Evening star., 1939-06-18
First Time Win Goal
For Nayy's Ketch
Over Old Rival
Score of Yachts Likely
To Stort in Big Race
Next Saturday
By MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
Of all the Is to 20 yachts that
will gather off New London, Conn,
next Saturday for the mile
downcoast slide to Chesapeake light
vessel and up the Bay to Annapolis,
none will attract keener attention
than the yawl Stormy Weather and
the ketch Vamarie, both entries
from the race-sponSoring Annapolis
Yacht Club.
The question is will Vamarie, with
a crew Of newly commissioned Navy
ensigns, be able to save her time
over the noted ocean racer Stormy
b Weather. sailed by crack crew of
Corinthian yaChtSmen.
This rivalry between the two was
not born on Chesapeake Bay this
spring. 1t goes farther back. In the
several off shore classics in which
the two have met, Vamarie always
has come across the line in the
lead only to give way to the smaller
yawl.
Vamarie Bested in 1885.
The most notable event, still the
talk of sailing enthusiasts, is the
1885 race from Newport. r. l., to
Bergen, Norway. True to form, the
72-foot ketch slammed across the
line in the vanguard. Snugged doWE
In Bergen, the crew and atterguaru
waited impatientiy for the next ar
rival
before the 53-foot Stormy Weather
rose over the horizon, dashing Va
marle'S chances at the class prize.
And after $500 miles of ocean.
Just what will be the outcome a
week from Wednesday when the
leaders-and that should include
Stormy and Vamarie-are expected
to cross the finish at the entrance of
Annapolis Harbor remains to be
seen. Anything can happen over
even 300 miles of ocean.
One yacht, betting on a new shift
Of wind. may take its chances in
toward the beach, while another
decides to 60 offshore with the hope
Of geeting a new slant. Then per-
haps a f1uke of wind will streak
, right between the two to send tail
enders boiling down on the light
vessel.
II has happened before and there's
no reason why this year should be
an exception. June is a tickle lass
where winds and weather are con-
cerned.
Other Entries From Bay.
Vamarie, under Capt. Howard H.
J. Benson, himself native of the
Bay country, has been better han
died this season than at any time
since the Middies first took her over.
Stormy Weather will be sailed by its
owner, William Labrot, and crew
of the Bays best blue-water ship
pers.
What she may lack in the way
of newness to her owner-Labrot
only purchased the yacht this
spring-Stormy Weather should
make up in her ability to take ev-
erv inch of canvas that they may
crowd on.
According to her former profess
sional captain, the yawl has been
reefed only once in an ocean event.
These two will not be the only
entries representing Chesapeake
Bay. Donald Patterson of Balti-
more sailed for Connecticut last
THURSDAY with the 46-foot cutter
Elda, owned by his father, Paul
Patterson. Twenty two year old
Donald will be the youngest skipper
of the fleet. which numbered II
boats up to yesterday.
Fourth bay yacht and second
craft to fly the Gibson Island Yacht
Squadron flag is Egret. 46-foot cut
ter of C. Porter Schutt, Greenvllle.
Del. Elda is newcomer to these
waters, coming down from Long Is
land Sound this spring. while Egret,
launched last season, has been an
outstanding success in her class on
the bay.
Much Entertainment Planned.
AS to reason for the small entry
list in this event, it must be re-
membered that being the off-year
for the Bermuda race many yacht
clubs decided on long distance num-
bers this summer. At that. Anna
polls Yatch Club has a larger list
than New York Yacht Clubs Cape
May Challenge Cup race or East
ern Yacht Clubs race from New
London to Marblehead, Mass, which
begins the same day.
Led by Labrot, who is Race Com
nittee chairman. and Commodore
Pete Magruder, bay yachtsmen are
working day and night to provide
facilities and entertainment that
will make all those who didn't enter
wish they had. Cocktail parties,
crab feasts, dinners. and the Gov
ernor of Maryland, Herbert R.
OConor, on hand to present a
large array of trophies, are some OF
the onshore activities.
On July / Gibson Island Yacht
Squadron is sponsoring special
handicap event up to the island,
where shippers and crews will be
entertained as guests of l.. Corrin
Strong commodore of the squadron.