August/September 1997

Editor's column reflecting on the death of Rob Royce (779), a beloved Thistle sailor and member of the founding Royce family. Lawrence also notes this is her eleventh of twelve planned issues and discusses layout improvements made to the Bagpipe.

News about sailing in the Lake area, featuring Jessica Gise winning a pineapple award at Dixie, and Mari Gise winning boat loads of awards. Mentions new sailing couple Jessica and Mark.

Comprehensive guide to the organizational structure and roles within the Thistle class growth and promotion efforts. Schauble explains various levels including fleet-level officers, district-level positions, regional vice presidents, and national-level responsibilities, with specific examples of how each position contributes to growing the class.

Schauble provides practical advice on fleet maintenance, handling lost boats, boat sleuths, and web page development. He discusses the importance of keeping current fleet members engaged while building new relationships, the value of maintaining boat activity, and updates to the new Thistle website.

Profile of Frank McKinnon and his journey into Thistle racing. Valentino chronicles McKinnon's path from being a newcomer to competitive sailing through his involvement with the Thistle community, his boat Honey Mustard, participation in the Dixie Regatta, and his growth as a sailor alongside the Lake Norman Thistlers.

Photo captions from a party and racing event, featuring humorous observations about Thistle sailors and activities, including mentions of Kit Holzaepfel's new invention and various skipper interactions.

Humorous list of signs indicating someone is obsessed with Thistle sailing, covering various lifestyle aspects, family situations, and sailing-related quirks that exemplify true Thistle dedication.

Narrative account of a Thistle regatta at Huntington, Long Island, where the author and crew encounter various challenges and ultimately file a protest over a controversial incident involving another competitor, highlighting the camaraderie and friendly competition within the fleet.

Detailed narrative of a capsizing incident during a Thistle race involving the boat Seriously Twisted. The author vividly recounts the chaos of the spinnaker wrapping around the boat, crew efforts to right it, and the dramatic recovery including a collision with a crash boat and final successful righting and re-rigging.

Obituary and personal tribute to Rob Royce (779), celebrating his life as a beloved sailor, his family connections to the Thistle class, and his role as part of a strong sailing team with his brother Rick and wife Carol.

Guide to upcoming ECFS events for September through October, including details about regattas, locations, and attractions in various sailing destinations along the Eastern seaboard.

Comprehensive report on the 1997 sailing season in the Carolinas and Southeast, covering spring events, memorial day racing, summer districts competition, and fall schedule. Lawrence highlights multiple regattas, fleet activity, and sailing conditions throughout the region.

Report on Lake Erie West District sailing activities, noting the quality of racing and social activity improvements due to weather conditions. Busby discusses fleet activity and the potential for hosting combined events with neighboring districts.

Update on Niagara Frontier Thistle racing and upcoming events, including descriptions of championship regattas, fall series schedule, and a note about potential Fairhaven Fleet 25 revival with emphasis on East Coast Fall racing.

Brief announcements for upcoming Michiana District events including the Michiana Championship in September and other regattas throughout the fall season.

Technical guide explaining how to accurately measure boat weight using bathroom scales and simple calculations. Benson provides step-by-step instructions with formulas to determine boat weight to within one percent accuracy, plus advice on improving measurement accuracy.

Comprehensive guide to tuning Thistle boats and optimizing sail shape through experimentation and comparison. Geiger discusses mast bend, rig tension, sail photography techniques, and specific tuning methods used by North designers to improve boat performance and consistency.

Entertaining report on the 1997 Island Time Dixie Regatta with humorous descriptions of the three-day event including pre-race activities, dramatic weather changes, and results, highlighting the festive atmosphere and camaraderie among competing Thistlers.

Report on the 1997 Michiana District Championship held in Detroit, where Bruce King claimed victory with Ron Sherry in second place. Jerman describes challenging sailing conditions with light air and chop, highlighting competitive racing and team dynamics.

Report on the Mid America District Championship held in Memphis where seven boats competed, highlighting strong race management and the festive BBQ atmosphere. Coverage includes race results and appreciation for the host club's hospitality.

Report on the Central Southern Interdistrict Championship held in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Chris LaBorde claimed victory in thrilling conditions with dramatic wind shifts and challenging weather changes throughout the event.

Report on the Adirondack Invitational regatta held at Saratoga Lake Sailing Club where Chris Kaukeinen claimed overall victory in challenging conditions with multiple capsize incidents and dramatic weather shifts throughout the weekend.

Report on the Lake Erie West District Championship where Kit Holzaepfel triumphed over Tim Boucher in competitive sailing conditions. Busby describes the weekend's challenging light-air racing and humorous post-race festivities including a guacamole-themed contest.

Report on the New Castle Sailing Club's annual Separation Day Invitational Regatta held in June, celebrating the commemoration of English rule separation. Frazier describes the challenging sailing conditions, spirited competition, and the Stadler family's championship performance.

Report on the Thoroughbred Regatta at Cave Run Lake featuring humorous observations about competitive sailing, trophy presentations, and the event's successful organization and outcomes.

Collection of classified listings for Thistle sailboats for sale and miscellaneous sailing equipment and services, including boats at various price points and conditions, along with contact information for sellers.