November-December 1975

Steigerwald discusses the upcoming Mid-Winters regatta and course changes with new starting times moved back to daylight hours. He updates members on new boat builders like Douglas & McLeod and acknowledges concerns about declining new boat registrations despite the active racing program.

Keinath reflects on The Bagpipe's 31-year publication history and importance to the Thistle Class Association. He notes the newsletter is entering its twenty-ninth volume and credits its success to comprehensive regatta coverage and the Class's strong one-design racing community.

A detailed examination of the top ten boats that competed at the 1975 Nationals, analyzing hull construction materials, sail choices, equipment, and rigging systems. The article reveals that new builders like GMW and Douglas & McLeod were competitive, and documents the specifications of winning boats including mast, boom, centerboard, rudder, and sail equipment choices.

Chris Pollak (No. 1708) wins the Mallory Cup USYRU men's championship while sailing in the Flying Scots on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. The eight-race series was competitive with multiple lead changes throughout, with Pollak ultimately prevailing against strong regional competition.

Analysis of crew weights at the 1975 Nationals showing crew expectations were lighter than anticipated. The average crew weight of 466 pounds was less than it had been for many years (1968-1981 range), indicating competitive advantage for lighter crews, and skippers accounted for the majority of forward crew weight.

A practical guide to installing and using a single-line reefing system for Thistles. Reiber provides detailed instructions on setting up harken blocks and tackle with approximate costs, diagrams showing rigging configuration, and advice on operation for quick, simple, and effective in-wind reefing.

Steigerwald to defend his Mid-Winters West Championship at Mission Bay over the weekend of January 30 - February 1, 1976. The regatta format remains similar to previous years with a two-day sailing seminar on Friday for those making early trips to San Diego, with the overall event featuring multiple races and critique sessions.

Continuation of detailed analysis of top Nationals boats covering crew position dominance, consensus boat specifications, and equipment considerations for competitive sailing.

Advertisement describing Foremost Marine Insurance coverage options for Thistles, offering comprehensive protection for boats and equipment with flexible deductibles and nationwide claims service for both competitive and casual sailors.

The Old Goat Thistle Regatta, named in honor of Burt Boehlert who bought the first Thistle in the Southeast, was held September 27-28 with Brent McKenzie winning. The regatta featured 53 boats with steady but occasionally strong winds and competitive racing throughout the two-day event.

On September 13-14, forty-two Thistles gathered at Hoover Yacht Club for the prestigious regatta. Ric Gilliland (No. 2995) won with strong finishes, overcoming challenging wind and weather conditions on Saturday night that required adjustments in the racing schedule.

Howard Mead retained possession of the Old Goat trophy with a decisive 11-6 finish at Lake Allatoona. The regatta featured competitive sailing with Saturday providing the tightest racing and Mead prevailing against strong competition from McFadyen and other top sailors.

Chris Poole (No. 1708) successfully defended his Northeast District Championship title at the Five Buzzards bay race held in August 2-4. The event featured challenging conditions with Poole's consistent performance throughout the series securing his victory.

Rob Sinclair sailed a consistent six-race series to win the Southeastern Fall Series held on Lake Hartwell at the Carolina Sailing Club. The series featured varied wind conditions with Sinclair's crew (Lisa Hamm and William Ehrhorn) working effectively against strong competitors to secure the victory.

The Southeastern Fall Series was a success this year despite different winds to suit everyone's personal taste ranging from moderate to heavy. Slippery-When-Wet IV, sailed by Peter deManio, won the series with strong finishes across all conditions and demonstrated excellent seamanship in the challenging weather.

Decatur, Illinois Fleet 66 hosted its second annual Thistle regatta on September 20-21. Fleet winners sailed in a gusty westerly of 15 to 18 knots with Race Committee managing well despite challenging conditions and tight racing throughout.

A record-breaking entry of 36 Thistles participated in Otsego Sailing Club's eighth annual Glimmerglass Regatta at Cooperstown, New York on September 13-14. Despite Saturday weather challenges with shifty winds, Fenno won decisively with strong finishes, setting up an exciting regatta.

The Fifth Annual Old Salty Regatta was held at Lake Norman Yacht Club on September 13-14. Peter deManio (No. 3429) dominated the event with a first-place finish, with strong second-place competition providing competitive racing throughout the regatta.

A tribute to Ted McMillan III recognizing his accomplishments in Thistle sailing, excerpted from Downeast Magazine, highlighting his successful racing history and contributions to the Class.

The 29th Bagatelle on the Thistle Class 30th anniversary was hosted by Cleveland Yacht Club and Thistle Fleet No. 1. Sixty boats registered with competitive racing in the northeast breeze, featuring strong performances from top sailors including Pete Kuhn and Jack Bauer.

The first annual Frontier Fall Regatta sponsored jointly by Escanaba Boat Club Fleet No. 46 opened to grey skies and 12-knot southerly breeze. John Fenno (2026) captured the championship with strong performance across three races, demonstrating expertise in the challenging conditions.

A comprehensive collection of classified advertisements and marketplace listings for Thistle Class boats, equipment, and services including boat sales, sails, hardware, boat covers, insurance, marinas, and various sailing gear from numerous vendors across the United States.