Evening star., 1936-09-19

will line the Speedway for a glimpse
OF it all this coming week end.
Occasion? The Presidents Cup
Regatta. Participants? The fastest,
most daring and best motor boat driv-
ers in America, lured to their Nations s
Capital by the annual piece de resis-
tance Of the country's regattas.
And all because one man, reared
IN Atlantic ocean-bound Nova Scotia,
grew up with the love of the sea in
his soul and brought that love to
Washington, where he determined to
make small regional affair the daddy
of all regattas.
1t was back in 1925 that William
A. Rogers was given his first task
in local yechting which was to cul-
inmate in his laying the foundation
the following year for an event which
since has been known as the Presi-
dents Cup Regatta.
For, at that time, the Corinthian
Yacht Club under the energetic leader
chip of Conrad c. Smith, sponsored
a regatta each year which found
most Of the boats on the Potomac and
Chesapeake Bay competing for Capt.
tai honors, and the capital &C" in
Capital referred to Washington, D. C.
Recognizing his seaworthy qualities,
Commodore Smith asked Rogers to aid
IN that regatta, II years ago, and the
latter accepted. But one year was
enough-for what Bill" deemed
"small fry" for the Capital of these
United States. The following year
he was back for more, and that more"
consisted of plan bigger than any
he had ever conceived, so huge in
its conception that the most valuable
trophy in yachting would be its chief
prize!
He didn't have the trophy, and he
had no assurance that he would get
1t, but he wanted it to be sponsored
by the President, with the resultant
title The Presidents Cup Regatta"
"A T THAT time, Calvin Coolidge was
- in the White House. Now, the
vermonters main sports hobby was
fishing, which had something to do
with the water, to be sure, but hardly
could be related to motor boating or
yachting. And for weeks and months,
Rogers labored in vain to get an
interview with the Chief Executive.
All he sought was Colleges consent
for sponsorship. for the trophy was
to be bought by the regatta associa-
tion.
Finally, the night before he was
to go to New York for q national
motorboat show. Rogers called the
Presidents secretary, Ted Clark, to
see if any permission had been forth
coming.
wait a minute" said Clark, "IU
speak to him about it right now"
In few minutes he was back at
the phone. "Okay, Bill, the President
says he will sponsor the regatta"
Thus were fulfilled Rogers hopes,
his dreams and thus began his task
Of dividing into practical details his
panoramic conception Of the greatest
spectacle of the Nations waterways.
His first act was the selection of
the trophy, a perpetual cup which
never can be won outright, but whose
value increases proportionately to the
years 1t is in competition. Five thou
sand dollars was the cost Of the Presi-
dents Cup and 1t could not be bought
for many times that sum now, en-
graved as It is with the names OF
some Of the best motor boat drivers
IN the world.
The first few years Of the regatta
saw the winner Of the cup given a
replica in bronze Of the perpetual
prize, but such has not been the
practice in recent years.
Then began the actual work Of the
regatta, the solicitation Of entrants,
the laying out Of the course, the ar
rangement for seating spectators and
the thousand and one other details
connected with such. . gigantic
project.
The Coast and Geodetic Survey
came to Rogers aid and charted the
course. The light house brigade saw
to the placing Of the buoys. The
United States Signal Corps planned
the telephone service between land
and water and provided for loud
speaker service to keep spectators In
formed Of the progress Of events.
But one thing remained unfulfilled.
There was no storage place for visiting
boats. for docking them. for repairs
and for giving them adequate protec-
ton. Rogers thought Immediately Of
the navy yard. In q short time he
sold the naval officials the idea Of rem
dering this service. They have done II
ever since and won the undying grati-
tude Of the country's foremost skip
ben. q