July-August 1963

Bill and Jeri DeWitt sailed to victory in the Goguac Sprints regatta with their fleet of 17 Thistles competing in four races. The DeWitts demonstrated consistent performance while other competitors pursued various tactics in variable wind conditions.

Marlin and Honey Abramson are relocating to Illinois, and their address will be announced in the next issue of The Bagpipe with instructions for mailing dues and correspondence.

The eleventh annual Cotton Carnival Regatta at Memphis, Tennessee hosted competition featuring Thistles alongside other small boat classes. J. D. Martin Jr. won all three races while Gene Allen's boat placed consistently, with close competition throughout the fleet.

Herb Mainwaring won the Michiana District Championship at Crescent Sail Yacht Club in July with tight competition, followed by Meno in second place. Prevailing light winds led to a four-race format with tactical racing determining the results.

The West O'Hatteras Fleet 104 raced together for the first time at Catawba on Lake Wylie, North Carolina in June. W. Calhoun won the first race, with clear air and steady winds providing competitive conditions before wind shifted in the final race.

Extremely close competition characterized the 1963 Southern California District Championship in a 25-boat fleet. John Glazier won with only one-half point separating first place from defending champion John Cazier, demonstrating the high level of fleet performance.

Ken Robbie from Louisville won the Cowan Invitational with commanding sailing and tactical proficiency. The regatta was won by a skipper from Fleet 68 north of Cincinnati for only the eighth time in event history, marking a significant victory.

A six-region rotation system for holding National Championships has been developed by Governing Board member Ted Himsworth and will be considered by the board at Sayville. The proposal divides the country into regions based on current 1962 rosters to ensure equitable hosting.

Eugene George won the Lake Michigan District Championship at Forts July 17 in the first regatta in his new fiberglass GINGER. George's strong performance in variable conditions and excellent boat handling secured his victory over multiple competitors.

Ned Lockwood of Indianapolis won the Hap Nelson Memorial Trophy at the Damfull Regatta at Leatherwood T.C. with three race series victories. The competition featured consistent performance by Lockwood and challenges from strong competitors in varying wind conditions.

Glenn Clark won the Towell Engineering Trophy with two consecutive first places and a second place finish. The series was the only event that year not won by Bill Coney, who broke his rudder in the first race, while Clark demonstrated strong sailing across all weather conditions.

Historical table of Thistle National Championship winners from 1946 through 1962, showing the progression of champions, runners-up, and third-place finishers across different venues.

Listing of individual race trophy awards presented at the Richmond County Yacht Club championship event in August 1962, recognizing winners of various divisions and special categories.

Jim Egan provides a comprehensive guide to sailing conditions on Great South Bay, describing wind patterns, tidal effects, and the seasonal variations that affect Thistle racing at the 1963 Nationals.

Jack Wanenmacher provides technical guidance on tuning Thistle boats for national competition, covering hull maintenance, sail trim, and equipment modifications to help sailors optimize their boats' performance.

Dave Minton discusses measurement standards for Thistles, including centerboard and rudder positioning, sail specifications, and reinforcement considerations for class compliance. The memo emphasizes the importance of meeting official specifications for boat legality.

Gene Reardon describes the location and amenities of the 1963 National Championship site at Sayville on Great South Bay, New York, detailing the geography, facilities, and local attractions for competitors.

Detailed schedule for the 1963 National Championship regatta at Sayville Yacht Club from August 19-23, including registration, measurement, races, and social events.

Roger Brett won the first Sooner Fling Invitational at Lake Ookhah in Oklahoma with strong racing in variable wind conditions that challenged the fleet throughout multiple races.

Ken Wilson won the Erie Open Regatta at Erie Yacht Club in June, demonstrating versatile sailing in light and shifty wind conditions against strong competition from other notable Thistle sailors.

George Hills was appointed chairman of a committee to review the Bordes system for conducting National Championships and evaluate potential modifications for future events.

The third annual Cana-Canoe Thistle Invitational Regatta at Canandaigua Yacht Club went under way June 8th with variable wind conditions and challenging race management.

Ed Sherman Jr. of St. Petersburg won the Florida District Championship for the third consecutive year, successfully defending his title against competition from the Dunedin Yacht Club regatta.

Mark Evans won the Annual Small Boat Regatta at Coronado Yacht Club in June, distinguishing himself among Thistles with victories in multiple race divisions.

Kaighn Smith of Narbero, Pennsylvania dominated the Dixie Invitational at Lake Alatoona in winning the 11th annual fleet regatta with strong performances across multiple races.

President Elmer Richards won the Henry Goetz Memorial Trophy at Lake Hpalatoong Yacht Club in June with strong performances that distinguished him among top national competitors.

A letter from a reader praising the Thistle class and expressing interest in becoming part of the fleet after learning about its features and competitive history.

Paul Joy demonstrated consistency across multiple races and fleet events at Kaneohe Bay, securing the Brundage Trophy with strong performances in varying wind conditions.

The Dixie Sailing Club of Montgomery, Alabama held its third annual Punch Bowl Regatta in May with wind conditions that tested all competitors. Howard Mead won decisively with consistent performance.

Memorial notice for Henry Goetz, charter member and founder of Fleet 36 at Lake Hopatcong, who passed away in May at his home in northern New Jersey.

Notes on equipment and techniques observed at St. Petersburg Midwinter, including details on mast position and rigging equipment used by top competitors.

A.E. Were reports on the South Atlantic Districts regatta at Lake Allatossa, describing how Mead dominated the competition and how various skippers performed across the race series.

Andy Littlejohn provides practical guidance on how to rig and sail a Thistle with two crew members, covering spinaker handling, halyard setup, and crew coordination techniques.

Classified advertisements and listings for Thistle boats, equipment, sails, insurance, and services related to the Thistle class.