September 1948

Gordon K. Douglas of Vermillion Boat Club, Ohio sailed PAUKIE No. 1 to victory at the 3rd Annual Thistle National Championship held at Canandaigua Lake, New York on September 4-6, 1948. Douglas won with 1223 points, edging Orrin Keller's ALIBI No. 8 by 5½ points. The regatta featured three races with varying wind conditions, including light air races and a stronger final race. Complete standings and race details are provided.

Complete race results and standings from the 3rd National Thistle Championship held at Canandaigua Yachting Club, September 4-6, 1948. Includes full entry list with 43 boats, detailed scoring showing position in each race, and notes on specific entries.

Report on the success of the 3rd National Regatta at Canandaigua Yacht Club, praising the judges and hosts. The regatta featured a busy social program including a cocktail hour, banquet, dance, punch reception, and buffet supper. Despite some challenges with boat handling in variable winds, attendees enjoyed the competition and social activities.

The Thistle Class Association elected new officers: Frank LeBoutillier as President, Donald A. Beverage as Vice President, Erwin J. McGuire as Secretary-Treasurer, and Edward J. Hanna as BAGPIPE Editor. A new by-law was introduced and approved regarding the nominating committee composition.

The Annual Meeting was called to order by President John R. Lovett. Reports indicated the Thistle Association was in healthy and solvent financial condition. The assembly discussed various matters pertaining to class design, which were referred to Chief Measurer D.C. Kline for further analysis.

Thirteen Thistles competed at Mentor Harbor Y.C. on August 22, 1948 in extremely light air with an offshore breeze. John Lovett's WEB LOVETT TOO No. 3 won by employing tactical positioning and smart racing, followed by Fred Best's JADE No. 104 and Elmo Farmer's TIGGY No. 11.

The Windsor, Canada Y.C. Regatta was sailed on July 10, 1948 in a twenty mile wind. A.R. Waugaman in JABIWA No. 101 was declared the Thistle Class winner, though further details were not available.

Harvey Busch has regained his position as fleet leader at Edgewater Y.C. with recent wins in NAN TOO No. 52, while Emery Kamps maintains a strong points lead in NATURE BOY No. 180. Competition for the club championship promises to be close.

Bill Miller with CANTIE COG No. 55 won the Glass Trophy at the Toledo Aquarama event.

Bill Schwalbert with TW' IMPS No. 40 was the Thistle Class Winner at the Ottawa River Y.C. Regatta.

Three Thistles competed at the Milwaukee Journal Annual Regatta. W.J. Rohan from Racine Y.C. won with TARTAR No. 46, Tony Herrmann took second with STICKERS No. 32, and Wallace Jazor finished third with FLOWAL No. 50. Conditions featured plenty of wind.

The Black-Rock, Fayerweather Y.C. Invitation Regatta held in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 10-11, 1948 hosted four Thistles. Roger Brett's LADY ANNE No. 191 won both days, followed by Dick Ford Jr.'s THISTLE WHISTLE No. 232, Ronald J. Small's LYYILI No. 221, and Hobart Beets' SALTY DOG No. 252.

Thistles currently compete in the Large Sail Area Class at Pass-A-Grille Y.C., Florida. John Wilhelm of St. Petersburg in an unidentified Thistle won the class and also the race from St. Petersburg to Pass-A-Grille, which was apparently an open race.

Only two Thistles competed at the Eastern Connecticut Y.R.A. Regatta at Greshan's Island: Roger Brett's LADY ANNE No. 191 and Ronald Small's LYYILI No. 221. Racing separately as their own class, these boats generated interest from spectators unfamiliar with Thistles. LADY ANNE won the three-day regatta with two races to one.

The Buckeye Lake Yacht Club and Lightning Fleet No. 43 invited Lightning and Thistle class boats to their 3rd Annual Snow Ball Regatta scheduled for October 16-17, 1948 at Buckeye Lake, Ohio. The event featured a "Sailing Clinic" conducted by nationally known skippers, followed by a party, with races at 2:30 P.M. Saturday and 9:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. Sunday.

The 11th Annual Onondaga Regatta held September 11-12, 1948 was a combined sailing and power boat event that was well attended. Bob Brower of Fair Haven Y.C. won with HESS PAD No. 285. Tom Thurlow's No. 304 and Roy Ryan's No. 333 placed second and third. Ryan replaced his GHOST No. 307 after it was damaged by a motorboat in August.

Editor's notes highlighting young skippers Nancy Wilson (THISTLEDOWN No. 117) and Dick Olmstead (FLICKERTAIL No. 116), both age 13 from Cleveland Y.C., who competed at the Nationals. Also includes anecdotes about the Schmidt family's enthusiastic celebration and a call for readers to send in season summaries, boat names, and stories for publication.