October 1947

The final major yachting event of the season was held at Port Clinton, Ohio on October 11th under the Port Clinton Yacht Club. Eight Thistles participated in a three-race series with Jim Hendrickson's BLAC JAC, No. 21 emerging as victor, followed by Bill Schwalbert's TWINS and Snell & Bassett's THIS'LL DO. Sandy Douglass also participated, placing his PAUKIE in front during the Sunday afternoon race.

During the Lightning class Nationals at Toledo, Jack Snell challenged 12 of the hottest Lightning skippers to race three Thistles. The Thistles dominated the race, building a nine-minute margin at the first mark and extending it to fourteen minutes at the second mark before the Lightnings gave up.

Thistles have been winning open races across multiple venues. Notable victories include John Brogan's MARBLE at Ephraim Y.C., Ray Breidster's SAD SAC at Milwaukee Y.C., and George Geil's WAVE consistently winning in the 16 foot class around Chesapeake Bay.

The Toledo Thistle fleet completed a competitive season with ten championship races. Snell & Bassett's THIS'LL DO finished first with 236 points, followed by Bill Schwalbert's TWINS with 235 points, Bill Miller's CAMTIE COO with 232 points, and Bollin & Seyrang's BARTIE BIT with 228 points. The fleet conducted 22 total races including regular Sunday events, night races, long distance races, and picnic races.

Cleveland Thistlers continued racing after the official season ended. Al Roder Riven organized a two-race series between four Thistles and an equal number of Stars competing for a "Thistles" trophy. Although a Thistle won both races, a Star skipper was steering, but participants and spectators still had a rousing good time.

Mrs. Edward Billinghurst of Cleveland Heights, Ohio purchased Ray McArdle's Thistle No. 3 and plans to start a fleet at W.C.I.C. Ray is getting a new boat next year. W.O. Rockwell of Manila is also getting a Thistle, which will help develop the fleet in the Philippines where boats were destroyed during the war.

Secretary W. J. Stauffer of K.L.I.C. reported on the Klinger Lake fleet, which consisted of three Thistles this season with more expected next year. Fred Crapo's ICE WILLIE is the fleet patriarch, John Kirsch sails JAGAR, and Russ Fetter owns CREAM PIE. Fetter won the season championship while Kirsch's JAGAR won the Club Handicap Series. Both Fetter and Kirsch used different sail materials, with plans to switch to nylon next year.

Miscellaneous news items including John Sheldon transporting BLUE MOON from the Nationals to Maine, Beulah Seifert receiving a Thistle-shaped gift from fellow Thistlers, and Bruce Cox's BRUCE'S JOY setting a course record at Turquoise Lake Regatta despite a disqualification.