April/May 2001

Hinman chronicles the history and present state of Thistle Fleet 67 in the San Francisco Bay Area, from its origins in the 1950s through a devastating capsizing in 1969 and subsequent recovery. He describes the fleet's current activities and challenges with geographic dispersion across Northern California.

Hudson reflects on the 2001 Midwinters East in St. Petersburg with a record turnout of 67 Thistles. He discusses several controversial class issues addressed at the governing board meeting, including wooden boat builder requirements and the proposed use of VHF radios for communication.

Ron Smith provides guidance on registering new or recently acquired Thistles, emphasizing the importance of accurate measurements and the risks of purchasing used boats without re-measuring. He also outlines what will be checked at Nationals and introduces the new transom height measurement.

Winchester provides a detailed account of the Larry Klein Memorial Regatta match racing series held in San Diego, featuring exciting competitive racing among the top eight qualifiers with multiple lead changes and tactical battles.

Keith Graham from Seattle Fleet 61 receives the US Sailing One Design Leadership Award for his instrumental work in building the Seattle fleet over the past two years, which culminated in winning 2000 TCA Growth and Promotion trophies.

George Silk's two instructional Thistle videos are now available again from New Enders Corporation after a two-year hiatus, with updated contact information and pricing details.

The editors explain that this is a West Coast-focused issue featuring Midwinters West and San Francisco Fleet 67, and provide submission guidelines for future regatta articles and photographs.

Nielan provides a personal account of attending Midwinters West and highlights key individuals who contributed to the event's success, plus includes a media relations tip for promoting sailing through local media outlets.

Gillum provides a comprehensive technical article on spinnaker twings for Thistles, explaining their history, benefits, and installation details. He describes his custom installation on boat 3487 and discusses performance considerations for various wind conditions.

Official minutes from the TCA Governing Board meeting held March 6, 2001, in St. Petersburg, FL, covering chief measurer reports, bylaw amendments regarding co-owners, wooden boat builders, and future nationals locations.

Obenski provides a humorous and personal account of racing in the President's Division at Midwinters West, highlighting memorable race moments and the experience of an improving competitor.

The Gillums provide a comprehensive report on the Championship Division at Midwinters West, detailing the competition, wind conditions, race results, and congratulating the winners while highlighting standout performances from top competitors.

Complete race results for both the Championship Division and President's Division at the 2001 Midwinters West regatta, showing final standings with George Szabo winning the championship and Dean Iwahashi the president's division.

Classified advertisements and marketplace listings including Thistle boats for sale, sailboat components, covers, and specialized services for the Thistle class.