Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14

all the merits of the various competing
boats.
The shippers carry curious little kits
of tools, SO that they may make minor
and major repairs as the need for such
activities develops. Between races you
may see here an amateur sailmaker re-
| pairing a damaged sail and there an
other captain replacing a broken bow
spirit or damaged rudder.
Sometimes the boats collide during
race when stiff breeze is blowing and
are damaged so seriously as to necessi-
tate many hours of careful labor in
home shops to make them "poolworthy''
once again.
The cost of the racing models sailed
by local fanciers in our famous refiect-
ing pool ranges from $3.50 to 500 and
more per ship. The champion craft are
made of white pine and mahogany, and
are truthful small-scale designs of regu-
lation boats. Their proportions, bal
ance and ballast are as perfect as those
in regulation seafaring ships.
Master SKILL both in design and hand
craftsmanship, is necessary to build one
of these record boats. Some of the
Washington sailors devote all their leis-
ure of the Winter to the task of PLAN
ming and building the racing models
which they sail with such eagerness
during the Spring, Summer and Au-
tumnal months.
The American rules of model racing
require that all yachts which compete
In official races must be designed, built
and sailed by their owners. This obli-
gates the shippers to delve deeply into
the science and technique Of practical
boat building. For example, the sail
capacity of the little ship bears def
mite relationship to the size of her hull.
Unless these two factors are properly
attuned the model will not develop
maximum speed under favorable condi-
tons. Furthermore, she may be ruled
out of her class because OF defective
, specifications.
AS you might surmise, the models are
divided into number of different
classes, according to their rated speed
and sailing proficiency.
** *
tnUR washington lobbyists who
- rlce model yachts in the Lincoln
Memorial pool practice the historic Eng
ers walk along the banks of the pool
and turn their little ships on different
tacks when they speed to shore and
threaten to collide against the concrete
banks. This system Of sailing is best
adapted to the local racing facilities
and also simplifies the sport.
| In some other cities, however, the
American system of model racing is
! followed. It entails the use of rowboats
and the staging of the races in. the deep
er lagoons and artificial lakes OF public
parks. Under this arrangement each
skipper trails his model racer in a row.
boat, and whenever the little ship re-
quires adjustment or sail trimming he
rows up to the model and makes these
changes.
The skipper is penalized 10 seconds
each time that he touches his model
during an actual race. These penalties
are added to the net time record Of the
competing craft. The race Is won by
| the model which negotiates the COM
/ plete course In the fastest time.
This sailing system is elementarily
| different from that practiced in the rae
ing of midget models of power boats.
The latter are fastened securely to the
ends of 50-foot lines, each line being
fastened to q permanent moorinE. AS
soon as the little power boat reaches q
point where the line Is taut the ofiicial
timer clicks his stop watch The boat
then speeds around a circular course
whose circumference is governed bv the
length of the line which tethers it.
Five rounds or laps of this course
usually constitute an official time trial.
The actual distance which the boat has
travelled In the timed interval as figured
mathemat ically at the end of the trial.
| The model which makes the best time
for q certain length OF course wins the
championship In that class.
An American National Power Hoat