February/March 1995

President Valla reflects on the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of the Thistle Class and invites skippers from the Goguac Lake fleet to participate. He encourages attendance at the celebration and emphasizes the importance of the Nationals.

Editor reflects on the 1995 Midwinter West regatta, discussing the ideal sailing conditions, various sailing stories from competitors, and acknowledging charter boats used by competitors from different regions for the event.

Brief editorial notes highlighting Elmer Richards' class win at Southwest Harbor regatta, and reporting on former editor Larry Haugd's travel experiences in Australia and New Zealand.

Collection of reader letters addressing various topics including women's sailing invitations, raising children in the Thistle class, family sailing concerns, and stories about Turtle and Moe (boats), along with discussion about boat safety and children.

List of recently joined Thistle Class members across multiple districts.

Memo from the Governing Board outlining the qualification criteria for skippers to race in the 1995 National Championship at Cleveland Yachting Club, including a 120 boat limit and various qualifying pathways.

Jack Finefrock reports on the progress of planning for the 50th Anniversary Celebration Regatta in Cleveland, noting nearly 300 survey responses and encouraging direct contact with past members about the event.

Detailed schedule of events for the 50th Anniversary celebration regatta weekend in Cleveland, August 3-6, 1995, including registration, racing, social activities, and ceremonies.

Information about the Class's used boat listing service, which helps buyers and sellers connect through the Bagpipe classified ads and the Class office.

Detailed bylaws changes concerning qualification for the National Championship, including requirements for boat ownership, registration, and various qualifying pathways.

Comprehensive history of the Thistle sailboat class from its origins in the 1930s through early 1990s, covering designer Sandy Douglass, early fleet formation, National Championships, and evolution of the class design.

Request from Jim Irwin for photographs, slides, and memorabilia from the past 50 years of the Thistle Class for display and montage at the 50th anniversary celebration.

Humorous account of attending a corporate business meeting while sailing, using sailing metaphors to describe business challenges like trimming expenses and dealing with corporate friction problems.

Marty discusses the controversy over wearing life jackets while racing, noting that while proper flotation is important for safety, some sailors debate when and how such equipment should be required.

Technical article about the Thistle's design and construction over 50 years, including modern rigging systems (Jib, Spinnaker) and components, with diagrams showing different halyard and sheet configurations.

Technical tips section featuring photographs of six Thistle competitors demonstrating various equipment setup ideas for faster sailing, including compass placement and shock cord routing.

Results from the 1995 MidWinters West regatta showing the top finishers in Championship Division and Presidents Division.

Race report from the 1994 Atlantic Coast Championship regatta at Severn Sailing Association and Thistle Fleet 34, describing Ched Proctor's consistent performance across five races and victory at the regatta.

Humorous account of the Turkey Shoot regatta on Lake Washington, describing unusual weather shifts, challenges on the water, and commentary on Wade Behling's strong performance in the championship division.

Reprinted articles from the Bagpipe archives featuring stories and advice from past decades of the Thistle Class, including historical race accounts and advice columns.

Humorous rating guide for evaluating crew performance across multiple sailing categories using a five-point scale from excellent to forget it.

Comprehensive checklist for preparing boat trailers for towing out-of-town regattas, covering frame, wheels, lights, straps, hitch, and double deck trailers.

Collection of classified advertisements for Thistle boats for sale, parts, sails, covers, and related services.