Evening star., 1937-09-25
Gratifying Development of
The Presidents Cup Regatta
To the Editor Of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star:
Through the years since 1926 some
of us have noted, with a good deal of
satisfaction, the rapid growth Of the
Presidents Cup Regatta, held on the
historic Potomac at the National Capt.
tai annually since and beginning with
1926. AS a member of the Corinthian
Yacht Club when the idea of holding
such an event here at Washington was
conceived by progressive group of
members of that club, and as member
of the clubs Presidents Cup Regatta
Committee, and as chairman of the Pub
licity Committee for the first Presidents
Cup Regatta, had the opportunity to
acquire some notion of the magnitude
of the job which the subsequent Presi-
dents Cup Regatta Committees and the
Presidents Cup Regatta Association have
accomplished in the development of the
regatta on the Potomac into the great
event it has become in these later years.
The 1926 President Cup Regatta, the
first one to have the sponsorship of the
President of the United States for the
principal trophy--the large and artistic
SIS 900 gold Presidents Cup, was an event
of considerable scale. Washington had
llOt DClOiC oCCll any CliiiA6 III eliC idPC
of regatta to compare with it. The
Washington press estimated that about
10000 people lined the shores of the
Potomac and crowded hundreds of off,
cial ana spectator water craft to witness
the regatta on the two days that first
regatta was held; that number of specta-
tors was, probably, the largest number of
people who ever gathered together to
witness sportS-recreational event in
the National Capital. The senior Gar
Wood, the greatest racer OF power boats
of his time, and other water sportSmen
of national renoWn who took part, told
us that our first Presidents Cup Regatta
was, even then, the greatest power boat
regatta in the whole country-and if
those men were not too generous to us
with their praise, the Presidents Cup
Regatta of 1887 surely will be magnifi-
cent commentary upon the very success
full efforts of that very active organiza-
ton of Washington men and women
who have since made the President s
Cup Regatta the outstanding event it is
today, and too much credit cannot be
given them.
Probably no form of recreation is more
healthful, more wholesome or more en-
joyable than that afforded by sailing and
anchoring on the water in boat. Ten
years ago boating-yachting some call
it who have the larger and more costly
Grafton the Potomac in the environs
of Washington was participated in by
only a comparatively few people; only
a few hundred of the local people knew
what it was. Today, thanks to the great
stimulus of the Presidents Cup Regatta
over the years. the Potomac swarms
with boats of all kinds. of sizes. power
and sail, and thousands of people have
recreation. pleasure, and even health,
which they might not otherwise be
enjoying.
And in all this the newspapers of
Washington have played a very i'm
portant part, for without their interest
and support, from 1926 on, the great
growth of boating which has taken place
in and around Washington would not
have been possible, and l am sure that
all those who have been giving of their
time and effort to make the President S
Cup Regatta one of the greatest recrea-
tional and sporting events in the world,
more than gladly give a full measure Of
credit to the Washington newspapers
Tor their aid. L. r. ENDER.