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

Going over the mirror pool with your
homemade models of yachts; SchoonerS,
s1oops or yawls is the landsman's sensi-
bic stimulation of going down to the sea
in ships.
Seasoned tars who have shaken hands
with all the perils of actual maritime
cruising gain pleasure and diversion in
subsequently, sailing hlliputian models
of their former ships in rejecting pools.
Thousands throughout the country
whose only experience in affairs mari
time has been the thrill Of watching
ocean-plying ships depart from port are
mastering the fundamentals OF boat de-
sign and construction as a result OF the
increasing popularity of model racing.
Those who seek refreshing relaxation
from their regular routine-ruSh TO
office, rush to lunch and rush home In
the evening-have found 1t in riding
this new type OF hobby horse. Not a
nightmare by the way, but the enjoy
able hobby of building little ships and
sailing them by remote control. Com
petition is added to the interesting sport
by the fact that organized clubs In
Washington, New York, Chicago, De-
troit, Cleveland and other cities foster
regulation regattas in which the Shore
side" shippers guide the destinies OF
their diminutive boats In glorious VIC
tory or honorable defeat.
To build a boat that will sail is the
treasured ambition of the average
Washington schoolboy. If he is denied
that privilege during his youth, he may
exercise it after he has accumulated
fame and fortune. The ultimate OBJ
jective in such cases usually takes the
form of a palatial cruiser or a deep
water power boat.
The spark of this fire of construc-
tional accomplishment is never dead IN
Mister Average Citizen. and the model
racing clubs as a result aid in the salts
lection of the long cherished ambition
to build and own a boat, even If 1t be
but an abbreviated edition OF the true
seafaring craft of his dreams.
THE Model Yacht Racing Association
of America now boasts IA member
clubs, with the Washington organization
occupying a key position on the roster.
It's sister clubs in this royal and ancient
international sport include New York,
Brooklyn, Boston, Toledo, Cleveland,
Detroit, Chicago and st. Augustine, Fla.
From the dawn of Spring until the
tail of warm weather has fitted below
the horizon and Jack Frost assumes
ascendency the side line sailors with
their little ships vie with one another
in weekly and bi-weekly races. During
the Winter they gather regularly at
yacht clubs and private homes, where
they study thefscience of model making
and sail trimming.
This diversion, which may seem like
forseplayy but which really involves
experience and hard work features, in.
cludeS an annual national regatta, in
order that new champions may be
crowned in the various classes and an
outstanding contender be chosen to
represent the. United States In the
world championship contests in Eng
land. Last Summer, as many Washing
tonians will recall, the national regatta
was held at the Lincoln Memorial Re-
fiecting Pool
You viii find that our National Capt.
tai shippers" range from Senate pages
and junior high school boys to veneer
able "graybeards" il you will stop and
watch the Landslide seamen while they
Jockey" their models with bamboo
poles during their races.
There is q scramble every once in so
often as the groups. of competing skip
pers tramp along the sides Of the pool
where their boats are sailing to pre-
vent one Of the models from crashing
into the concrete borders of the big
basin. The recalcitrant craft is once
again headed from shore on the proper
tack so that the prevailing breeze may
speed her straight forward toward the
opposite end Of the pool.
A race usually consists ofone Of sew
eral round trips OF the pool course, as
this usually permits Of running with
and against the wind which tests aout