March-April 1969

The TCA Governing Board meeting held at St. Petersburg Yacht Club in February 1969 covered various administrative matters including rule changes for the upcoming season, discussion of the 1969 Nationals site selection, and reports from officers on fleet activities and organizational concerns.

Miller and Wilson discussed the current status of developing a more standardized mast for the Thistle class, noting that investigations should continue along their present course while pursuing a new metal mast design with improved deflection characteristics.

Discussion of the 1969 Nationals location, with concern that the West Coast site may reduce Eastern boat participation. The Board decided to have the 1969 Nationals rotated to the West Coast and approved keeping the Nationals Champion site selection format.

Promotional article welcoming Thistle sailors to the 1969 Nationals at Eugene, Oregon on Fern Ridge Reservoir. Highlights the location as an excellent sailing venue with camping facilities and encourages sailors to plan their trips west.

Detailed report on mast performance evaluation tests conducted at St. Pete with experimental designs. The article discusses the Proctor "F" mast, the Helms mast, and proposed new aluminum designs, examining their sailing characteristics and bending behavior under different conditions.

Photographic essay of rigging details showing lightweight drums for CB and vang, cleat mounting arrangements, and boom vang systems used on Thistle boats, with captions explaining the construction and mechanical advantages.

Comprehensive technical article discussing recent innovations in rigging and tuning for Thistle sailboats, including details on mainsheet equipment, traveler control, boom vang systems, spinnaker handling, and various cleat options and mounting strategies.

Feature profiles of two prominent Thistle sailors, Marlin Abramson from the Great Lakes interdistrrict and Roger Brett from Central-Southern interdistrrict championship winners.

Illustrated article showing sketches and descriptions of new equipment innovations for 1969 including a new Haven traveler, wind vane cleater, Waco 360 device, and compass configuration, with humorous comments about each innovation.

Feature article on the Mid-Winters regatta held at St. Petersburg, Florida. Describes the weather conditions, race management by Ted Tolson, and notable performances including Red Glover defeating Olympic Champion Peter Barrett, with coverage of the competitive atmosphere and professional race management.

Detailed race-by-race coverage of the Mid-Winters regatta with commentary by Dennis Clark and Marlin Abramson, describing wind conditions, starting line tactics, mark roundings, and competitive situations that developed during each of the five races.

Collection of anecdotes and amusing stories from the St. Petersburg Mid-Winters regatta, featuring sailor tales and witty observations about the event and various participants' experiences on the water.

Report on the Middle States Regatta where Dan Dees' boat #2440 demonstrated sailing proficiency. The event was underway on August 31, 1968 with 25 boats registered and additional 100 boats sailing in non-design classes, with light to moderate winds.

Coverage of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre regatta held in Portland, Oregon by Fleet 125. The event served as a casual gathering for local Thistle sailors with a three-race series featuring light winds and Northeast course setup.

Three district regatta reports from 1968: Alexander wins Central Atlantic Districts on Chesapeake Bay; Allen wins SCAL Districts at Long Beach with transoms on planing spinmaker reaches; and Gilreath leads South Atlantic Districts at Atlanta.

Advertisement highlighting Van Zandt Sails' continued development of Thistle racing sails since 1964, noting their success in nationals and championships, with contact information for ordering.

Report on the Turkeyfoot Frostbite Regatta held November 2 in Akron, Ohio, where Gene Wood dominated the 27-boat fleet with consistent winning performances across five races, with detailed results table.

Coverage of the Hawaiian Invitational Regatta in Waikiki in October, where Tom Carpenter won convincingly, with accounts of the fleet's experiences including high winds, capsizes, and the cultural experiences of competing in Hawaii.

Article and survey about North Sails' involvement with Thistle class sailing, including discussion of performance characteristics in various wind and water conditions, with an enclosed survey form seeking feedback.

Advertisement for custom-built Thistle trailers featuring design specifications including tie-down straps, custom openings, and protective weather covering for boat storage and transport.

Report on the Richmond County Yacht Club Open Regatta where Bill Alexander won convincingly, with strong performances also by competitors from New Jersey Districts and other regions.

Announcement and information about the Southeastern Interdistrict Championship held in Charleston, South Carolina on May 17-18, 1969 with Fleet No. 129.

Feature article celebrating Dennis Clark's 1968 National Championship win, listing the trophies he won during his championship campaign including the Carrow Trophy, Blue Flag, and numerous other prestigious awards.

Comprehensive classified advertising section featuring Thistle boats for sale, rigging and sail equipment, boat covers, parts, and related services. Includes ads for new boats, used boats, and specialty services like insurance and photocopying.