March-April 1963

Encourages Thistle sailors to obtain Ted Well's Scientific Sailboat Racing and the Thistle Class Association Handbook as essential references for racing and boat maintenance. Notes that serious racers should have these books available.

A comprehensive history of the Thistle sailboat class, from its humble origins as an outlandish freak design to its modern status as a respected racing class. Details the boat's ancestry, early competitions, and development over time.

Reports on the annual Mid-Winter Regatta at Los Angeles in February 1963, featuring 749 boats across 23 classes. Details race conditions, results, and notable performances in windy desert conditions.

Reports on Gene Allen's success launching his new School-built "Metamorphosis" (1630) in March, winning the Thistle class at the Spring Gold Cup Regatta with strong performances despite challenging conditions.

A humorous and incisive examination of how competitive sailing transforms recreational sailors into obsessive racers, detailing the behavioral and psychological changes that occur as sailors become consumed with winning races.

Technical explanation of Olympic-style race courses used by yacht clubs, featuring a geometric design with marks positioned in a circle configuration. Describes how course identification works and the strategic advantages of this standardized approach.

A humorous poem about a sailing adventure with the author's brother-in-law, capturing the mix of fear, courage, and mishap inherent in small boat sailing on a large lake.

Comprehensive calendar of Thistle regattas organized by region and month throughout 1963. Includes contact information for event organizers to help trailering Thistlers find races within traveling distance.

An affectionate tribute to the Thistle's superiority over other sailboat classes under 20 feet, celebrating its design philosophy and performance characteristics. Written with tongue-in-cheek reverence for the boat's legendary status.

Explores the versatility of Thistle sailboats beyond racing, including cruising capabilities, motor installation options, and modifications for exploring shallow waters and new locations. Demonstrates practical uses for family sailing.

Comprehensive guide to tuning a Thistle for competitive racing, covering rigging adjustments, equipment optimization, and the philosophy that overall boat speed derives from a combination of many factors.

Classified advertisements including boat sales, insurance services, maintenance supplies, and Thistle sails. Includes various Thistle hull sales with specifications and contact information for buyers.

Explores the importance of planning and anticipation in racing tactics, comparing sailing strategy to chess and explaining how successful racers think several moves ahead to gain competitive advantage.

Discusses the critical role of crew selection and training in Thistle racing, emphasizing that the skipper's success depends heavily on having a skilled, trustworthy crew working in harmony. Details the ideal crew requirements.