October 1948

A new fleet of ten Thistles has been established on the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay, featuring several prominent sailors including William Heipts (president of Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association) and other notable figures in Thistle sailing.

A humorous account by George Bridgeman of the dean of the Canandaigua Fleet, recounting an unexplained incident during a race on Canandaigua Lake where his boat experienced unusual wind conditions and behavior.

A report on the three-race renewal of the 1947 Snow Flurries Series at Port Clinton, Ohio, featuring various Thistle boats and noting that Jack Snell finally achieved his ambition of entering a two-series event.

News from the Toledo Yacht Club, highlighting Bill Miller's winning of the new Trophy of the Toledo Fleet with his boat, and noting that Walt Rudman will be the eighth member to have Thistle Fever.

Report on Thistle Fleet No. 1 of Cleveland, Y.C., where Chuck Williams with his FUSAT TASEK No. 225 took the lead in points over the Fall and Saturday series racing.

Race results from Canaandaigua Fleet No. 10, where Emory Kamps and his MARLIN DOT No. 180 won the fleet championship with a narrow margin of 1/4 point.

Fleet No. 10 sailed four series of eight races, with George Bridgeman winning the first two series and receiving the Hughes Trophy and LeBoutillier Trophy.

Report on the President's Cup Regatta with application made after the program was established. The committee forced to start the races only 10 minutes after the last class, necessitating considerable handling of boats.

Historical account of the first Thistle race on Chesapeake Bay on August 22, 1946, where five Thistles sailed from various points and converged at Corsica River Yacht Club for the first Thistle class race.

Brief note about Briggs Cunningham of Southport, Conn., owner of Thistle No. 199, who was the skipper of the Six-Meter CODS won by George Nichols in the international challenge for the Scandinavian Gold Cup.

The Bretti Trophy Race held at Lake Hopatcong, N.J., featuring an annual free-for-all for boats up to 18 feet, with winners and top finishers listed.

News from Grosse Ile fleet which raised under a point-postponement system, reporting on twelve scheduled races and noting that George Derwin gathered the most points.

Brief mention of talk about a Thistle event being planned during the Orange Bowl Regatta at Miami, Florida, with more details promised in November.

A series of brief fleet news items reporting on Thistle boats being sold, purchased, and delivered to various locations across the United States.

Administrative announcement regarding membership dues and budget matters for the Thistle Class Association, with instructions for members regarding fee payments and National Secretary contact information.

Request from the Thistle Class Association for pictures of Thistles - both stills and movies - to help develop documentation for the class and support various fleet and club interests.