The New York herald., 1921-08-01
4 YACHTS CAPSIZE
IN FURIOUS SQUALL
Young Skipper Christensen,
With Aid Of Mother, Rescues
Girl, Then Wins Race.

A nasty southwest squall that broke
over Gravesend Bay just as the sailing
divisions were finishing the first round
Of the annual regatta OF the Waterway
League of America yesterday capsized
four boats, disabled several of the other
craft and generally shot to pieces the
best race that the organization has held
since the war. Fortunately the sauall
did not last long and when it worked
its way out to sea all of the capsized
Corinthians were rescued by neighboring
craft.
The boats that capsized were princi-
pally in the second division of the handi-
cap class. When they started the wind
was light and from the southeast. AS
they were half way around the first leg
big banks of black clouds were seen
working their way up from Sandy Hook.
The Corinthians continued and as they
neared the end of the round the squall
broke in all it's fury. Inside minute
Gravesend Bay was whipped into u sea
overhead, rain came down as though the
heavens had opened and thunder rolled
and rumbied like big guns on a battle
front.
One of the first yachts TO capsize was
Kewpie. a little knockabout owned and
sailed by J. Ashley, a junior Corinthian.
On board was another lad and young
girl The trio clung TO the upturned
craft. Young j. Christiansen, another
youngster. sailing his Sea Cob In the
same class, was near Kewpie, with his
mother acting as crew. The lad man
aged to come up alongside of the cap
sized Kawpie and regardless OF the roll
ing sea rescued the girl. who was cling
ing to the bottom of the yacht. The boys
refused to leave the boat. Later they
were rescued by the elder Ashley, who
put out from the Brooklyn Motor Boat
Club in launch and towed the up
turned yacht ashore.
ChrIstiansen Wins Race.
After making the rescue young Chris
tiansen continued around the course and
finished first in his division. He sailed
throughout the entire blow without
shortening sail. In winning. Sea Cob
beat Bug H., the property OF Commo-
dore H. Rottanlmer, by almost a quar-
ter of an hour. Bug III. was the only
other yacht In the division to cross the
finish line
Poke Along, another knockabout, cap
sized off the Atlantic Yacht Club and her
crew was rescued by Mike. the launch
man of the Sea Gate organization. II. II.
Suppers Mouse, which also capsized,
was towed ashore by launch from a
Government vessel. May. the property
of w. Anderson. boat In the first dI-
vision, fllled and sank. Later she was
towed ashore by mem hers of the Graves
send Bay Yacht Club, Not a single boat
in the first division finished.
The motorboatp were started earlier
In the day and their races were all ended
before the squall hit the fleet. In the
class for cabin cruisers the winner on
corrected time was Oriole, the property
of u. *. Weseott. In the class for open
power boats Smarty H., the property Of
l.. Golly. was the winner. Last night
the summer meet ended with big din
ner. Barring the blow which ruined
the races. the meet was big success.
The races were managed by a commit
tee made UP OF Commodore Rottammer,
Gravesend Bay Yacht Club, chairman +.
Capt. "A. r. Doctor. Brooklyn Motorboat
Club; Capt. w. ]. Guerin, Old Timers
Club: Commodore Richard Rummell
Gravesend Bay Yacht Club; Capt. John
Ashley, Pilgrim Yacht Club: Commo-
dore Charles Beekman, Ben Ma Chree
Boat Club; Capt Harris. Gravesend
Bay Yacht Club: Capt Joseph Holtz-
man, Excelsior Yacht Club, and Capt
Dan Gum, Era Yacht Club.