September, 1950

Frank Marquardt won the 1950 National Championship aboard WHITE SHADOW, dominating the five-race series with consistent first-place finishes. The Marquardt brothers demonstrated superior skill as both sailors and sailmakers, while Jim Hendricksen placed second and the Smith/Fordyce team finished third.

The officers elected for 1950 include President A.M. Herrmann, First Vice-President E.J. Hanna, Second Vice-President and BAGPIPE Editor R.R. Adams, and Secretary-Treasurer H.D. Spangenberg.

The Thistle Class Association held its annual meeting on August 24th with representatives from twenty fleets. Key reports covered strong finances, seven new fleet charters, and important amendments regarding whisker poles, the Chief Measurer position, and championship location rotation. New officers were elected unanimously.

Complete results from the 1950 Thistle National Championship Regatta featuring 35 competing boats across five races. WHITE SHADOW won the championship with dominant finishes, while WITCH WOMAN and BLAC JAC rounded out the top three overall standings.

The 57th Annual Interlake Regatta hosted thirty-two Thistles at Put-In-Bay, Ohio in August with favorable wind conditions. Dick Gibbs won the championship in HIGH LIFE with 86 points, receiving the Henry A. Parsons Memorial Trophy. Emery Kamps placed second with 83 1/4 points and Harvey Busch third with 81 1/4.

Complete race results from the Put-In-Bay Regatta hosted August 14-16, with thirty-two boats competing across three races. HIGH LIFE's Dick Gibbs won the overall championship, with NATURE BOY and NAN TOO rounding out the top three finishers.

The special Ladies' Race for Thistles was held again this year, with Peggy Snell commanding THIS'LL DO to first place, followed by Ruth Cowgill in TICKLE and Dolores "Sis" Gibbs in HIGH LIFE. The race provided an entertaining demonstration of sailing skill from the female members of the fleet.

The Leatherlips Yacht Club in Columbus, Ohio announces a Fall Thistle Regatta to be held on October 21 and 22. The three-race series will start at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday with two races on Sunday. All Thistle skippers are invited to participate, with John White handling housing reservations.

The editor solicits more detailed race reports from District Eliminations and season series from each fleet, welcoming reader suggestions and contributions. The editor thanks Robert F. Ward for the cover photo of WHITE SHADOW, announces Clyde Gump as the Official BAGPIPE Photographer, and encourages readers to submit pictures of Class interest.