NYACK BOAT CLUB THE PREMIER BOATING CLUB ON THE HUDSON RIVER

Est. 1909 Thistle Fleet Events for 2014 FLEET CONTACTS Thistle Fleet Captain • May 31 - June 1 - Memorial Day Regatta Don Dexter - [email protected] Phone - 201-670-0466 • October 18-19 - Paul Logerfo Regatta Secretary Sarah Hatsell - [email protected] Phone - 917-723-9154 Social Kat Esswein - [email protected] Phone - 508-274-9797

THISTLE FLEET #41

www.nyackboatclub.org HISTORY the Fall Series Circuit. prominently around the individual’s neck The Thistle, a 17-foot open boat with a plumb The Thistle Fleet while reciting a well-known Thistle chant bow and stern first appeared at Nyack in the blossomed in the several times: “The Thistle is a stable boat. early 1950s. The boat was designed in 1946 late 1960s and 1970s The Thistle is a stable boat?” Shouted with by and carries 191 sq.ft. of with the introduc- decreasing confidence, this has been a famil- and jib, and 220 sq.ft. of spinnaker. tion of the fiberglass iar chant for all members of Nyack Thistle The ability of the Thistle was attractive hull which greatly Fleet #41 for almost fifty years. to racing skippers, and the popularity of this reduced the main- The Thistle has three-person centerboard boat soon grew. tenance needed on proven to be an In 1960, many area Thistle sailors wanted the wooden Thistles. excellent boat for to extend their season beyond the typical By the mid-1970s, the Tappan Zee and Labor Day closing of their clubs. An eight- the Fleet grew to has been a major regatta circuit was formed as the East Coast approximately twenty-five boats competing contributor to the Fall Series, with clubs from Massachusetts to in regular Sunday racing. During the 1970s support of Maryland joining in to hold a regatta and par- there were many young families at Nyack, at the Nyack Boat ticipate in this fall series. Nyack has continued and Thistle racing was a family affair. Club. While over One of the earliest and longest standing half of our Thistle traditions of the Thistle Fleet is the Winter Fleet now falls into the non-racing category, Awards Dinner. In addition to recognizing there is still much competitive racing every the previous seasonal winners, the Fleet weekend. With the likelihood of convert- recognizes anyone in the Thistle Fleet who ing sailors to racing around the buoys, and has capsized during the season. Every an interest sparked by new members, the Thistle capsized during the racing season future for increased Thistle racing is promis- is documented in verse and read proudly ing. during the dinner. Each capsizing skipper is “awarded” a Tappan Zee Tipper (in the form of a miniature life ring) to be worn to hhost one off theh eighth circuit regattas eachh fall since 1960. This series has always brought close competition to our Club and the year 2008 was no exception. All five races in the East Coast Fall Series held at Nyack were Talk about your family boat! won by different teams. Named for member Paul LoGerfo, the LoGerfo Memorial Regatta continues to be a high point for visitors during