April 1947

The 1947 National Championship races will be held during Labor Day weekend (August 30-September 1) at Cleveland Yacht Club at Rocky River, Ohio. Gordon "Sandy" Douglass chairs the event, which will feature excellent facilities including a dining room and swimming pool.

Secretary Bob Garman reports that a new Thistle fleet has been organized at Edgewater Yacht Club in Cleveland with four boats (numbers 57, 17, 98, and 52). The fleet is planning summer racing and welcomes additional owners to join.

Willis S. Crumb's journey with his black-hulled Thistle from Ohio through Oklahoma to Texas is chronicled. After sailing at LeatherLips Yacht Club near Columbus, Crumb sold his hardware store and moved west, eventually settling in Waco, Texas where he bought a haberdashery business.

Secretary-Treasurer Stanley Bassett announces that Thistle owners who have not registered their boats or paid dues will receive a statement by May. Delinquent boats will be listed in the June Bagpipe and barred from official races.

The Secretary encourages Thistle sailors in Los Angeles (three boats) and New York City (five boats) to organize local fleets and plan to compete at the National Championship in Cleveland.

Sandy Douglass's Thistle No. 1, "Fausel," was featured in color films shown at LeatherLips Yacht Club, demonstrating superior light-air sailing technique. The film was taken at the 1946 Buckeye Lake regatta organized by the Ohio Inter-Club Yachting Association.

Miscellaneous news briefs about Thistle owners and boats, including boat registrations, sail makers, batten suppliers, boat building activities, and an upcoming Literary Contest for the newsletter.

Kenyon Glor recounts taking delivery of the new Thistle "Wee Win" and sailing from Douglass & McLeod down Grand River to Fairport with an inexperienced crew. Despite rough conditions and several mishaps, the boat's superior handling impressed the new sailors.