July-August 1966

Profile of Nate Rubel, who serves as 1966 Yearbook Editor. The Thistle Class has been fortunate to have talented amateur photographers serve as Yearbook Editors. Nate heads Nathan Rubel & Co., a graphic design and communication firm, and his expertise in technical and scientific catalogs has contributed to beautiful Thistle yearbooks. Nate and his wife Ruth will serve as Secretary-Treasurer for Fleet #116 this year.

Technical article explaining changes to the Thistle Class measurement certificate. A new certificate has been designed to provide complete specifications of the Thistle while maintaining consistency with tolerance standards. The design accommodates specifications for both wood and fiberglass hulls with updated measurements for centerboard, rudder, and other components.

Report on Executive Committee actions regarding the Yearbook size and Constitution clarifications. The Committee approved revised dimensions to make the Yearbook more manageable and clarified the Constitution's Plans and Specifications document to avoid confusion.

Instructional article on teaching sailing crews how to observe boat performance and conditions during racing. Covers starting areas, windward leg, reaching legs, and downwind techniques. Emphasizes the importance of keener observation as a valuable but frequently neglected aspect of racing that can improve boat speed and race performance.

Letter from Terri Haupt, age 14, to her father sharing lessons she's learned about crewing on Thistles. She offers humorous advice for new crew members including following the skipper's orders, not arguing, staying in a good mood, and maintaining coordination with the crew.

Feature announcement of the 21st Thistle National Championships held at Sayville Yacht Club in August 1966. Describes the Sayville location, its geography, and sailing conditions, as well as a schedule of events for the championships.

Contains the venue information for the Sayville Yacht Club, notice of a proposed amendment to Official Plans and Specifications regarding the all-up weight of Thistles, officer listings for the championship, and a complete schedule of events including registration, measurement, racing, and social activities.

Technical article describing sailing conditions at Sayville with analysis of wind patterns and weather characteristics. Discusses various wind types including the southwest wind common in August and strategies for handling steady breezes during racing.

Technical maintenance guide for preventing equipment failures during heavy air racing. Covers inspection of halyards, jib tack fitting, boom hardware, mast and rigging, and provides practical advice on maintaining and checking equipment before competitions.

Comprehensive guide to trailering Thistles for long-distance racing. Covers tactics for trailering, trailer maintenance techniques, trailer transformation modifications, buying and selecting trailers, and practical maintenance tips to ensure successful trips to regional and national events.

Race report on the Central Southern Interdisticts regatta at Shreveport, Louisiana. Larry Haupt won the race series with three boats using Thomas sails. Favorable wind conditions and strong competition made for exciting racing with close finishes throughout the event.

Detailed race report of the 1966 Hawaii Fleet Championship won by Bob Shaw sailing FINESSE (1421). The series was highly competitive with Clark sailing MISTRESS (1407) finishing second by a narrow margin. The report includes multiple race descriptions and final standings showing the tight competition throughout.

Race report on the Southern California Districts championship won by Dr. Bob Smith sailing SLEEPER (1470). Smith's boat series of 2-4-2-1 won the five-race series sailed at various California locations. The report includes detailed race descriptions and final results showing strong competition among district skippers.

Brief race report on a Fleet #123 regatta won by Charles Darr. The report notes that the Norman Yacht Club hosted the three-race series in Charlotte, North Carolina with light winds and good fellowship prevailing. Guest Ray McLeod delivered helpful remarks to skippers.

Brief race report on the Admiral Farragut Regatta held at Lake, Tennessee in May. Reports winning conditions with sunny skies and wind conditions suitable for racing. Notes the performance of various skippers and provides race results.

Race report on the 1966 Canacanoe Regatta on June 4 and 5 at Canacanoe Yacht Club, New York. Dede Wilson from Seneca Yacht Club won the regatta with an outstanding display of heavy-weather sailing, taking first place in three of four Saturday races and proving herself a complete skipper.

Brief announcement that Ed Walsh's boat No. 818 sailed at St. Pete with Boston Yacht Sail company equipment and won the 1966 Thistle Mid-Winters championship, confirming the quality of their sailmaking for champions.

Classified section featuring boat listings for sale, boat maintenance services, insurance offerings, and racing equipment. Includes advertisements for new and used Thistle boats, boat covers, names and lettering services, and various sailing gear vendors.