Evening star., 1940-05-24
12-Mi|e Race 10 Open
3-Day Competition
OF River Sailors
Gibson Island Contests
And Absecon's Wild
Chase Also Slated
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
Conformists who won't believe
the yachting year has begun until
the advent of Memorial Day will
have every reason for their con-
victions this season as prepara-
tions are made for three stellar
events here and on the Eastern
seaboard.
Headlining the week is the 3-day
regatta of the Potomac River Sail
ing Association, opening next Thurs
day with a 12-mile race from Alex
andria to Gunston Cove, Va.
The same day an assorted fleet
of inboard hydroplanes will start
off on the wild-eyed race around
Atlantic City's Absecon Island-an
event that has become known as
the Grand National of motor boat
ing.
The sailing year on Chesapeake
Bay opens three days later with
the 18-mile Swan Point-Love Point
race sponsored by Gibson Island
Yacht Squadron.
Between 80 and 40 entries are
expected to compete in the local
regatta, while Washington will be
represented in both the New Jer-
sew and Gibson Island events.
Judge Edrington Gives Cup.
TO the winner of the long-dls-
tance race down the Potomac Will
90 the Commodore's Cup donated
each wear by the current leader OF
the association. Judge Prentice Ed
rington is the donor this time.
Boats will be sent off In their
regular divisions on the morning
of the 3oth. The first entry max
ing the best corrected time Tor
the course will be adjudged the
winner.
A beach fire will be lit that night
on the grounds of Fort BelVolr S
Pontoon School and supper served
shippers and crews.
Through the courtesy OF the COM
mandant of the fort, Col. James "A:
O'Connor, sailors will be permitted
to anchor their boats off the school
until Saturday when the regatta
resumes with Grace series IN
the cove, morning and afternoon
Prizes will be awarded on the oasls
of points scored in the long-dls-
tance event and Saturdays races.
will Race IL Miles Home.
The long trek home will be mace
Sunday In the form OF second
12-mile race, from start OIL Cum
ston bell buoy to Old Dominion
Boat Club at Alexandra. AGAIN
it's the best corrected time that
wins the race.
Lone Washington entry in the
23-mile marine steeplechase Wnieil
begins and ends right smack IN the
ocean off Atlantic City Is red
headed Andy Crawford, top nlgnt
135-class hydroplane racer. He mas
entered his Ednandy ~.
This years race-the tourth an
nual-wil feature cash prize total
ing $500, in addition to the large
".Judee" Emil Auerbach Memorial
trophy for the first boat to COM
plete the hazardous course. AGAIN
boats will race six miles down the
coast before swinging into the mar
row. twisting waterways back OF
the city. Another two miles OF
ocean faces the feet after leav-
ing Absecon Inlet before the hnlsh
of the Steel Pier.
Andy Fond Of Danger.
Crawford, who likes his driving
tinged with danger, marks his Sec
ond year in the race. Last year,
however, heavy seas threw him for
q loss and not until a plane new
out to sea to guide him through
breakers was Crawford certain OF
fetching up in Atlantic City OF
Portugal.
The start has been moved ahead
to 10 am. this year, as officials
feel the winds will be lighter in
the morning.
A belated sailing year-the re-
suit of a late spring and resultant
hardness in outfitting-opens on
the Bay a week from Sunday with
the classic race for large cruising
and racing classes. The Swan
Point-Love Point race was sched-
uled originally for this Sunday but
officials set the date ahead one
week to permit yachtsmen to pre-
pare their boats.
At least two Washingtonians, who
are members of the Gibson Island
Club, will be entered in the tri-
angular race. They are L. Corrln
Strong with his cutter Narada and
Donald McKnew with his yawl
Young Miss.