Taking refuge from the storm

Since COVID-19 became a global health emergency a year ago, the eagerness to “return to normal” as a sport remains a challenge when significant aspects of society in the USA are far from normal. This is compounded when traveling by how there is not one “normal” in the country as a wide range of cooperation and restriction prevails.

As a result, the Thistle Class Association Executive Committee have cancelled three of their prominent traveling regattas this winter: 2021 Midwinters West (San Diego, CA), Midwinters East (St. Petersburg, FL), and 2021 Orange Peel (Jacksonville, FL).

“The pandemic is just too much,” said the Class statement. “Because of that it would not be appropriate for us to have a gathering and that’s at least half the fun. The constraints would be considerable.

“Travel to the events, hotels, or housing, getting meals away from home, – it is too much to risk. The whole activity poses risks to the would-be sailors and to the folks we encounter along the way.

“As we all know by now, this is a time to take refuge from the storm so we can sail another day.”