The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20
MOTOR BOAT RACING
BECOMES POPULAR
Yachtsmen Prepare for Re-
vival i'm This Branch
of Sport.
WATER CONDITIONS BAD
Sir Thomas Upton Lamchts
the Present High Cost Of
Yachting.

| There is II popular belief In the world
| OF yachts that motor boating is going to
be exceeding popular this summer Prac-
tically all Of the. youth of the country
who enlisted in the United States Naval
Reserve Force spent at least part of
their time on the water in tile small craft
Of the scout patrol feet These boats
were almost all driven by the gas en-
CINE. and as result there are n SUR
prisngly large number of out and rout
motor boat enthusiasts in the country
to-day.
The racing of motor boats never has
been particularly popular in the metro
polltan district. with the exception of
the international races for the HARMS
worth trophy there have been very Few
| contests in the vicinity of New York that
have created any great enthusiasm.
There have been several attempts to
hold national motor boat carnivais on
, either the Hudson River or Long Island
Sound. Not one really has been success
full.
In measure water conditions are to
blame. for the lack Of interest IN high
speed motor boat racing in this harbor
Time and again an important race had to
be stopped because the water on Hunt
! ington or Manhasset Bay was entirely
too rough for the high speed craft. As
far as the Hudson River was concerned
1t was driftwood and not rough water
that caused the national association TO
give up its carnival
Cruising races have been a bit mora
popular. Taking 1t by and large, She
cruiser is an excellent type of boat for
metropolitan waters where one may run
: iptn ~.
Sound, the lower bays or the Atlantic
Ocean. As L result the fleets Of all the
metropolitan clubs include a eoodly num-
Der OF cruising craft, and the long dis
tsnce races, which in reality are not par
ticularly long. bring an excellent entry
70 the starting line each year.
Cruisers Popular.
il Is the cruising class of cabin and
half cabin boats that promise to be ex-
ceedingly popular this summer, notwith-
standing the fact that the Govern
ment has not been very kind to the
motor boat man in the question OF
taxes this year. Again, the cost
of motor boats, as is the ,ase with
all other yachts. has gone sky high this
spring. 1t Is practically impos sfole TO
buy any type of boat at n figure that
does not show an advance of from 500 10
400 per cent. over pre-war prices. As
for the building OF new bosts--welI you
have got to be a millionaire to think OF
building really comfortable 100 foot
cruiser.
The lack OF achts is going to he the
principal drawback TO both the wind
tanning and the power boat season or
COURSE. the war Is to blame. Taking ad-
vantage Of the high cost Of lead du<ne
I the past few years, yaChtsmen continually
were rippinG the lead l,eels off their craft
and selling them, sometimes for even
more than the or iginHl cost OF the yachts
The boats then were bcached and left
10 be destroyed by wind and weather,
Many OF the sailing yachts also were
sold into trade and are now carrying
cargo between the United states and
West Indian ports
| Inc sore" driven craft principAlv
Went TO the Government for patrol work
Some are now being turned back 10 their
original owners and work Is being
rushed at more than one shinvard 90
turn big :. =. boat back into n Meas
ure yacht These. however. arc only the
big fellows OF the fleet of pleasure craft
that in former seasons were seen in New
York waters. originally their owners
had planned TO build new boats after the
war. But the coast of new yachts has
so astonishtd even the richest men IN
the country TINT they are irving IN mako
their little. Old last years boat DO
again.
High Cost of Yachting.
Sir Thomas Upton drew attention n
the high cost of yachts at the recent
dinner OF the Atlantic Yacht Club. Tho
irish baronet Is without n steamer nils
year. His famous Erin was lost during
the war having been sunk by . torpedo
while acting as a hospital ship
II don't know where am rOiny "a
get new boat" said SIR Thomas ut Is
simply out of the question 10 attempt to
build. 7 will have to have a steamer
for next year, part icularly as l am 10
nave another go at the Old cup nut
I do not know where am going 10 got
tone, cannot AFFORD to build At the
present time"
The regatta committees Of clubs that
heretofore have been considered out and
out windjamming organizations are ne
ginning To talk about motor boat races
There Is going to be an attempt TO DO
something with the motor boat snort o.
the lower bay this summer IN attempt
was made several years ago to hoom
motor boat racing on Gravpsond nav,
but the war came along and tho few
races given were not particularly que
cesstul. The question will be taken uD
AT meeting OF the Yacht Racing As
ISOLATION OF Gravesend Bay shortly At
the Crescent Athletic club.
Speaking of the Yacht Racing hsso-
citation Of GravcSCud Bay. Carlos A.
HsfrB, the naval architect who FORMERLY
was president NJ the association, ha4
sent word to Lieut.. John Il Brophy.
who il a present Alllug the chair. that
he IL anxious to again give Junior CO.
rinthdn medals for lower bay Yachting
Mr.. de Zafra * now connected with
n Pennsylvania shpbuildng firm He
writes that ne believes that tho YOUNG
stcrs should be encouraged. and that he
hopes his medals will result in many
boys taking part in yacht races on the
Hover bay this summer
WILL WRESILE IN BRONX.