September 1958

Howe LaGarde Jr. of Trinity College won the Atlantic Coast Championships in his boat 'Cutty' at the Squantum Yacht Club regatta on August 2-3 in Quincy, Massachusetts. Competing against 35 Thistles from 8 states, LaGarde convincingly won three races to claim the historic Gould Challenge Trophy.

Heinzerling discusses various boat modifications and sailing techniques to improve Thistle performance and comfort. Topics include centerboard modifications, sail adjustments, hardware improvements, and practical modifications for cruising and racing efficiency.

A compilation of brief editorial notes discussing various Thistle class news items, including club fire, famous regattas, and equipment stories from various regions.

An editor's note addressing potential Bagpipe contributors, discussing the time and effort involved in producing the magazine and requesting more fleet and district coverage to ensure comprehensive issue content.

Listings of boats and equipment available for sale within the Thistle class community.

Norm Freeman of Ithaca's boat '#936' swept the Third Annual Heather Bowl Regatta at Delaware River Rats, winning all three races. Freeman dominated the competition with exceptional sailing, taking the overall victory in this three-race series on the Delaware River.

The Governor's Cup Regatta held at Riverton Y.C. featured competitive racing with Freeman and Ware leading the fleet. Despite unusual weather including challenging stop-and-go winds and a strong northwesterly breeze, the Thistles demonstrated strong competition and skill.

Norton discusses the Thistle class measurement and registration system, noting the difficulties in getting boats properly registered and re-measured as required by bylaws. She explains the importance of registration for the class and the practical challenges members face in completing this process.

Al Williams' boat #631 won the Jersey District Championship despite challenging heavy weather conditions. The race featured rough seas and strong winds, ultimately demonstrating Williams' skill in difficult conditions and earning him first place in the series.

Skip Alcorn led the South Atlantic District Championship with a 6-1-1 record. Despite some boats encountering bad luck throughout the series, Alcorn's consistent sailing and the calm races on Saturday proved decisive in capturing the championship.

The Red Grant Regatta at Raritan Y.C. featured two days of racing in challenging weather conditions. The largest Thistle fleet in nine years participated, with Al Williams winning overall and demonstrating strong sailing throughout both days.

Fifteen Thistles participated in the famous Marblehead Harbor races for Race Week, July 19-26. The first 3-race Eastern Y.C. series was challenging with variable weather, followed by a second series where New England District champ Dick Gallagher triumphed, and final races at Corinthian Y.C. to determine the New England District Champion.

Bill DeWitt won the Commodore Decatur Yacht Club's Intercity Regatta with his boat #933, with a commanding lead. The regatta featured 16 Thistles participating from various clubs, and despite fluky weather and one race cancellation, the competition was strong and competitive.

The Great Lakes Championships were held at the Cleveland Yachting Club July 19-20 with a 25 mph breeze combining with 8-foot seas. The races featured strong competition with top skippers qualifying for next year's championship, and despite the challenging conditions, several severe attacks of seasickness afflicted inland lake skippers.

A listing of upcoming Thistle class regattas scheduled across the country during the latter half of 1958, covering events from September through October in various regions.

Complete race results from the Sandusky Sailing Club regatta held July 26-27, featuring 33 participating Thistles representing several classes. The regatta included races in varying wind conditions with Hendricksen ultimately winning the overall competition.