August/September 2020

President Hubbell reflects on the Thistle Class's 75-year history and strength despite COVID-19 challenges, highlighting marketing initiatives, the excellence of the Bagpipe magazine, youth sponsorship programs, and efforts toward greater diversity in the sport.

The 2020 TCA Annual Meeting will be held online via Zoom on August 18, 2020 at 8 PM EDT due to pandemic restrictions, with voting limited to accredited delegates and proxies per the constitution.

The TCA is challenging members to match $20,000 from an anonymous donor by December 31, 2021 to support the Growth & Promotion Fund, which sponsors young skippers, offsets coaching costs, and aids fleet sustainability.

First VP Howell encourages Thistlers to get back on the water during COVID-19 restrictions, sharing stories of non-competitive sailing experiences that reminded him why the sport is fundamentally about joy and personal well-being.

The 75th Anniversary Thistle Nationals, postponed from 2020 due to COVID-19, will be held July 31-August 6, 2021 at Cleveland Yachting Club with top-tier sponsorship from KeyBank, Harken Derm, and other supporters.

Comprehensive calendar of scheduled Thistle regattas and fleet events from August 2020 through November 2020, and upcoming March and July 2021 major championships, including venues, contacts, and previous year winners.

A collection of stories from Thistle sailors about how they adapted sailing and community activities during COVID-19 lockdowns, including webinars, Summer Sailstice celebrations, and family sailing adventures.

Detailed account of an extensive restoration project on boat #3675 during COVID-19 lockdown, including varnish stripping, hull repairs, centerboard log repair, deck painting, new non-skid installation, hardware cleaning, and rigging modifications.

A young sailor's creative DIY project to build a mobile dolly frame for boat storage during COVID-19, using minimal tools and salvaged cradles, enabling her to refinish her Thistle's varnish in her grandparents' garage.

Report on an innovative socially-distanced regatta held at Hoover Sailing Club in May 2020, with detailed protocols for safety, two-person teams, and results from 18 participating boats in seven races.

A humorous cautionary tale about wood restoration chemistry gone wrong when attempting to remove black oxidation spots from boat #48 using hydrofluoric acid (WHINK) and baking soda, resulting in unintended chemical reactions.

Comprehensive DIY guide for weatherproofing a Thistle using a travel cover and a custom framework with ABS pipe, wood stringers, and plastic sheeting to protect exposed wood during winter storage without lowering the mast.

Reddaway recounts his family's adventures traveling to western Thistle Nationals, describing the construction of a specialized enclosed trailer system to transport two Thistles and an Opti coach boat, with acknowledgments of travel partners and the joys of exploring the country.

A racing rules quiz question and answer from Dave Perry's collection, with detailed explanation of Rule 18.2(b) regarding mark-room and overlapped boats on opposite tacks.

Second VP announces the launch of the redesigned thistleclass.com website with improved navigation, event calendar, marketplace for classifieds, fleet directory, and accessible regatta results.

Comprehensive update on the TCA's marketing initiatives including the new website launch, event calendar tools, online marketplace for buying/selling boats and parts, fleet directory improvements, social media team organization, and opportunities for members to contribute.

Ingham critiques the traditional sailing maxim "Ease, Hike, Trim" as misleading and proposes revised sequences for different wind conditions, providing more accurate guidance for maximizing speed through puffs.

First installment of a cruising adventure where the author and her husband John joined Thistle sailors Dan and Marlene Reasoner aboard their Island Packet 420 sailboat for an unplanned voyage through Mexico during COVID-19 lockdown, from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego.