Evening star., 1940-07-19
Districts Small Boat Shippers Challenging Bay Sailors at Gibson Island
More Than 100 Craft
Will Seek Trophies
In2-Day Regatta
Yoeht Squodron's Meet
Drows Stors, Comets,
Snipes, 20-Footers
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
Star Staff Correspondent.

by MALCOLM LAM0OHNE, Jf.
Star Staff Correspondent.
GIBSON ISLAND, Md, July 49,
The vanguard of Chesapeake Bays
growing clan Of small-boat shippers
converged on this tight little island
today in preparation for the two
day regatta of the Gibson Island
Yacht Squadron opening here to-
morrow afternoon.
A large delegation of Washington
skippers is expected tomorrow morn
ing.
While the major portion of the
regatta-devoted exclusively to five
popular one-design classes-will not
open until l pm. tomorrow. star
class sloops raised the curtain to-
day with the first race in the i'm
portant j. Rulon Miller Memorial
series.
This event, attracting top-fight
shippers from as far distant as
Philadelphia and Ocean City, N. j..
ranks as the bay championship for
stars. Melville Grosvenor, promi-
nent Washingtonian and winner of
the series last year, has entered his
boat Escape again.
Second and third races for this
trophy will be sailed tomorrow and
Sunday afternoon.
Glasses to Be Well Filled.
Before the opening gun is fired
more than 100 boats of the star,
20-foot, comet, snipe and Hampton
one-deSign classes are expected for
the start off Mountain Bar Point
in the bay. The star and comet di-
visions are expected to vie for hon.
ors in number of entrants, officials
anticipating better than 80 boats in
each of the classes.
Widespread interest was evinced
In the comet group today with the
arrival of Edward K Merrill. gray
haired Riverton IN. j. skipper.
Merrill and his Shuf1y were 1888
national champions.
Pitted against him will be trio
of Washingtoniars, all outstanding
shippers. They are Leslie Wright
and Ernest Covert, former Potomac
River fleet leaders, and Clark Daniel,
1899 champion of West River. Other
Capital entries ircluoe Nora ONeil,
James Campbell and Bill Hanson.
This will mark the first regatta in
which Gibson Islands new fleet of
comets has entered sectional COM
petition. A fleet of nearly IS local
comets is expected out.
Races for 20 Hooters.
Capital 20-foot sailors, their boats
included in the regatta for the first
time. promise to swell this popular
class, which is drawing entries all
the way from Norfolk. Va. Judge
Prentice Darlington, DR.. Albert
Pagan, Carlton Skinner and H.
Brent Hendrickson are among those
listed.
AL events are scheduled to be
sailed In the bay off here. If weather
is unsettled, races will be shifted to
the Magothy River.
Following tomorrow's card a din
ner and dance will be held at the
Gibson Island Club for visiting
yachtsmen. Racing Sunday will be-
gin at 9 an, at which time the stars
will stage special crew race. Final
heats for all divisions begin at 2 pm.
L. Corrin Strong Of Washington,
commodore of the squadron, will en-
tertain all contestants at cocktail
party Sunday evening.
At this time a large array of
trophies will be awarded by the we'll
known Washington yachtsman.
Trippe Regatta Chairman.
They will include first prizes for
each race won and first, second and
third place series trophies for all
classes with more than seven START
ers. Two prizes will be awarded in
any class that starts four or more
boats.
Andy Trippe, popular yachting
figure on the bay, has been working
overtime as chairman OF the Regatta
Committee to provide facilities for
the large influx of visitors.
The regatta is the second annual
affair staged for smaC classes. The
squadron here normally Is the
stronghold for the bays large cruis-
ing-racing yachts. This week end,
however, will find these shippers
serving on the Race Committee or
handling the tiller Of small yacht.