December/January 1998

Hubbel outlines his personal mission to strengthen the Thistle Class through two key objectives: promoting more training through Coach-TCA and recruiting new sailors of all ages to the class. He emphasizes the need for growth and participation at all levels.

Schauble offers practical strategies for promoting Thistle sailing and growing local fleets. He discusses boat shows, brochures, high school outreach, and working with collegiate sailing clubs to attract new participants.

A listing of new Thistle Class Association members from various fleets and regions across the United States and internationally, representing diverse fleet locations.

Hudson discusses the editorial process and contributions to the Bagpipe, emphasizing that the magazine thrives through member participation and local input. He explains submission procedures for articles, ads, and photos.

A photo feature with humorous captions depicting scenes from Thistle sailing events, including party moments and race course activities.

Announcement and registration information for the 1998 Midwinters East regatta to be held at St. Petersburg Yacht Club, March 1-6, with detailed schedule and entry information.

Hubbell describes the Coach-TCA program, a Thistle racing course designed to teach basic skills and fundamentals. He outlines the daily schedule for the course held at Midwinters East in St. Petersburg.

Housing Chairmen Virginia White and Nancy Lischer provide guidance for Midwinters East participants seeking accommodations in the St. Petersburg area, including information about local hotels and a request for advance planning.

Young discusses strategies to promote women's participation in Thistle sailing, drawing from her experience with the successful 1997 Women's Nationals. She outlines ways to improve the Women's Nationals, addresses barriers to participation, and suggests methods to get more women involved in Thistling.

Thistle provides a preview of the 1998 Nationals regatta to be held in Racine, Wisconsin on Lake Michigan, describing the venue, attractions, and encouraging participation in this championship event.

Smith offers practical advice on sailing with children, emphasizing making racing fun through creative games, boat songs, and positive reinforcement rather than focusing solely on competition and winning.

Hudson describes how mini regattas, held informally at the local fleet level, help introduce new sailors to the regatta circuit and build confidence. He highlights the Northern Lake George event as an example of a successful low-key regatta.

Barbehenn reports on the 1997 Atlantic Coast Championship held at Pequot Yacht Club in Connecticut, where hometown hero Dave Dellenbaugh dominated the field to win the championship by 20 points.

Finefrock reports on the Independence Day Regatta where Ed Duckworth (the "Geezer") won despite tough competition, with the top finishers including both experienced sailors and younger racers.

Murphy describes the inaugural Kayaderosseras Cup held at Saratoga Lake in late August, featuring 21 boats from six fleets. Gesner's team won decisively in conditions that started breezy and finished light.

Murphy reports on the 1997 East Coast Fall Series, a nine-regatta circuit where Eric Gesner and team dominated, winning three regattas. The series showcased strong participation and improved performance from multiple competitors.

Saunders reports on the first Seaford Thistle Challenge held in Virginia, where Bill Harris from Annapolis dominated the competition with strong performances throughout the weekend.

A humorous poem describing a battle between two Thistle boats (Godzilla and Red Dragon) with corresponding fleet standings from Lake Nockamixon.

Jett reports on the Grand Annual Regatta at Cave Run Lake in Kentucky where Louisville sailors dominated with light wind sailing. Boat 3876 (Bright) placed first, followed by competitors from Saratoga.

Hepenstal provides a detailed race report from the 1997 Women's Nationals held in San Diego, describing the sailing conditions, race outcomes, and participants from various regions.

Dieball describes the first annual Sammy Davis Jr. Memorial Regatta held over Labor Day weekend at Put-In-Bay Yacht Club, featuring Thistles from across Ohio in three races.

Classified advertisements and marketplace listings for Thistle boats for sale, boat services, and miscellaneous items related to Thistle sailing.