February - May 2004

Coverage of the 2004 Midwinters West regatta in San Diego with 31 boats from the West Coast and Ohio. Skip Dieball won the championship division with three first-place finishes Friday, leading throughout the series. The regatta featured variable ocean and bay conditions with light winds and moderate swells on Friday, stronger westerly winds Saturday, and calm conditions Sunday.

First-hand account of the Presidents Division competition at Midwinters West from a skipper managing crew including school-aged family members. The fleet faced challenging ocean conditions with large swells and variable winds, followed by calm bay conditions. Mike Poltorak won with consistent top finishes while Luke Miller and other younger skippers showed strong performances.

Brent Barbehenn reflects on the successful Midwinters East regatta with 20 Coach-TCA participants and encourages class members to increase their regatta attendance. He discusses the importance of fleet captains and district governors, reminds members about membership renewal and fleet report submissions, and challenges all sailors to attend two additional regattas beyond their usual schedule.

Mike Duff's editor's column covers several administrative items including Nationals registration (with emphasis on doing it early), the digital compass amendment proposal, publishing schedule, updated regatta calendar, and recognition of four University of Kansas Thistle Class members graduating in 2004.

Comprehensive coverage of the 2004 Midwinters East regatta at St. Petersburg Sailing Center with 62 competitors. The week featured unusually light wind conditions contrasting with a strong cold front at arrival. Skip Dieball won the series with consistency and aggressive downwind sailing, while social activities and coaching programs kept participants engaged throughout the regatta.

Official registration form and entry procedures for the 2004 Thistle National Championships, including skipper and crew information, special award categories, entry fees, food packages, and merchandise options. Late fees apply after July 1 and July 15.

Official Notice of Race for the 2004 Thistle National Championships scheduled July 31-August 6 at Michigan City Yacht Club in Michigan City, Indiana. Details eligibility, entry procedures, registration requirements, race schedule, courses, measurement specifications, and scoring procedures.

Minutes from the Governing Board Meeting held February 29, 2004 at SPYC, including officer reports on membership, web page updates, Nationals preparation in Michigan City, long-range planning for 2005 Nationals bid from Lavallette, NJ, and discussion of class participation growth through Coach-TCA.

Tom Hubbell, Coach-TCA Director, presents outcomes from eight years of the coaching program. Roughly 450 participants have attended, with measurable improvements in performance, particularly for low-performing racers moving up 25-50 percentiles after taking the course. The program has contributed to stable MWE attendance and broader interest in Thistle racing education.

Photo captions and award winners from the 2004 Midwinters East regatta at St. Petersburg, recognizing top five finishing boats and their crews.

Complete race results table from the 2004 Midwinters East regatta showing finishing positions for all 65 competitors across eight races, with Skip Dieball winning with 50 total points.

A reflective piece from a non-sailing observer at Midwinters East about the experience of accompanying racing sailors. The article celebrates the camaraderie, support systems, and shared history that make the regatta special for observers, families, and non-racing participants.

Information about a new child care program at the 2004 Nationals in Michigan City for children ages 4 and older. The program provides supervised daily activities including trips to the zoo, kitemaking, and other activities while parents sail, available for $100 for the full week including lunch.

Proposal from Fleet 34 to amend Chief Measurer's Ruling 65 to allow digital compasses, specifically the Tacktick Micro Compass model T061, in Thistle class racing. The proposal outlines advantages (lighter weight, space-saving, superior damping, easy to read when heeled) and disadvantages (cost, fragility, theft risk) with voting instructions for fleet members.

Recognition of Duke (Marion) Rohrbaugh as the 2004 Parton Clark Award recipient. Over 30 years of volunteer service at Midwinters East, Duke has served as mark boat operator, safety support, and signal boat operator after winning the Florida lottery. His contributions have made the regatta enjoyable for countless participants.

Recognition of Don Gregory as the 2004 Ted Tolson Award recipient for Race Committee volunteer excellence at Midwinters East. After a lifetime of athletic and sailing pursuits, Don serves as the "sandwich man" keeping RC vessels provisioned while also providing wind readings and early morning greetings.

Comprehensive calendar of Thistle Class regattas scheduled throughout 2004, organized by month from July through November. Includes national and regional championships, local fleet regattas, and interdistrict events with contact information and locations.

Classified advertisements and marketplace listings including boats for sale, boat parts and accessories for sale, services, and subscription information. Includes used Thistle sailboat listings with various conditions and pricing.