December/January 1992

Outgoing president MacLean commends Jack Finefrock for his leadership and announces the new officer team led by Charlie Krafft as first vice president. He emphasizes the importance of regional coordination and membership participation, noting that the magazine depends on class members contributing articles and regatta reports.

Vice President Gowans reports on class membership trends and strategies for recruitment. He notes that the 1991 Growth & Promotion results showed a small membership increase despite losing 11 boats from 1990, and discusses initiating programs to support growth including boat availability and fundraising opportunities.

Chief Measurer Klotz addresses rule clarifications regarding mainsail specifications, wood hull construction requirements, and restrictions on various boat components to maintain class consistency and competitive fairness.

The Dallas Thistle fleet proposes restricting mainsail area growth through size limitations at the luff and leech, noting that recent larger sails are faster but could be designed even larger, which could inadvertently make the Thistle uncompetitive and harder to sail.

King proposes a simple aluminum rudder cap design that solves swelling and fitting problems with wooden tiller caps, using a glassed-in tubular rudder cap that maintains the boat's appearance while eliminating maintenance issues.

Article reports on Thistle participation in the 1991 Mallory and Sears Cup competitions, crediting the success of participants and noting the custom boats built by Doug Laber. Lists the Thistle class coordinators and other team members involved in both events.

MacLean describes the family-oriented atmosphere at the 1991 TCA Nationals in Jacksonville, highlighting the participation of multiple generations of Thistlers and the strong sense of community that makes the sport accessible to all ages.

Top finishers from the 1991 TCA Nationals share their strategies and insights on boat setup, crew selection, racing tactics, and preparation methods. Covers topics including crew weight management, sail selection, boat speed optimization, and mental preparation for competitive racing.

Technical specifications table showing hull construction materials, dimensions, and centerboard and rig data for competitive Thistle boats raced at the 1991 Nationals, including crew weights and equipment details.

Service announcement for a used Thistle boat sales listing service operated by the TCA Class to help both current boat owners sell their boats and prospective members find used Thistles.

Announcement of a new 30-minute instructional video produced by Gardy-McGrath featuring live action and slow-motion sailing sequences designed to teach techniques and promote the Thistle class to new sailors.

Obituary of Ilmar Palm-Lies, a longtime Thistle sailor and Chief Measurer who passed away in November 1991. Remembered as a dedicated sailor and craftsman who sailed extensively including a 1,000-mile journey down the Yukon River.

Letter from Ched Proctor announcing a partnership between North Sails and Fisher Sails to improve Thistle sail design and production. Proctor emphasizes continued quality and service while offering a 10% fall discount on all Thistle sail designs through January 15, 1992.

Letter from Greg Fisher announcing his decision to join North Sails, emphasizing his continued commitment to Thistle sailors and the combined expertise that will benefit the class. Fisher highlights that quality and service will remain priorities.

Humorous first-person account of purchasing and restoring an old, neglected Thistle that had been poorly maintained for years. The author describes his learning process and eventual improvement in sailing skills and boat condition.

Race report of the Central Atlantic District Championship where Ed Barbehenn won convincingly with two bullets and a second. Includes detailed commentary on racing conditions, individual boat performance, and crew tactics.

Report on the 45th annual Sarasota Labor Day Regatta where light and changing winds created challenging racing conditions. Fleet sailed very tightly with most finishes around a boat length apart.

Report on the 35th annual Naptown Regatta in Indianapolis with 32 registered skippers and good racing conditions over two days. Paul Dovey led the first day, but Sunday weather changes shifted positions throughout the fleet.

Report on the Wild Turkey Regatta in Milledgeville, Georgia where 18 Thistlers competed in near-perfect sailing conditions with five races completed. Notable that Jim King successfully fundraised for his second crew trip, and mention of the Obsts' potential future location move.

Race report of the Atlantic Coast Championship hosted by Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club where Ched Proctor won with strong sailing in variable conditions. Competition was tight and offered a fun regatta with action-packed racing.

Report on the 52nd annual One Design Regatta at Fishing Bay Yacht Club where six Thistles participated. Webb won convincingly with two bullets in the first two races, while Kitchens demonstrated tight tactical racing to win the overall event.

Report on the Delaware River regatta where Saturday racing was challenging and Sunday saw improved conditions. The regatta featured multiple Thistles from across the region with competitive racing throughout.

Report on the Long Beach Labor Day Regatta hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club where ABYC hosts six major one-design regattas annually. The regatta featured varied racing conditions and multiple Thistles from across California.

Report on the Founders Day Regatta at New Castle, Delaware, which commemorates the founding of the New Castle Sailing Club in 1953. The regatta features a unique rotation system where competing teams use seven different Thistle boats throughout the event.

Report on the third annual IBYC Broken Crank Regatta held in Springfield, Illinois where Bill Larson won consistently by placing second in each race. The unique regatta awards trophies designed by hand-crafted wooden mast sections and broken cranks.

Collection of classified advertisements for buying and selling Thistle boats, sails, equipment, and boat parts. Includes boat listings with specifications, sail advertisements, and various Thistle-related services.

Article explaining that the United States Yacht Racing Union changed its name to the United States Sailing Association to better reflect its broader mission beyond racing and to eliminate confusion about its role as the National Governing Body for sailing.