What is the ideal crew weight for a Thistle?
Due to the 23 ft tall height of the Thistle rig, a broad range of crew combinations has proven successful in the Thistle. Crew weights of 400-600 pounds can be competitive. Most racers consider the “ideal” crew weight to be 470-500 pounds, although both lighter and heavier crew weights have won Nationals. Due to the wide range of competitive crew weights, a Thistle can also be raced competitively with two people. Bill Draheim won the 1993 National Championships while double handing.
