Evening star., 1938-07-03
BY d. yERNER slfYTM.

OVMmOo0Is, foV0mSc RIVER 0eulng
Association.
The Potomac River Sailing Assocla-
ton subscribes heartily to any efforts
to promote the safe operation Of small
boats on the Potomac and has read
with interest the recent comments on
this subject in The Star. There have
been, however. certain innuendoes a.
to lack of capabilities on the part Of
local sailors that require comment and
the subject Is, Of course, Of vital in
terest to the association.
BY Tar the larger percentage Of the
skippers Of the Is sailing boats racing
Oh Hams Point In the past spring
series Of races have sailed before, are
experienced and competent to handle
sail craft, and have q practical knowl-
edge, Of the sailing and navigation
rules. In addition the Potomac River
Sailing Association continually has
exerted its influence in all practical
ways In the interests Of safety. The
Sailing Association has had at least
one lecture each year on the rules of
the road" and always has stressed the
importance of safety and seamanship
to Its members. During these lectures
1t has been pointed out that the diffi-
Guilty of handling large vessels in
crowded waters demands that the
small craft stay out Of their way as
far As possible. It has moved the
time Of Its races 70 as not to interfere
with the excursion steamers and has
notified the steamers of the holding
OF the races when the steamers must
cross the race course during the race.
Employ Weather Report.
The Race Committee obtains the
Government weather report at the last
possible moment before each race and
conducts the race in such q manner
as to protect As far As possible the
contestants and their boats from the
dangers Of storms and sudden squalls.
In connection With the police regula-
ton limiting the speed of vessels in
certain parts Of Warrington Channel,
1t should be noted that the speed of q
vessel is not indicative of the damage
It can do and the resultant danger to
other water craft 50 that the compli-
ance with the l5-mile speed limit
means but little A large vessel doing
ST miles per hour will cause more
wash than . well-designed speed boat
doing 30. Incidentally, 1t must be
pointed out, that in Washington
Channel the 1S-mile speed limit only
applies above the ''P Street" buoy 70
that the area in which . large per-
centage Of the water activities Of the
District Of Columbia are carried on
secures no protection from this regula-
ton.
Another paragraph in the police
regulations reads: mo vessel. boat or
vatercraft Of any description shall
be operated In any waters within the
jurisdiction Of District Of Columbia
recklessly or 70 ~ to result in danger
to persons or damage to property"
(Police regulations. amended October
30, 1888. article XIV, section 8, para
graph ~
The proper enforcement Of this
regulation against all vessels alike,
steamers. sail and power, will elm
mate much Of the danger In the
surrounding waters.
Heavy Wash Dangerous.
It will not cause any appreciable
loss Of time for the large vessels to
proceed through and out Of the
narrow confines of the Washington
Channel with speed sufficiently re-
duced 50 that they will not throw
. damaging wash. In this vicinity
excessive wash from large vessels is
doubly dangerous because it strikes
the seawall and is reflected back. For
this reason it can be seen that q
speed limit Of miles per hour from
the Hains Point bell buoy to the head
of Washington Channel would be
far more desirable than the present
speed regulation.