The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-14

essas.. as the number of boats increased.
10 dc,'ise some means whereby they could
be looked after by competent watchrnan
and at the same time necessary measures
taken from time to time to guard against
the damages liable to be wrought by
storms.
The organization of the Capital Yacht
Club was perfected October 10, 1892 and
from nine members it has grown year By
year until today the fleet numbers TWEEN
ty-eight yachts. exclusive of the small
boats and tenders. owned by forty-two
members The prime mover in the organ
ization of the club was DR.. A. c. Rauter-
berg. and it was on his launch. the Alert,
that the club was formed. The first COM
modore of the club was John Hoeke and
his staff consisted of Vice Commodore l..
j. Nelson, Secretary Allan c. Smith, and
Treasurer A. c. Rauterberg. The other
charter members of the club were Charles
Faunce, Frank Page, Charles Dearborn.
Frank Hahn. and Charles Hahn. Most
Of the original members are still con-
nected with the orga nization.
AS yet no sloop belonging TO the club
has won the Americas Cup, and the
members do not suppose they will ever
be able to build a boat for International
are some very fast vessels, and it is
probable that the Capital Club would give
a very good account of itself if any of its
racers were entered in outside events. At
present the members content themselves
with two club races each year-on the
Both of May and the Fourth OF July. This
year there will be two special races on
Memorial Day for two silver cups.
AT the outset the members of the club
encountered many -.diculties. The har-
Dor of this city is not adapted to yacht
ing. The channel is too narrow and there
is hardly an anchorage that is not in the
path of the river boats. For time the
headquarters of the club was off the foot
of Seventh Street, but gradually shipping
encroached on the cluh's preserves and it
has been on the move ever since, never
knowing one season where it will hold
forth the next From this it would seem
that the properly belonging to the mem
bers Of the club is of little consequence,
but such is not the case. 1t is because of
the value of their craft that they have
been compelled to move so often. The
feet which now belongs to the club rep
resents an outlay of over $4,000 and some
of the boats are the handSomesta of their
class that can be found There are few Of
the yachts that could not be used for a
voyage in any sea and one or two of
them have been used for extended trips
along the coast.
In the near future the club hopes to be
able to find a spot where club house
can be built and it is believed that in a
short time the plans that are under con-
sideration will have so far developed that
active work toward securing good build
ing can be commenced. A majority of the
members of the club favor the purchase
of tract OF land near Four-M Mile Run,
where commodious house will be erect
ed and a large stretch of the water sur
rounding the place, dredged for an an
chorage for the boats.
At present the headquarters of the club
is maintained on a quaint houseboat call
ed The Ark and which some of the
members declare to be a portion OF the
veritable vessel in which Father Noah
drifted about the world after the flood.
The less sentimental OF the members. |