December 1961

Moffat examines the secrets of successful racing, discussing how leaders think about concentration, energy, and competitive mindset. He argues that winning at sailing requires not just boat handling or tactics, but mental discipline and willingness to listen to expert sailors like Bill Cox and Arthur Knapp.

The annual mid-winter championship is scheduled for February 5-8 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Warm-up races will occur on February 5, and the event is being organized by Bill Hough, Tom Downs, and Flo Sherman. Details about the event and participant information will be sent to all Thistle drivers.

This comprehensive article by Chief Measurer Dave Minion examines boat weights from the 1961 National Championships at Racine. Using the same scale as prior races, detailed weight data reveals the lightest boat at 491 pounds and the heaviest at 562 pounds. The analysis demonstrates minimal advantage for lighter boats and discusses the implications for fleet competitiveness.

Bob Couch from Goguac Yacht Club in Michigan won the Light Air Diamond Jubilee Regatta held September 9-10 at Diamond Lake. Ted Himsworth came in second and Tom Adams of Goguac Yacht Club placed third. The article includes a detailed race results table showing finishing positions.

Fleet No. 98 of the Corinthian Y.C. in Cape Nay, New Jersey, had a successful inaugural season with 21 races. Eight Thistles participated along with 4 other classes totaling 110 boats. The Coast Guard Receiving Center has become very active in the racing program. Results show winners in various series including the Corinthian Series and Commodores Regatta.

Jerry Milgram of Boston emerged as the winner of the second annual Fall Series for skippers in the Middle Atlantic and New England states held over five consecutive weekends from September 9 through October 8. The series was followed by three-race series at Sayville and Milford. Milgram's outstanding performances and consistent competitiveness secured him the championship.

Doug MacGregor from Cottage Park Y.C. in Winthrop, Massachusetts, won the September 23-24 Thistle regatta at Milford, Connecticut with 1094.5 points. Walt Stubner of Milford finished second with 1091 points, and Ed Walsh of the Red Dragon Canoe Club in Philadelphia came third with 974 points.

Tom Carpenter, a high point scorer for Thistle competitors in Hawaii, won the three-day invitational regatta in Kaneohe Bay using Fleet 76 boats. The competition included boats from various fleets and required different tactics for boats competing in international matches. Carpenter's win was not followed by other Thistle representatives with two-year Thistle representative victories.

Twenty-two Thistle skippers converged on Winthrop, Massachusetts, for the closing Fall Series Regatta hosted by Cottage Park Yacht Club on October 7-8. Gordon Vineyard and Doug MacGregor picked up the marbles with courses set toward the harbor's mouth where several Thistles drifted and enjoyed the evening's calling of the race.

Twenty-two Thistles raced at Lake Guntersville Yacht Club's third annual Fall Regatta on October 14 and 15. A cold front with gusts up to 35 mph spoiled the record of no wind disasters. One o'clock start was postponed when the scheduled race was delayed. Only thirteen skippers participated in the windy conditions with two o'clock starts bringing out different fleets of foothardies.

During the first and second most hours of an Atlantic Coast Championships held at Raritan Yacht Club in August, forty-six Thistles competed in drifting matches featuring anchor play as a prominent part. The lively action included various challenges with specific courses and wind conditions resulting in notable competitors advancing through several races with adjusted standings.

The Commodore Decatur Yacht Club's Sixth Invitational Regatta started with 20 Thistles waiting in calm for wind. Light air finally prevailed and a one-lap race was completed with Bob Kaiser taking first place while Bill Walton was second and Jack LaFollette was third. Sunday brought moderate to shifty conditions.

Winds were very agreeable for the annual Thistle Regatta at Naptown. Bill Walton and Howard Boston won the first and second races respectively, with Boston's Walton outmaneuvered and slipped across to finish line first. In the third race, Boston vaulted up from a bad start with good beating and excellent spinnaker work to take first place.

BAGPIPE is indebted to THISTLEDOWN which is indebted to Cecil and Betty Brooks, who sent a thick packet of HOUSTON CHRONICLE clippings. Seabrook Sailing Club took a ferocious beating from Carla as did all the surrounding waterfront. Members who removed their boats to safe cover later returned to find the concrete block clubhouse gone except for the floor slab and scattered piles of concrete block.

Charlie Althaus reports from Northern California on the recent National Championships. He discusses the organizational aspects of regatta management and notes the challenges of racing in California compared to other venues. The article highlights the unique character of West Coast Thistle racing and emphasizes the importance of good starts and understanding tactics.

An invitational regatta will be sailed the third week in October in Kaneohe, Hawaii during the Waikiki Yacht Club's week of Aloha Week festivities. The Thistle, Lightnings, and MP will be sailing on one of the finest small boat courses in the world at Kaneohe Yacht Club. Winds average 12 to 18 knots with warm water and variable wave action.

Reprinted from Pittsburgh Press, this article by Don Dillman explores the appeal of sailboating as a family sport. He discusses how sailboating tests physical stamina while offering leisurely pastimes for families. The article features examples from various sailors including a reference to John Proctor of Monroeville who exemplifies the dedicated sailboater.

In accordance with instructions from the Governing Board of the Thistle Class Association, district representatives have reached an agreement on the selection of locations for future Atlantic Coast Championships. The agreement outlines specific districts in the Thistle Class Association and describes how the event will be rotated among these districts for future competitions.

Close series finishes and the 1961 sailing season for Thistle Fleet No. 76 culminated in several regattas at Kaneohe. G. Clark, 1407, sailed the Waikiki Invitational series successfully over four first places and second place finish. Tom Carpenter finished second with varying winds and light breezes from Waikiki.

This section contains various classified advertisements and boat for sale listings including Thistle boats in different conditions, equipment offerings, and services. Listings include boats from throughout the United States with varying price points and conditions, from boats needing restoration to recently updated vessels.