December 1978 - January 1979

The new president discusses the establishment of a Past Presidents Council and the executive officers' plans for the 1979 season, emphasizing the need for members to submit amendment proposals before February 1.

A two-day pre-regatta workshop will be conducted in March at St. Petersburg by the USYRU Advanced Racing Clinic, focusing on boat-handling, tuning, speed testing, and individual analysis for $25 per person.

A comprehensive technical analysis of centerboard specifications and performance variations observed at the 1978 National Championship, documenting measurements of 92 boats and the discrepancies between official plans and actual construction.

Announcement of the Thistle Mid-Winters West regatta scheduled for January 18-21, 1979 at Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, with details on racing schedule and accommodations.

Complete schedule and details for the 1979 Thistle Mid-Winter Championship Regatta at St. Petersburg Yacht Club in March, including registration information, housing arrangements, and daily event schedule.

A technical overview of the boats that competed at the 1978 Nationals, discussing hull and centerboard variations, rig characteristics, sail controls, and crew weights.

A profile of 1978 National Champion Andy Barnes, detailing his background, sailing experience, and the characteristics that contributed to his competitive success.

A detailed technical guide on reinforcing fiberglass centerboards through various methods including layering techniques, grinding, contouring, and precise centerline positioning.

The third in a series on fundamentals, this article covers spinnaker setup, trim, and technique, emphasizing that mastering the spinnaker can significantly improve overall boat performance.

A comprehensive listing of all district governors for the Thistle Class Association for the 1978-79 season, organized by geographical region.

A regatta report of the Long Island Sound fall championship at Nyack where competitive racing between Liggett and Barbehenn boats resulted in an exciting finish with some unusual wind conditions.

Report on the Central Southern District Championship held at Lake Arbuckle in May 1978, where Jim Kincaid prevailed in tight competition over Larry Klein with a small margin of victory.

A regatta report from Lake Hartwell where John Davidson won with strong racing in highly variable wind conditions, navigating monsoon-like weather patterns that challenged competitors.

A humorous regatta report about the fall broken crank punch where sailors encountered unusual and challenging sailing conditions while competing in various boat races.

A regatta report from the eighth annual Old Salty Thistle Regatta held in North Carolina where Tom Evans won the championship in competitive conditions with strong performances from other regional boats.

A regatta report from Geist Reservoir where Champ Glover won the second annual championship in successive years with ideal sailing conditions and tight competitive racing.

Two related regatta reports: Richards wins the new Mid-Atlantic District Championship, and Godfrey wins the Labor Day regatta at Palo Alto with strong results.

A regatta report from the Labor Day Regatta at Palo Alto where Phyllis Godfrey won decisively with strong performances across three races.

A regatta report from the fourth annual Decatur Invitational Regatta where champion Andy Barnes and runner-up Champ Glover sailed with different crew combinations in a competitive field.

A regatta report from the Doldrums Regatta at Percy Priest Yacht Club in Tennessee where Loy Vaughan won with close competition across the four races.

A regatta report from the South Atlantic District Championship in Tennessee where Brent McKenzie dominated the competition with consistently strong performances.

A comprehensive section of classified advertisements and marketplace listings for Thistle-related equipment, boats for sale, boat components, and services.