Gilliland Wins Thistle Regatta on Mission Bay

Mark Gilliland of San Diego won the 16th annual Thistle class Midwinters West Sunday, placing fifth among 17 boats in the last of the regatta’s six races.

Gilliland, who won his first four races and finished second in his fifth, held a virtually insurmountable lead in the standings before Sunday’s final on Mission Bay.

Gilliland, whose crew included 1986 Midwinters West champion Mark Reynolds, finished the regatta with 10 points.

Placing second in the championship division was Rob Spring of Canton, Ohio with 26 3/4 points. Others in the top five were John Harlan of Visalia, 29 points, Jack Christiansen of Seattle with 30 points and Matt Brucar of Tacoma with 36 3/4 points.

Byron Cramblet of San Diego won the commodores division--boats that were in the bottom half of the regatta’s field of 35 after Friday’s races--with 7 3/4 points.

Chris Gedrose of San Diego placed second with 12 points and Will Anderson of Sacramento was third with 20 points.