The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03
CLUB REGATTAS ARE
HURTING YACHTING
To Much Closed Competition
and Too Little Open Rae
ing Mar Sport.
NEED ASSOCIATION RACES
Biz Events Attract Attention,
Breed Enthusiasm and
Boom Game.

There Is a belief among those who
have the interest of yachting at heart
that Corinthians must realize the situa-
ton, take of. their coats and all work
together II the sport Is going to reach
its former plane. A superabundance Of
club regattas Is the latest stumbling
block In the way OF bringing back the
sport to its old popularity. Too many
club regattas are being held on Long
Island Sound this season, and as re-
suit the big open races have suffered
in so far as entries are conceEped.
The war is TO blame for the popularity
Of the club regatta. Prior to the war
only one or two organizations gave club
regattas on Saturday afternoons. These
regattas all were for small craft. boats
that found considerable difficulty In
coming to the starting line in the regu-
lar fixtures of the Yacht Racing Associa-
ton OF Long Island. Along came the
war and the big regattas were called off,
Instead, several of the clubs began to
hold races for their respective one de-
sign classes.
Although the war now Is at an end
and the open regattaa are being held,
several OF the organizations are con-
tinuing to hold week end club races.
Tho reason is self-evident. A yachts
man finds II decidedly easier to come
down to his own club. hop into his yacht
and then sail AROUND a nearby course
than to weigh anchor. sail considerable
distance to starting line and. in many
cases. arrive home exceedingly late
fter a regatta.
That Is the reason why the Indian
Harbor Yacht Club. the Stamford Yacht
T,1,,1x tka Gao nhotr
Club and other organizations are hold
ing Saturday afternoon regattas this
year. II this keeps up II Is only going
to be a question Of time before all the
clubs on the Sound will be giving closed
races each Saturday afternoon. When
that happens yachting will have seen its
best days.
Builds Up Sport.
The big open regattas with one hun
dred or more yachts are the things that
attract attention not only among
yachtsmen but in the sporting world at
large. Attention means the building up
+ the sport. Again. II is far more
fun for a yachtsman to move from on
course to another. meeting competitors
under new conditions. than to be con-
tinually sailing around the same old
| triangle.
True, II ofttimes is inconvenient. Eveu
! with the late starts now the rule. ar
| open regatta means an all day yachting
jaunt for many Corinthians II the race
Ia at the west end of the Sound. Indian
| Harbor, Seawanhaka and Stamford
yachtsmen must take the morning to
reach the starting line. II the eastern
| clubs are giving the race the same
| thirg applies to the New Rochelle, Man.
| 7
Getting back home Is another bugaboC
with yacht3men. In these days wher
women are allowed at practically all OF
the clubs there is usually a dinner dance
= at yacht club each Saturday night
Corinthians want TO be home in tim.
| to dress, have dinner and enjoy tho
| sport on shore. The late starts, which
| were instituted Just before the war. to-
gether with the daylight saving law
makes this practically Impossible thu
summer During Larchmont week SOW
| eral of the races did not end until II
| O'Clock at night.
The rule of yachting states that q race
is a race. providing a boat In that clas:
| finishes one-half hour after shutdown. II
the race is on, then the committee is Il
wait until all the yachts are accounted
| tor. In addition to racing for prizes
there are championship points to be con.
sidered. and manH yachtsman would
never think of quitting. regardless OF the
hour.
Different Conditions.
In the olden days the rule worked
out In a satisfactory manner. Tn,
Sound races all started In the morning
and II seldom was necessary for a com
mittee to stay out until shutdown. To
day things are different Not only ar,
the stats later, but sunset, according
to the clock, is one hour later than II
former years. The present day regat
Ia is started by the clock and finished
by the sum- making late finishes tn,
rule instead of the exception.
It Is the general opinion OF yachts
men that this rule must be changed
when the Yacht Racing Association
meets next winter. II has been sug
gested placing a five hour time Iiml
on all races, providing the said fiv
hours does not lseep the craft out OF
the Sound until past shutdown. II yacht
cannot cover a short course in nv
hours It Is hardly race and shoul,
be considered a mo contest regatta.
Thine and again we are uncertain.
eaid a we'll known committee man yes
terday. III yachts have quit or are sti'
racing We never come ashore II W
see a sail that looks as II II Is maxim
toward the finish line. 1t is rather har
on us. II l remember correctly thi
point was taken up at a meeting dur
ing the winter of 1867. but the wa
coming on 1t probably has been forgot
ten. It should be brought up again an
time limit placed on all finishes.
would help both the committees and tn