AN AWARDS PROGRAM THAT WORKS
By Carol Robinson

As do other one-design classes, we recognize the top sailors on the race course. Equally important, we give recognition in the non-racing do­main.

In addition to the top ten at the Nationals, we give out other trophies. One, the Haupt Trophy, honors the top husband-and-wife team. We’ve had over 20 boats vying for this trophy.

We now have perpetual and keeper trophies to recognize the crew on the winning boat (thanks to Doug Laber of Great Midwest Yacht Company). “These awards are intended to recognize the troops in the trenches – the crew – those who absorb the waves and get the bruises. We all know the contribution they make – these awards record for posterity the rest of the team.” Though we do give trophies to both the skipper and crew, this was our first perpetual crew trophy – a long-overdue award.

In addition to the Haupt Trophy, the Perpetual Crew Trophy, and junior trophies, we have added a trophy for the top parent-and-child team at the Nationals.

In major regattas across the country, we have initiated a B fleet. This division has worked very well. The B fleeters start with the rest of the fleet. Scoring has been handled two ways. One way has been to handle the finishes as a separate division with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, giving .75 points for first place. The other has been to keep them in the finishes with the other boats and award according to the lowest score. The criterion to qualify for the B fleet is simple: If the racer has not finished better than a stated position in a chevron event, he/she may sign up for B fleet. (Chevron events in the Thistle Class are the Districts, Interdistricts, Midwinters East and West, and the Nationals.) I have yet to see anyone not gladly join the B fleet. The Thistle Class is a highly competitive class, and not only is there no stigma attached to being in the B fleet, the opposite seems to be the case: There are non-qualifiers who want to be in the fleet.

The first time we used the B fleet was at a 50-boat regatta. The first day’s racing proved that the arbitrary 8th place was right. There were no B fleeters in position 1-25, and every single finisher 26-50 was a B fleeter.

We have found that everyone wants to rub shoulders with the “big guys” at the start, but also wants to have a chance to take home the silver, which was virtually impossible before. Also winning a B fleet trophy does not cause exclusion from other B fleet events, so the B fleeters can look forward to competing in this division until they finish high in a chevron event.

Different areas of the country use a different chevron finish cut-off to determine who qualifies for B fleet. The fleet does not have to be large to have a B fleet work. Fleets of 15-20 boats have found that B fleets worked well for them, too.

Why not try a B fleet? Since B fleeters start on the same line with the other boats, additional work by the race committee is minimal. They need to identify the B fleeters at registration (“Have you finished 8th or better at a chevron event?”) and do separate scoring (if they wish). Positive feedback from the competitor is very rewarding. People look forward to racing in the B fleet and show up at regattas because of it.

Other (non-racing) awards

The well-being of the Thistle Class does not result sole­ly from recognition for racing. An important part is the recognition we give in non-racing areas. The Thistle Class has seven such awards that we present each year. Recognition is given at the Nationals banquet, before the awards for the National Championships. Two are automatic: The National Race Committee Chairman and the local Nationals chairman receive engraved silver goblets. The other awards are the honorary offices, the Dave Minton Trophy, and the Growth and Promotion Trophies.

The Commodore, Vice Commodore, and Rear Com­modore are honorary officers proposed by the Nomination Committee and elected at the annual meeting. The individuals are selected to acknowledge what they have done for the class. Usually the Rear Commodore is someone directly involved with the Nationals. The Commodore and Vice Commodore are recognized for serving the Class over a period of time. The nominee does not need to be a member of the Class or a boat owner. In the past, we have elected people from St. Petersburg who have worked beyond the call of duty in putting on excellent regattas, and we have elected spouses of class members. These honorees receive patches at the banquet and are listed for the year in the front of The Bagpipe, the Thistle Class magazine.

The Commodore has added duties to perform by being in charge of social activities. Though we haven’t seen it during the past few years, he is supposed to make the opening and closing addresses at the Annual Meeting and serve as toastmaster at all functions. The Vice Commodore and Rear Commodore are to fill in for the Commodore in his absence.

One of the most revered trophies of the Thistle Class is the Dave Minton Trophy. The Trophy was first awarded in 1971 to Dave Minton. The Deed of Gift explains beautifully why this trophy is so highly revered:

Deed of Gift

WHEREAS the Thistle Class Association is made up of many people: officers, members, sailors, wives, children, sea lawyers, rule-twisters, hanky wringers, protest committee arguers, race committee protestors, dedicated workers, and

WHEREAS the Class owes an everlasting debt to those who think through the problems of the Class and work toward their eventual solution and

WHEREAS it seems altogether fitting and proper that such service be noted and duly recognized as an expression of gratitude to those who so labor,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that a trophy be established in honor of one who has labored long and hard for the Thistle Class.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this trophy be designated The Minton Trophy

In honor of David C. Minton, Jr., who has served the Class for six years as Chief Measurer, two years as President, Chairman of the Nominating Committee on several occasions, and confidant and counselor to officers and members alike through many years and many administrations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this trophy remind everyone that while working as an officer, Dave Minton never used his “free ride” to the National Championship, but qualified through his District elimination, thereby retaining his status as a “hard to beat” contender and insuring our reputation as a group where the people who run the class also compete actively in it.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this trophy be presented annually at the National Awards Banquet to that Thistler who has done the most for the Class during the past year or several years.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THIS TROPHY IS LOVINGLY DONATED TO HONOR A GREAT THISTLER AND GREAT GUY!

While the Nominating Committee chooses the re­cipient, their selection is a surprise to all when the an­nouncement is made at the banquet. Usually, a close friend of the recipient will make the presentation, de­scribing the person and his/her deeds but not giving the name until the very end of the speech. The recipient always receives a standing ovation from the Class in recognition of a job well done.

The Growth and Promotion Trophy is the newest award, awarded for the first time in 1985, to recognize those fleets that have excelled in a one-year period. In looking at the sparkplugs across the country, these movers were not necessarily the sailors finishing in the top ten at the Nationals. Just as the top sailors are recognized, these hard workers who maintain the core of the Class are key to ensuring a healthy one-design class.

As many as three trophies can be handed out for this award. Two keepers are given, one to recognize the greatest numerical increase and the other for the greatest percentage increase. The second recognizes the added difficulty in attracting someone to a four-boat fleet when there are 40 xyzs at the same club. The fleet with the greatest numerical increase also receives the perpetual trophy. However, the perpetual trophy lists both fleets and winners. The numbers are figured on a July 1 to July 1 basis, because that is the Class’s deadline to be registered and dues paid – a requirement to be allowed to race in Class-sanctioned events.

In addition to the trophies, T-shirts with the growth and promotion logo are available to members of the winning fleet. These are provided to the fleets at cost and are not available to anyone else.

We have found that fleets decide to go for the trophy. During the year I receive letters asking how they can win, and there is banter at the regattas between the top fleets. At the Annual Meeting, when the winners are announced, there are requests for an immediate mini-growth and promotion meeting on “How they did it” which lasts for about ten minutes and is taken back to the home fleets. These fleets are proud of what they have accomplished – rightly so.

Robinson is a former Growth and Promotion Chair for the Thistle Class.

This article was printed previously in the Thistle Class newsletter, The Bagpipe.

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