The sun., 1919-05-18
SAILING CANOES TO
RACE THIS SEASON
Plans Under Way for an Inter.
national Trophy Regatta
on Local Waters.
BIG CRAFT TOO COSTLY
Yachtsmen on Long Island
Sound and Gravesend Bay
May Arrange Contests.

With racing yachtsmen all turn,s
attention to small craft owing to the h,v,
cost of the sport this summer, talk turrs
to the sailing canoe and the possibiIi,,.
OF including a class for the little fellow,
In the races that are to be held each
week on Long Island Sound and Graves.
end Bay. The innovation of including a
class for sailing canoes In the reeatta
OF yacht club first was tried when
Horace Z. Boucher was chairman Of ths
race committee OF the Larchmont Yacht
Club. 1t cannot be said that It was
great success. There were SO many bir
yachts in the race week of the club thar
the canoes were in the way. 1t was
necessary to establish a separate tart.
ing and finishing line and appoint
special committee to look after the little
fellowA
Az there will be few IL any big yachts
In commission this summer, the sailing
canoe should be a welcome addition 10
the racing fleet of a yacht club. Last
year sailing canoes were raced in the
few regattas that were given on Long
Island Sound. end although the classes
always were small the little fellows
made excellent time over thel shorter
courses and furnished plenty of fun. Leo
in the United States IL not in the whole
world. won the majority of the brushes
In his speedy Mermaid.
Skill Is Required.
There Is no getting away from the fact
that 1t requires considerable more skill
to race a sailing canoe than practically
any other small craft. Not only have
kou got to be a good sailor, but you have
also got to be well trained gymnast
to race a sailing canoe. To balance a
canoe while sitting on an cupboard is a
trick that few sailors can successfully
accomplish. Also. few OF the rising gem
GRAFTON seem willing to take the time 10
learn the art.
Power boats. OF course, are to blame
for the lack OF interest In sailing craft
The younger generation wants speed
II would rather busy itself about an
engine than pull and haul on the ropes
Of a sailing yacht As result 1t has
been rather difficult to stir up enthu-
siasm in the sailing game among the
youngsters. Canoe racing is even a
greater mystery to the younger genera
ton around New York, which is peculiar,
as the padding end of the game is
exceedingly popular. One can find
plenty of padding canoes on Jamaica
Bay, Sheepshead Bay Gravesend Bay
and Long Island Sound during the sum-
mer. These little craft generally are
manned by boys.
Seek n Trophy Race.
Although nothing definite has been
done in the matter. a movement is on
foot TO see II II is possible 10 hold a
race for the international sailing canoes
trophy now held by the New York Canoe
Club. The trophy holds the same posi-
ton In the canoe world as the Amer. as
cup holds among yachtsmen. It b a
historic prize, given many years sSA and
one that has produced the best % sport
The last race was held in 1914. when
Leo Friede successfully defended the
trophy against Ralph B. Brtton, repre-
senting the Gananoque Canoe and Motor
Boat Club OF Gananoque, Ont, Canada
Tho question of holding a race was
taken up at an informal dinner recently
given by Commodore Kelley of the
yachting department Of the Marine and
Field Club. Although this organization
officially has nothing TO do with the de-
fence of the cup III any direct manner.
the races in 1918 and again IN 1914
were sailed of its anchorage on Graves
end Bay. Tho canoeists made the Ma
rjne and Field Club their headquarters as
both the clubhouse and anchorage Of the
New York Canoe Club. also a Gravesend
Bay organization, were not suitable.
Renewed Activity.
Owing TO the fact that the navy took
over the boathouse OF the Marine ard
Field Club at the beginning OF the war
the club has been exceedingly inactive
In yachting sense for more than
year. As the navy is turning TIE boat
house and waterfront back to the club
this month. Commodore Kelley thought
that the event should be celebrated hv
holding some race OF national iupor-
lance At the dinner II was decided 20
ascertain II a challenge could be OBJ
talned from some Canadian club so
that the lower bay would be the scene
or at least one important nautical event
this summer. committee was Rp-
pointed to confer with tho New York
Canoe Club, holder of the trophy 10
learn what could be done regarding
race.
II will be no easy matter to End
challenger in Canada Ralph BI,ton
the last Canadian to come after the up,
no longer lives in GanAnoque. foU tNs
past few years he has been Il, rg s..
New England busily engaged tn War
work. Now that the war Is at an .0i
II Is quite possible that Brltton may -
in position to again seek the Cug. ];
B7tton did challenge. the Americans
would have a decided advantage -
Friede raced his canoe and hai her in
commission all OF last summor Sti
Britton is a good sport ard may b,
willing to make another try at tus cup
this year