December-January 2004

A comprehensive roundtable discussion with the top ten finishers from the 2003 Thistle National Championship in Ft. Walton Beach. The sailors address 17 questions about their preparation, crew dynamics, strategy evolution, boat setup, and advice for aspiring competitive sailors.

Brent Barbehenn thanks Jack Finefrock, the outgoing president, for his dedicated service to the Thistle Class Association. He highlights Jack's unselfish character, work ethic, and contributions to growing the sport among his three children, and expresses his hope to improve his own duty-completion record as incoming president.

An analysis showing that the Thistle class remains one of the most active one-design sailing classes in North America, ranking third behind Lightning and Sunfish. The article discusses the class's strong position and encourages participation in the 2004 Nationals to move into first place.

Mike Duff introduces himself as the new Bagpipe Editor, following in the footsteps of previous editors. He acknowledges the support he's receiving from the Kansas City fleet and from Lauren O'Hara and Jake Durando, and solicits article contributions from Thistlers around the country about local events and personalities.

A comprehensive preview of the 2004 Thistle Nationals to be held July 31-August 6 in Michigan City, Indiana. The article covers the venue's facilities, local attractions, weather expectations, and logistics for participants and their families.

A comprehensive report on the 2003 Lake Erie Fall Series featuring six regattas across Ohio and New York. The series culminated with a celebration regatta at Lake Chautauqua, with Craig Koschalk finishing as series champion. The article includes detailed results and encourages participation for the 2004 series.

The 2003 Old Salty regatta held at Lake Norman Yacht Club in North Carolina drew 20 boats despite some local scheduling conflicts. Paul Abdullah dominated with three bullets and won the event. The regatta featured competitive racing in 10-15 knot winds and social activities including a Mexican dinner with live acoustic music.

The 5th Annual Lumberjack Regatta at Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks attracted 19 Thistles to a unique venue with no local fleet, yacht club, or race committee. Eric Gesner won with strong performances in windward-leeward courses. The event combines competitive racing with social activities including cookouts and stargazing.

The Adams Cup is America's oldest women's sailing championship. This year's event, held in Flying Scots at Lake Norman Yacht Club, featured 11 Thistle sailors among 33 competitors. Kirsten Cummings, a Thistle fleet captain, won second place with her crew.

Classified advertisements for boats for sale and other Thistle-related items. Listings include Thistle hulls in various conditions, ranging from wood boats to fiberglass with different sail and rigging packages.

A humorous ongoing feature showing recent sightings of "Vince" at various Thistle events and locations, tracking his appearances in the Thistle sailing community.