December 2017/January 2018

John Howell shares his personal journey reconnecting with the Thistle Class over several decades, from his childhood in Connecticut through multiple relocations and life changes. He reflects on the special appeal of the boat, fleet, and family that draws people back to Thistles repeatedly.

President Dave Hudson addresses the Class's major challenges, including unfavorable demographics requiring recruitment of younger sailors and the difficulty in securing viable venues for the National Championship Regatta. He emphasizes the Class's historical strengths in navigating changes and calls for collaborative problem-solving.

Joy Martin discusses efforts to develop a long-term venue rotation plan for the National Championship. She outlines potential venues including Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, Sandpoint Idaho, and Cleveland Ohio, and invites the Class to suggest new locations and calendar dates.

A tribute to Ed Barbehenn, a long-time Thistle sailor who passed away on October 22, 2017. Barbehenn was a Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club legend who won multiple championships in various classes and had top ten finishes in the Thistle National Championship.

A feature interview with Doug Laber, founder and builder of Great Midwest Yacht Co., which has been manufacturing Thistle sailboats since 1975. The article explores Laber's craftsmanship philosophy, his evolution from engineer to entrepreneur, and the challenges facing the sailboat industry.

Profile interview with two young Thistle sailors from Lake Erie District who achieved impressive competitive success, including a top boat finish with an under-18 skipper at Nationals and ILYA championships. The article highlights their family sailing background and mentorship experiences.

Report on the U.S. Junior Triple-handed Championship for the Sears Cup held at Hoover Yacht Club on July 9, 2017. Eight teams of under-17 junior racers competed across six races with a cold front providing variable wind conditions. Results table shows Ryan Squires winning with Ethan Taylor's team in third place.

Report on the Labor Day weekend Blue Crab Regatta at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, September 2-3, 2017. Hurricane Harvey remnants provided challenging Saturday conditions with northeasterly breeze and tropical showers, while Sunday brought clearer weather with westerly winds.

Feature article about a creative painting event held by Indianapolis Fleet #69 at their February meeting. A local artist led sailors in painting Thistle artwork with acrylic paints, creating masterpieces and building artistic skills. Bruce King's Royal Flush painting won first place.

Report on the 19th Annual Lumberjack Regatta held on Tupper Lake, New York, August 26-27, 2017. Sixteen Thistles competed in shifty wind conditions, with Tom Lawton earning first place. The regatta was sponsored by the Rotary Club and featured challenging conditions around Bluff and Birch islands.

The Vermilion Rumgatta, held August 26 at Vermilion Boat Club, was one of the most prolific Thistle events of the year with eleven teams competing. Nicole Shedden won with Kyle Finefrock in second, and various awards including rum to top finishers and pizza from Pizza Hut.

The Harvest Moon Regatta at Atwood Yacht Club, September 9-10, attracted eight Thistles. Most teams two-manned the event with perfect conditions for that format on Saturday. Ben France won first place, Jack Finefrock took second, and Conor Ruppen finished third.

The Cleveland Yachting Club Fall Regatta, September 23, saw fourteen Thistles show up on a calm morning with unusual easterly winds. The race committee got two races off before the wind died. Steve Lavender won on a tie-breaker over Tom Hubbell.

The Icebreaker Regatta at Crescent Sail Yacht Club, September 30-October 1, featured unusually pleasant weather for the event name, with warm water and air temperatures and 3-12 knot easterly winds. Seven races were sailed with light, puffy breeze creating challenging conditions.

The Johnson Memorial Regatta at Chautauqua Lake, October 14, featured perfect sailing conditions with 7-9 knot southerly wind. Bill Wilson dominated with five first-place finishes, while Nicole Shedden achieved a near-perfect second place performance.

The Blow Out Regatta at North Cape Yacht Club, October 7, was the 51st annual event featuring Thistles, Lightnings, and Interlakes. Craig Koschalk's team won with very consistent finishes throughout the regatta, demonstrating skill beyond just home field advantage.

The Last Splash Regatta at Hoover Sailing Club, October 21, was the Fall Series finale held on a beautiful day. The race committee provided seven races in a short time span with 3-minute starting sequences. Nicole Shedden won with consistent top finishes, with Ben France in second.

The Pacific Coast Championship held at Eugene Yacht Club, May 27-28, 2017, featured six races in lighter than normal winds. Wayne Balsiger won the overall championship with strong boat speed, followed by Dave Sexton in second place and Chip Balough in third.

The Old Salty Regatta at Lake Norman Yacht Club, October 7-8, 2017, featured challenging rain and wind conditions on Saturday followed by lighter Sunday winds. Mark and Scott Gise won the regatta with three consecutive race victories. The event featured entertaining Saturday night activities including games and Chinese lanterns.