December 2015/January 2016

Advertising section for the December 2015/January 2016 issue featuring sail makers (North Sails, Quantum Sails), Thistle-specific products and services (JibMaster products, Partee Accents, Hathaway-Jones Publishing sailing instruction books), and publication information including the Bagpipe rate card and contact information.

President Griffin reflects on the 2015 sailing season, noting over 60 Thistles regattas hosted across the country and celebrating major anniversaries including the 60th Mid-Winters East and 70th National Championship. He addresses challenges such as declining fleet attendance and regattas, noting some fleets are at minimum size, while highlighting the reinstatement of Fleet 169 in Newport as a success story. Griffin discusses the 2016 Midwinters East format changes with races split between Sarasota and St. Pete venues.

Martin launches a new column series interviewing Thistle sailors about how they were introduced to the class and what keeps them engaged. She shares her own story of getting into sailing through a yacht club, discovering the Thistle through another club member, and eventually winning the Junior Nationals. Martin emphasizes paying it forward by helping other sailors get started, and previews an upcoming interview with Pat O'Connor from Newport about their fleet's growth.

Finefrock outlines the new 2016 Midwinters East format split between two venues. Sarasota Sailing Squadron will host Part 1 (February 28-March 1) with approximately 9 races over 3 days, while St. Petersburg Yacht Club will host Part 2 (March 2-4) with racing Wednesday through Friday. Both venues offer excellent facilities, nearby housing options, and social events including meals and beverages.

McBride announces the 2016 Thistle National Championships will be held July 23-29 at Eugene Yacht Club in Oregon. He provides practical advice for participants traveling to the event, including information about the beautiful Fern Ridge Reservoir venue, camping and RV options, social activities planned, and suggestions for carpooling and double-decking boats to reduce vacation time needed.

A feature article about Eugene Yacht Club's history and experience hosting Thistle events. The club was formed in 1940 and has grown into a major sailing venue on Fern Ridge Reservoir. Fleet 118 was established in the early 1960s and grew to 37 boats by 1970. The article chronicles the club's hosting of Nationals in 1969 (first West Coast Nationals), 2002, and 2007, with Mike Ingham winning twice. The club is prepared for the 2016 Nationals with excellent facilities and a tradition of large regattas.

The 17th annual Lumberjack Regatta sponsored by the Rotary Club was held August 29-30, 2015 at Tupper Lake, New York. Nineteen Thistles from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont participated. Three races were completed Saturday with light to moderate winds, followed by a cookout. Sunday's races were cancelled due to light winds by noon, though conditions improved later. Eric Gesner won first place, John Baker second, and Steve Gruver third.

The 2015 Thistle Labor Day regatta, the Eat Moore's Crabs Regatta, was held September 5-6 at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis. Thirteen Thistles participated with good winds. Five races were completed with Charles Krafft winning overall. The regatta is famous for its crab feast, a tradition started 45 years ago by fleet member Tom Lawton and now underwritten annually by Don Moore, giving the regatta its name.

The opening regatta of the Lake Erie Fall Series was held at Vermilion Boat Club in August 2015 with 18 teams. Light winds required a paddle to the racecourse, but conditions improved with five races completed. Jack Finefrock won the regatta with a strong finish after a slow first race. The series featured tight starting lines, short courses, big wind shifts, and giant holes requiring intense focus.

The 65th Harvest Moon Regatta was held at Atwood Lake September 12-13 with 16 boats. Saturday brought strong winds gusting to 25-30 mph with four races completed. Tom Hubbell led after day one with four first-place finishes. Sunday brought beautiful sunny conditions with lighter winds. Hubbell maintained his lead with two more first places. Ben France finished second and Steve White third. Participants enjoyed the excellent food and camaraderie of the Thistle family.

The Dorin Memorial Regatta at Pymatuning Yacht Club on September 19-20 featured dramatic wind shifts and conditions that split the weekend. Saturday brought south-southwest winds with big shifts from the right, big puffs, and several wipeouts. Sunday featured east-southeast breeze with more predictable conditions. Tom Hubbell won the regatta in a tight competition with Conor Ruppen finishing second and Steve White third.

The Fall Blow-Out at North Cape Yacht Club on October 10, 2015 featured three races with shifting winds from north to east. Kyle and Jackie Finefrock with Sarah Paisley dominated the day. Nicole Shedden's team won the second race by playing the middle of the course. The event marks the 49th Blow Out, with plans to celebrate the 50th next year with an expanded celebration.

The Cleveland Yachting Club regatta on September 26, 2015 was held at the 1995 Nationals venue with 16 boats. A southerly breeze brought shifty conditions with 30-degree wind shifts and views of downtown Cleveland. Tom Hubbell continued his dominance of the Lake Erie Fall Series with consistent smart sailing in tough conditions. Kyle Finefrock finished second and Ben France third.

The Johnson Memorial Regatta at Lake Chautauqua on October 17, 2015 featured five boats racing in sunny conditions with winds between 10-15 mph and temperatures surprisingly warm for fall. Four races were completed with unique formats: a windward/leeward, a long upwind race ending at Webb's restaurant on shore, a long downwind with jibe mark, and another windward/leeward. Tom Hubbell's team won the regatta with a chicken curry dinner and awards ceremony held at the Hubble home.

The final regatta of the Lake Erie Fall Series was held at Hoover Reservoir on October 24, 2015 with 19 competitors. Despite dire weather forecasts, conditions were excellent with southerly breezes in the low to mid teens and pleasant fall temperatures. Seven two-lap races were completed in under four hours. Craig Koschalk won the regatta, Jack Finefrock finished second, and Kyle Finefrock third. The event concluded with excellent apres-sail gathering organized by Mary McNitt.

An interview with 25-year-old Kira Munger, Assistant Editor for Blue Water Sailing Magazine and Head Coach for East Greenwich High School Sailing. Munger is a charter member of the newly reinstated Fleet 169 in Newport, Rhode Island. She got into the Thistle through her brother, who co-owned #1337. Munger appreciates the prevalence of competitive wooden boats in the class and the supportive wooden boat community. Her favorite Thistle memory is the Newport Fall Championship on Halloween with Fleet 169.

A comprehensive technical article about symmetric spinnaker trimming and aerodynamics. Drawing on wind-tunnel research at Cornell University, Ingham explains how wind flows through spinnakers in reach mode versus run mode, and provides detailed guidance on pole angle, pole height, sail trim, heel angle, and steering techniques for both modes. The article includes Thistle-specific notes about the boat's light weight and large sail area.