Evening star., 1940-05-03
Declares Il Serious
Blow 10 Important
Phase'of Sport
Says Some Youngsters
Outstrip Veterans in
knowledge Of Rules
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
An important phase of yachting
the sailing of boats by juniors-has
received a serious setback as re-
suit Of the new District harbor
regulations recently approved by the
Commissioners.
This was the contention of a
special committee report announced
yesterday by the Potomac River
Sailing Association, which took
sharp exception to several features
of the regulations drawn up by
municipal and Federal officials
The section which the committee
agreed would seriously hinder the
development of qualified sailboat
shippers limits the sailing of amy
vessel of any kind in the waters
of the District" to persons more
than 16 years of age, except under
the supervision of qualified adult
or during regattas."
Junior shippers in Washington as
we'll as in the larger sailing centers
of the United States, where knee
pants sailors are treated as the
yachtsmen of tomorrow, often start
out in the sport at the tender age
of or 10, sailing men here point
out.
5-Year-Old Sailors Common.
In some sections of New England
1t is not unusual to see 5-year-olds.
rigged out in tiny life belts. sailing
with all the practiced hand of
oldsters
These youngsters in most cases
prove to be very able sailors and
are much more familiar with the
operation of their boats and with
the rules of navigation than the
average boat owner" the committee
holds, adding they are quick to
learn and retain instructions given
them.
The regulations as written, it is
maintained are .unrea sonabie when
they bar Juniors the use of small
boats"
If child never were allowed to
ing in regatta he would have no
opportunity to practice sailing and,
heing inexperienced, would be a
hazard to the other contestants, the
report insists.
Say Regulations Go Too Far.
While agreeing that children un-
der 16 should not be allowed to lease
or rent boats of any description or
permitted to operate power boats
without an adult aboard. the as
sociation's committee insisted the
section was unreasonable and goes
too far when it bars them the use
and experience of small one-man
boats
A direct conflict with the long
established Inland Rules of Navi-
CATION, according to the report, now
exists in two sections of the new
regulations. which, instead of clari-
flying the situation, for which there
is a great need, do nothing but add
to the daily growing confusion"
One rule under the new law
holds that no person shall cause
any vessel to pass. cross ahead of
or follow directly behind any other
vessel except at a safe distance.
Another section prohibits persons
to operate any vessel in such
manner as to impede the progress
OF any other vessel when the same
is turning, docking or getting under
way from or to any dock or an
chorage"
Nullifies Sailboat Rights.
This first rule, it was felt, nullifies
any rights sailing vessel now pos
sessed over steam vessel even
though long practice based on the
inland rules has shown that "the
steam vessel shall keep out of the
way of a sailing vessel when they
are proceeding in such directions
rs to involve risk of collision"
Examining the second section, the
committee points out that Federal
law places a duty upon a vessel
getting under way from a dock to
exercise care and caution. despite
the fact the harbor regulations do
not impose such burden on
vessel under these conditions
Visiting boatmen unfamiliar with
local rules, furthermore, will stand
the risk of collision or at least be-
come confused under such circum-
stances, the committee reported.
While the signatures of the Com
mlssioners bring the regulations
into effect Immediately, the Dis
trlct Building has pointed out that
any "impractical' regulations could
be taken care of in the administra-
ton of same, and that they could