June - July 2004

The 29th Annual Orange Peel Regatta was held at Florida Yacht Club in Jacksonville. Twenty boats competed over the weekend in perfect 80-degree weather, with Greg Griffin taking first place, followed by Craig Koschalk in second. The event featured competitive racing, social events, and the traditional Waffle House breakfast.

The President reflects on inspiring quotes from sailors and leaders that have guided his approach to sailing and life. Four key quotes address topics including teamwork, boat handling, enjoyment of the sport, and education within the sailing community.

The Editor reflects on an article about vacation and how the principles apply to Thistling, emphasizing the sport's role in balancing the stresses of everyday life. He thanks contributors for submitting results and notes the magazine's upcoming rapid publication schedule.

The Bottoms Up Regatta at Lake Murray Sailing Club in South Carolina featured tropical weather, monsoon rains, and tropical-themed activities. Paul Abdullah won with consistent sailing, while the fleet enjoyed a low country boil dinner and rum-based cocktails at the "Freaky Hut" Tikki Bar.

A personal account of racing at Midwinter's East in St. Petersburg, Florida, describing a come-from-behind victory in the final race and the emotions of winning against a large fleet.

Fleet 110 hosted the 2004 Southeast Interdistricts in Birmingham, Alabama. Twenty boats competed over two days with windy conditions on Sunday. Greg Griffin dominated the fleet and won the regatta after overcoming a large deficit from Saturday's racing.

Fleet 161's 2004 Lemonade Regatta was held on Lake Lemon near Bloomington, Indiana with eight boats competing. Bill and Kathleen Miller dominated the event, winning 4 of 8 races with consistent performances.

Twelve Thistles competed in the Pacific Coast Championships and High Sierra Regatta at Huntington Lake, California, with excellent sailing conditions in scenic surroundings. Dave Keran won the PCCs while Mike Gillum won the High Sierra Regatta.

The Thistle 8-Ball Regatta was held at Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis on April 24-25, 2004, with 31 boats competing. Bruce King won the event with consistent performance, followed by Blair Dryden in second place.

The Long Island Sound/New England District Championships were held in Nyack, New York on the Hudson River. The regatta featured challenging wind conditions and strong competitors from three clubs, with Mike McBride claiming overall honors.

Erik Goethert won the 2004 Atlantic Coast Championships held at Cottage Park Yacht Club in Boston, Massachusetts. After a difficult Saturday, he sailed a consistent 6-6-1 series on Sunday to overcome a large deficit and claim victory.

Held at Pymatuning Yacht Club on the Pennsylvania-Ohio border on Independence Day weekend, this regatta featured 36 Thistles competing in a "feast or famine" weather scenario. Saturday had no wind while Sunday brought perfect 10-25 knot winds, with Jack Finefrock winning overall.

Classified advertisements and marketplace listings for Thistle boats, boat parts, covers, and accessories. Includes boat-for-sale listings with prices and contact information, as well as advertisements from vendors specializing in boat covers, carbon fiber parts, and related equipment.

The Central Atlantic Districts were held at New Castle Sailing Club on the Delaware River on June 26-27. Charlie Krafft won the championship with four bullets, while a B Fleet was created to accommodate boats of varying vintages and skill levels.

A humorous, NASCAR-themed regatta held at Lake Allatoona in Atlanta, Georgia during Memorial Day weekend. Fifty-five Thistle competitors participated in a whimsical event featuring costumes, pit crew antics, and race car-themed festivities, with Greg Griffin winning overall.