August/September 1996

The Thistle Class President reflects on the 51st year of the class and highlights the fun, camaraderie, and adventures that Thistle racing brings, particularly noting events in Florida and the South Atlantic regions.

The editor discusses how the cover photo came about and encourages members to submit photos of races and boats. She also mentions the Gesner couple appearing in sailing publications and reminds members to invite photographers to their races.

The Third Vice President of Growth and Promotion outlines strategies for increasing class participation, including teamwork among fleets, customized racing schedules, improved class spirit, and universal crew/skipper lists.

Practical advice on how to protect a boat's rails from damage at piers, docks, and seawalls using affordable styrofoam pipe insulation as a protective solution.

A reprinted advice column from 1973 offering practical racing tips for new Thistle sailors, covering topics from boat preparation to tactics and maneuvers.

A humorous first-hand account of an unplanned road trip to the Adirondack Invitational Regatta, filled with mishaps and unexpected adventures that still resulted in a great sailing experience.

Technical article discussing flotation and self-rescue characteristics of Thistles, exploring the problems that arise when self-rescue fails and analyzing flotation categories and their trade-offs.

Multi-part discussion among fleet members about the merits of building new wooden Thistles versus maintaining glass boats, including technical considerations and different perspectives on wooden boat construction.

Report of the High Water Regatta scheduled for Lake Monroe being flooded and postponed, set to reschedule for the following September.

Overview of the Old Goat Regatta celebrating 18 years, a regatta for older skippers designed to encourage participation from mature sailors in small boat racing.

Overview of regional fall regatta series in the Mid America District, highlighting specific events and opportunities for participation across various locations.

A bulleted list of ten practical reasons why Thistle sailors should participate in the East Coast Fall Series, including skill-building opportunities, travel benefits, and competitive advantages.

Overview of six regattas comprising the Southeastern Fall Series held in the Carolinas, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, with details on the qualifying structure and scoring system.

Description of seven Lake Erie East Fall Series regattas held across the Great Lakes region, with participation requirements and contact information for additional details.

Race report of the 1996 Damful Regatta at Leatherllips Yacht Club in Columbus, Ohio, where Tim Boucher dominated with consistent finishes throughout the five races.

Report of Thoroughbred Regatta at Cave Run Lake, Kentucky where mothers sailed free, with excellent weather and friendly competition throughout the weekend.

Report of the Twomay Cup Regatta at Smithville Lake where Paul Jewell won the trophy, followed by discussion of his competitive sailing career and accomplishments.

Report of Northern California District regatta at Folsom Lake where Mike Gillum won over Craig Lee, with detailed race descriptions and final standings.

Report of the Mid America Districts held June 8-9 on Lake Perry west of Kansas City, with Kansas City boats dominating and detailed accounts of the sailing conditions and key competitors.

Report of the Bottoms Up Regatta at Lake Murray Sailing Club with detailed race descriptions and final results, highlighting the challenging conditions and close competition.

Report of the Southern California District Championships held at Big Bear Lake, featuring dominating performances by the Nagel team and excellent racing conditions.

Report of PCC (Pacific Coast Championships) held on San Diego area with ideal conditions and Winchester taking first place.

Report of the Great Pond Championship regatta at Cowan Lake, Ohio where Bruce Busbey won with consistent performances throughout the weekend's racing.

Report of the Carolina Series race where Scott Griffin won the championship after two years as runner-up, discussing competitive performance and the series structure.

Report of Rochester Canoe Club spring regatta held in June with detailed race descriptions and full results from competing Thistles.

Report on Greg Griffin's dominant performance in the Southeast Fall Series championship using the Cox Sprague scoring method across multiple regattas.

Report of Eugene YC Memorial Day Regatta at Fern Ridge Lake featuring Thistle racing from Seattle to San Jose and detailed race results.

Collection of classified advertisements including boat sales, sails, parts, and related maritime products and services.