Evening star., 1902-04-19
REVIVAL OF YACHTING
Coming Summer Promises to Be Inter
esting for Local Lovers of Sport.

IF there were an open sheet OF water to
the westward of 7th street, extending to
the the hills Of Virginia five or six miles
distant, with the Potomac flats covered to
depth of ten feet at low tide WASHINGTON
would have a good-sized lake at the foot
of its streets, and local yachting would
be given an impetus accordingly said an
officer of the District naval reserve who is
interested in aquatic sports.
Since the death of Boatman Ritter local
yachtsmen and the owners of small sailing
craft have suffered for the want of man
VINO was personally interested in river sail
ing and who would maintain a boat house
a. convenient point along the river front
Tor their use. Ritter was drowned in the
basin few years ago, and since then no
one has come forward to take his place
He was a quiet, reserved fellow. and was
known to every man and boy in Washing
ton fond of the water
He kept the boat house and float at the
extreme end of 7th street at the junction
of that street and the arsenal grounds.
1here was always a small fleet Of the 'Po-
tomac navy riding at anchor within short
rowing distance of the float. and we felt
secure in leaving craft In his custody.
In the spring his float was covered with
boats hauled out undergoing repairs and
painting Local salts would congregate
there on Sundays and holidays and .Rit-
ter's' was the agreed rendezvous of all in
town interested in things nautical
Poor Ritter and. alas! for the change
on recent warm spring day 1 rode down
to the float and could but lament at the
disappearance of our old navy The nu-
merous craft which once rode SO proudly
and buoyantly on the SwellS of the passing
river steamers had heaved anchor and
sailed for foreign ports, or gone to Dayy
Jones locker. A few poles and solitary
mastless catboat, tossing desoiately on the
waves, were all that were left to remind
me of the happy days of yore and of the
old scenes of spring and summer activity
on the float and in the vicinity. Even the
feet of skiffs used for fishing were gone,
and the sailing feet shifted to scattered
moorings.
Considering that Washington is an in
land city. and the facilities for boating on
the Potomac limited. there are a number
of enthusiastic yachtsmen among our resi-
dents, and many small craft jointly
owned by crews Of amateurs who make
periodical cruises in season down the Po-
tomac to the Chesapeake
The prevailing course Of the wind dur
ing the summer is from the south, or up
river which necessitates a beat out Of the
channel to open water at the foot OF the
arsenal grounds, which, by the way is a
mile from the foot of 7th street, though
it does not look half that distance. This
beating is slow work. especially in a
light wind. but coming home on the run
before the wind compensates. and the dis
tance is easily and quickly sailed; hence
the wish of our yachtsmen for more open
water to the westward in which to ma
neuver, as the channel Is narrow and shut
in to some extent by the trees.
when the Eastern branch is dredged
local yachting facilities will be greatly In
creased. and a new interest in one Of the
most healthful of sports revived. Open
water will then quickly be reached from
the Anacostia bridge, say, on a southern
beam wind. and the tedious delay of beat
ing out avoided If the boats are kept in
that vicinity. At high water, and even at
low water, there is good sailing surface be-
tween the south end of the arsenal grounds
and River View, and a stiff wind often
kicks up a lively sea between these points.
Much interest is taken each summer in the
annual Potomac regattas. and this summer
promises to be no exception to the rule"