December 2019/January 2020

Howell presents data from the 2019 TCA Class Survey showing the average Thistle sailor is 57-59 years old, requiring 250-300 new members under 40 in the next decade to sustain the class. He outlines a goal of adding one new member per fleet every two years and highlights proven growth initiatives from other clubs.

Gillum shares her personal journey with Thistles as a lifelong participant and her recent decision to join the Executive Committee. She reflects on how the class has given her family lasting memories and relationships, and encourages others to contribute to the class through donations, loaning boats, hosting open houses, and sharing their passion for Thistle sailing.

Joy Martin provides a practical checklist of ten actions that individual members and fleets can take to support the Thistle Class Association, ranging from hosting fleet events to maintain engagement and collect dues to keeping contact information current.

President Hubbell outlines ten goals for his administration, including making TCA known as sociable people who welcome newcomers, becoming "The Class that Teaches Sailing," expanding coaching opportunities, creating boat grant programs, and improving inclusivity for families with young children.

Klotz advocates for team racing as a growth and promotion tool within the Thistle class. He explains team racing benefits, structure, and suggests best practices for fleet-level implementation, emphasizing camaraderie over competition.

Coach-TCA is a specialized coaching program wrapping around the Midwinters East regatta in St. Petersburg, Florida. Featuring renowned coach Greg Fisher, the program includes personalized boat tune-up, daily shore sessions, post-race analyses, and on-board coaching with reduced or free costs for new sailors.

Calendar of upcoming Thistle Class events and regattas from December 2019 through August 2020, including the 75th Anniversary Nationals.

Three trivia questions about the history of the Midwinters East regatta at St. Petersburg Yacht Club, with answers revealing early winners, famous sailors who have raced there, and the remarkable 50-year consecutive participation record.

Preview and details for the 2020 Midwinters West regatta at Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, including practice day, racing schedule, match racing, and previous year's winners.

Report on the Sacramento Thistle Fleet's participation in the 2019 Delta Dinghy Ditch Run (DDDR), a unique long-distance regatta where boats are launched at Rio Vista and finish at the Port of West Sacramento. Six Thistles competed, with Steven Hale and Alex Burke finishing first in fleet.

Advertisement for Rooke Sails Acrylic Thistle covers featuring 1st quality Sunbrella material, various styles, and custom options with over 40 years of experience making boat covers.

Report from the spring Adirondack Thistle Invitational at Saratoga Sailing Club with 18 boats competing in three races under challenging, gusty conditions. Doug Kaukeinen's team dominated the competitive field in shifty winds.

Christine Rice recalls her family's sailing heritage at Atwood Lake and describes the emotional experience of returning to the Harvest Moon Regatta. The regatta featured young sailors and family crews, with Jack Finefrock winning the Growler trophy for the second consecutive year.

Report from the Dornin Memorial Regatta at Pymatuning Yacht Club, the second stop in the Lake Erie Fall Series. Ryan Anstrom's crew won consistently across five races in light to medium winds with many shifts, while the fleet enjoyed a chili dinner and spectacular moonrise on Saturday evening.

Report from the Johnson Memorial Regatta on Chautauqua Lake where light and shifty wind conditions made for a challenging but rewarding event. Steve Lavender and Dave Stetson won with consistency, while Jack and Kathy Finefrock made a dramatic comeback in Race 2.

Young sailors Finn and Evelyn Shedden share their perspectives on sailing in the Lake Erie Fall Series at three regattas (Atwood Harvest Moon, Pymatuning Dornin Memorial, and Chautauqua Johnson Memorial). Their candid observations capture both the challenges and joys of junior sailing.

Report from the Detroit Icebreaker Regatta at Crescent Sail Yacht Club with challenging conditions over two days. Saturday featured four races with shifts and changing weather, while Sunday saw larger waves and difficult conditions that led to the cancellation of racing.

North Cape Yacht Club hosted the Blow Out Regatta on October 5, 2019, where Craig Koschalk dominated with three bullets (first place finishes) in three races. Twelve boats enjoyed fantastic fall sailing conditions with excellent racing and three triangle courses managed by John Greiner.

The Edgewater Fall Regatta (also called Thistle Fall Regatta) took place at Edgewater Yacht Club on October 12, 2019. PRO Mike Vining made the prudent decision to keep the fleet in protected harbor waters instead of venturing onto Lake Erie in challenging conditions, resulting in five quick races in beautiful autumn weather.

Twenty-four boats sailed the Last Splash Regatta at Hoover Sailing Club on October 19, 2019 in typical fall conditions. Ben France and Mark Hess demonstrated consistency throughout five races, with Hoover's characteristic mix of competitive racing and fun atmosphere.

Final standings and summary for the 2019 Lake Erie Fall Series (LEFS), including skipper and crew trophy winners. Craig Koschalk won the skipper trophy and Lauren O'Hara and Ryan Kyle tied for the crew trophy.

A column featuring miscellaneous and unexpected Thistle-related anecdotes and photos, including sailing humor and personal moments from members.

Report from the Old Salty Regatta at Lake Norman Yacht Club with 20 boats from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Scott and Nerissa Griffin won with the best boat handling in moderate to heavy, shifty winds on Saturday, while Sunday's lighter conditions determined the final results.

Report from the Cowan Lake Blow-out Regatta with variable wind conditions that tested boat handling skills. The fleet sailed five races on Saturday with challenging oscillations, while Sunday's light conditions proved so shifty that the race committee struggled to set a course, inspiring a humorous parody of Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away."

Report from the Wild Turkey Regatta at Occonee Sailing & Yacht Club in Georgia with light, shifty wind conditions that made for challenging racing. Only one complete race was held on Saturday and an abandoned race on Sunday, but the fleet enjoyed Thai food, camaraderie, and celebrating birthdays.

Information about joining or renewing membership in the Thistle Class Association, including various membership types (Active, Family, Associate, Junior, Contributing, Sustaining), benefits of membership, and three easy ways to join.