April/May 2008

President Kreitler reflects on the Midwinters East regatta, celebrating the camaraderie and parties that made it memorable. He discusses new initiatives including GPS tracking in the Coach TCA program and addresses ongoing class issues around tack pin slugs, rudder measurements, and venue scheduling for future nationals.

Administrative updates about TCA membership dues, the upcoming roster, active member privileges, R&D eligibility lists, and fleet formation procedures. Lawrence emphasizes the importance of paying dues on time and updating address information.

Poltorak addresses the 20% annual member turnover in the Thistle class and proposes strategies to improve retention through mentorship, crew development, involvement in race committee, and personal outreach to new members.

Chief Measurer Pollak addresses the six mast breakages at Midwinters East, explaining that the Measurement Committee will investigate systematically rather than speculate. He also confirms that measurement issues regarding tack slugs and rudder compliance are under review but not in crisis mode.

Information about the 2008 Nationals hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club from August 2-9, 2008. Details include lodging options, local attractions, launching facilities, and climate information for northwest Florida.

A call for women Thistlers to participate in the Women's Nationals regatta in Pensacola, challenging them to comprise 50% of all women attending the championship to compete in the women's race on Saturday.

An obituary and tribute to Charlie Hughes, a TCA member who passed away on January 28, 2008 at age 82. The article celebrates his life as an avid sailor with eleven children, his competitive achievements in Thistles, his friendship with Pete Milnes, and his family's deep involvement in the Thistle class.

An obituary and tribute to Dorothy Flood, who passed away on January 28, 2008 at age 81. The article celebrates her life as a devoted family woman, her genuine spirit, and her deep love for sailing, her family, and the Thistle sailing community.

An in-depth article about the restoration history of Thistle #603, 'Maid of Pligh', following the legendary boat through multiple owners and restorations. Pollak describes purchasing the wooden boat in poor condition and spending years restoring it with Larry Liggett, his competitive sailing career with the boat, and its current restoration for return to racing.

Bloomberg describes the strategic improvements made to Midwinters West in 2008, including shifting dates to after the Super Bowl, changing from Friday-Sunday racing to Wednesday-Saturday, moving to ocean-only racing, and implementing unified fleet starts. These changes boosted participation by 30% and created a more engaging event.

Gillum provides a detailed narrative of the Larry Klein Memorial Fleet Race on February 10, 2008, describing the shifting wind conditions, competition between top sailors, and the match race finals between Mike Ingham and Mike Gillum, with Ingham ultimately prevailing in a close finish.

Romero celebrates the successful 2008 Midwinters West regatta, highlighting the excellent ocean conditions, 9 quality races, memorable wildlife encounters, and outstanding regatta management. He notes that Paul Abdullah won the overall MWW competition and Mike Ingham won the Larry Klein Memorial.

A collection of observations and testimonials from MWW participants and race reports, including comments on wind conditions, the format changes, hospitality, and various teams' experiences at the regatta.

A humorous top-10 list of memorable moments from the 2008 Midwinters West regatta, including encounters with whales, the excellent hospitality at Mission Bay Yacht Club, and the quality of ocean racing.

A collection of advertisements and product listings from Thistle sailing vendors and suppliers, including boat covers, sails, rigging hardware, boat care services, marine retailers, and class membership information.

Janney describes his first experience competing in a Thistle regatta with a hastily-prepared boat that required immediate measurement certification. He details his struggles with boat setup, particularly mast bend issues, but celebrated strong performance in the Larry Klein Memorial match racing.

An appeal from Finefrock, endorsed by editor John Duckworth, urging class members to contribute articles, stories, and photographs to the Bagpipe to preserve the history and emotional narrative of Thistle sailing events beyond just race scores.

Smith announces the location of the 2009 Nationals at Cedar Point Yacht Club in Connecticut, confirms a multi-year schedule for future championships through 2013, and thanks members for submitting regatta dates for the comprehensive 2008 calendar.

A detailed progress report on the restoration of Thistle #875, documenting the work done to reinstall the rear grate, center thwart supports, seat supports, and the techniques used with epoxy and fiberglass for boat repairs.

Information about three spring regattas organized by Ohio Thistle fleets: the Mean Green Regatta at Buckeye Lake Yacht Club, the Wet Your Thistle Regatta at Hoover Sailing Club, and the Damfull Regatta at Leatherlips Yacht Club, held April 26 - May 18, 2008.

A comprehensive technical guide to fairing fiberglass Thistle hulls, including the process of smoothing high and low areas, applying fairing compound, and polishing the finish. Benzur provides practical advice on tools, materials, and methodology while cautioning about the time investment and cost considerations.

A humorous column featuring a postcard-style letter from someone vacationing in Las Vegas, describing gambling losses, entertainment, and free attractions while jokingly asking for money from 'Benny'.