February-March, 1978

The editor discusses the new look of the Bagpipe and addresses publication schedule challenges. He emphasizes the importance of meeting deadlines for article submissions to maintain a consistent publication schedule and ensure timely delivery to readers.

The president discusses the significant history and value of the Thistle Class trophies, noting they are rarely insured. He addresses the National-level trophy evaluation process and provides information about how the Class manages and maintains this important collection.

The Chief Measurer reports on Class growth and the condition of the boat inventory. He notes steady used boat circulation and strong new boat sales, and addresses concerns about centerboard measurement standards.

Centerboard Development Committee member Ron Smith discusses problems with glass board construction and proposes several possible solutions including unidirectional cloth, bonded fiberglass shells, and steel-core concepts to improve strength and performance.

Larry Klein explains techniques for starting at the weather end of the starting line in Thistle class racing, including strategies for different fleet sizes and how to approach the line effectively.

A detailed guide to building half-hull Thistle models from scratch, covering the selection of materials, carving techniques, assembly of components, and finishing processes for creating decorative scale models.

Davis Island Y.C. wins the Southeast Perpetual Award for Excellence in Thistle Regatta Management, recognizing outstanding effort in hosting the 1977 Southeastern Interdistricts event with professional judging and comprehensive event management.

Technical article featuring detailed sketches and descriptions of three different centerboard trunk cap control systems used on Thistle sailboats, explaining how various boom vang cleats and jib sheet configurations work in practice.

Announcement of the 1978 Schedule of Chevron Events listing regional and national Thistle racing events across North America with dates, locations, and host clubs.

Race report from the Seventh Annual Old Salty Regatta held at Lake Norman Yacht Club in September 1977, where Bud Sweet and his family sailed to victory with a 3-2-2 series win.

Race report from the Niagara Frontier Fall Regatta held at Sarataoga Lake, describing challenging racing conditions with strong winds that favored Barbehenn to victory.

Race report from the Indian Summer Regatta at Chandler's Landing Yacht Club in Dallas, where Jim Kincaid dominated with nine first-place finishes across multiple races.

Classified advertisements and listings for Thistle sailboats, equipment, sails, services, and related products from various vendors and private sellers across North America.