Thistle Fleet #148 invites all interested sailors to sail or crew on a Thistle. The 17 Ft. Thistle is a lightweight, and exciting day sailor that is easy to trail and launch for a week-end of racing or a family outing. A Thistle is especially fast in light -air, and the large mainsail and efficient hull design keeps you moving in the lightest breezes. No motor necessary. This makes the Thistle the ideal boat in the Southeast with our light to medium winds. Sail and socialize with the local Thistle fleet on Lake Murray. Free sailing instructions, and help with rigging and maintaining your Thistle is available from local fleet members.
Classic design and look – The Thistle can be a “show stopper”. A well-cared for all wood Thistle is a beautiful classic boat. Newer Thistles with low maintenance fiberglass hulls have enough wood on the rails, and gratings to say “craftsmanship”, and maintain the classic Thistle look. New and used boats 
are available with low maintenance teak, or varnished mahogany and ash which can be finished to look like high quality furniture.
Reasonable cost – Used Thistles are available at a reasonable cost. The Thistle construction assures long-term durability, and competitiveness. The hull is solid fiberglass without foam cores, which tend to soak up moisture, and become soft and heavy as the hull ages. The curved hull with integral buoyancy tanks, and seats add strength and stiffness without adding extra weight. Hull repairs are easily made, and even an old boat with neglected or damaged wood can be brought back to a competitive racer and looking like new. Thistle #1 (55+ years old) is still actively sailing and racing. A strong national class association, and strict “one-design” specifications keep older boats competitive and protects your investment.
Safety is important.- The Thistle Class requires positive floatation to be installed in every boat. The fiberglass Thistles feature “designed in” flotation tanks, and self-rescuing features that in case of capsize allow you to easily right, and sail the boat dry without requiring outside assistance.
Competitive and friendly racing – 
If you want to try racing you can pick your level. From local, low-key fleet racing, to regional competition most Thistles are raced by family members. If you want the highest level of competition, racing the Thistle at the National Championship level lets you test yourself with the highest caliber Olympic and collegiate sailors in the sport.
For more information contact Bob Lockwood (803) 932-2076 or email rlockwood@sc.rr.com and please visit the web site to learn more about this popular national class.
