Welcome to the Thistle Class Association

NEWS

• Don't miss US SAILING's One-Design Sailing Symposium November 15-16 in Atlanta GA. Join Dave Perry, Greg Fisher, Skip Dieball, Craig Leweck, Tom Hubbell, Greg Griffin, Freid Elliot, and 25 other speakers for a great weekend of go fast help, class and fleet building ideas, parties and fun. For more information visit US SAILING's One-Design Class Council.
• Brent Barbehenn was very much in evidence as the host of the annual Heather Bowl Regatta at the Red Dragon Canoe Club this past weekend, but he was seen more often serving lasagna and doing race committee work than he was racing.
  
  That's because he had a virtual lock on first place when John Baker and Joy Martin were unable to attend the last of the eight fall series regattas, so he tended to organizational duties while the rest of the fleet raced. It was the seventh time since 1986 that Barbehenn won the ECFS.
  
  Baker held on to capture second in the ECFS, while Dave Hansen - sailing with Scott Meyer and wife Anne Hansen - nailed down the third place perpetual. [Use these links to download the whole story and see the final results!]
• The ECFS 'Top Crew' Results Are In!!!
  
  Just when you were recovering from the endless campaign of Obama-McCain and parsing the returns for a clue about where our country goes from here, comes the even more dramatic news from the East Coast Fall Series - the 2008 'Top Crew' results are in!
  
  It has taken 10 days since the last regatta for the tallies to be counted accurately. It turns out the venerable ECFS Cox-Sprague Machine, which spits out instant answers when the skipper-only information is input, goes "tilt" when you feed it identical results for two crew members. "One man, one boat!!!" the machine screamed angrily in protest.
  
  "Two crew - screw you!!!" retorted our crack team of ballot counters. Anyway, suffice it to say that much of the analysis had to be done by hand. We can't even begin to tell you how many 'hanging chads' wound up on the cutting-room floor. It wasn't a pretty sight, that's for sure!
  
  But we digress.
  
  Congratulations to Joy Martin for taking first place. She will be the proud recipient of a new 'Top Crew' perpetual trophy, which is currently under construction at a still secret location. Anne Hansen wins the second place perpetual (also under construction), and Scott Meyer held on for third (also, etc...). [Click here for the whole story!]
• The Southport Sailing Foundation, based in Southport, Conn., announced the launch of a new website designed to help young American sailors plan more successful racing campaigns. The new site, called www.CleverPig.org, is designed for any sailor who wants to take the next step in their sailing career, whether he or she is a veteran racer aiming toward the Olympics or a young sailor preparing for their first national regatta. According to Dave Perry, a Foundation director, “When sailors want to organize a campaign or simply raise the level of their game, there is so much to do beyond just racing their boat fast. The idea behind CleverPig.org is to provide a resource for ‘one-stop shopping.’ Hopefully it will give sailors most of the information they need to be successful off the water as well as on the race course.” The Thistle is one of the classes covered.
• Fifteen young sailors... six months of intense training... one chance at the brass ring. This exciting True-Life documentary tells the inspiring story of a group of intrepid and determined young men and women, on the cusp of adulthood, as they embark on life’s first great adventure. For more informaiton see Morning Light.
• The Skipper Eligibility List is current as of September 29, 2008. The list includes 2008 junior, active, and family member’s last names and boat registration information. If you have not paid your 2008 dues, you are invited to do so. If you need to register your boat with the class, the measurement form is available online.
• It's dues time again. Send in your 2009 dues now and received the last 2008 Bagpipes. And now is the time to schedule annual fleet meetings.
• Bagpipe Preview - October/November issue.
• Congratulations Greg Fisher, Jeff Eiber, and Jo Ann Fisher on a great Nationals win. To see the complete results visit the Pensacola Yacht Club website.
• Remember to submit NOR's, event information, and regatta results to the webmaster. All information will be posted on the Events page.
• The web page header photograph section needs more photographs. Please send one or two of your very best photographs which fit the following categories: People (pictures of minors must include parental permission), rigging, scenic sailing venues. Pictures will be chosen based upon quality and how well they represent the TCA. (age, gender, geographic location, fun factor, etc.) And, seriously, edit your collection to your one or two favorites.
  
  
  
  
• Check the SPYC website for MWE scores and the Kattack GPS tracking system.
• Thistle Class Merchandise makes great gifts and trophies. Keep checking back as more items are added.

For upcoming events and regatta results please go to 2008 Events.