifts in prevailing wind patterns over the 20-year period.

Bryce Dryden, formerly from Cleveland, returns to I.S.C. to win the 8-Ball Regatta held in cold, rainy weather with 37 boats competing. The article details the racing over three days with Dryden finishing first overall, followed by Brian Pace and Tom Hubbell, with multiple race-by-race results and finisher information.

Report on the Damfull Regatta held at Leatherslips Yacht Club in Columbus, Ohio, which was a great success with beautiful Saturday weather and lighter Sunday winds. The article describes three races with varying wind conditions and sailing quality, emphasizing the fun and social atmosphere enjoyed by all participants.

Report on the Memorial Day Regatta at Eugenia Yacht Club's inland 14's championship, which was the largest Thistle one-design class regatta with 20 boats from various areas. The article describes variable wind conditions, race strategy, and individual skipper performances over five races.

Report on the South Atlantic Districts regatta held at Lake Logan Martin in Alabama during April 19-20, with Thistles from Alabama and Georgia facing hard blowing winds. The championship was won by Loy Vaughan with his home field advantage, with the host club adding 11 of their fleet members joined by boats from other areas.

Report on the 11th Annual Separation Day Regatta held by the New Castle Sailing Club in Delaware on June 1, celebrating the separation of Delaware from Pennsylvania. Three races were held under ideal 6-10 knot wind conditions with club-owned Thistles competing for the Perpetual Thistle Trophy.

Report on the Great Pond Championship at Cowan Lake with 23 boats turning out on June 15 for the first race. The article describes challenging weather including thunderstorms, camping conditions, and dining arrangements, with emphasis on the social and family-friendly aspects of the event alongside the racing competition.

Report on the Bottoms-Up Regatta won by Andy Russell from Lake Norman, North Carolina, who used Buddy Melge's formula of jumping out at the start and leading at the weather mark. The article describes multi-state participation and mentions that the event is planned as a major Thistle-Lightning event for next year.

A humorous account of a Central-Southern Interdistricts regatta at Little Rock, Arkansas, where unpredictable weather, shifting winds, and changing racing conditions created a challenging and entertaining day of sailing for competitors from the region.

Race results table for the 1991 Central-Southern Interdistrict Championship showing skipper placings with boat numbers and points across two races, with Atherton winning the championship.

Collection of classified advertisements for Thistle boats for sale, replacement parts, sails, and sailing-related services including boat clearinghouse information and classified ad submission instructions.

North Sails advertisement describing their extensive sail testing program and new sail designs available for Thistles. The ad emphasizes the Supermain and new jib designs tested on Long Island Sound, offers a 10% discount on new sail orders through January 15, and includes racing gloves with orders.