Evening star., 1940-08-09
Likely 10 Be Too Few
To Justify Contest
In Oxford Meet
3-Doy Reeotto Under Way
With Best Sailors of
Boy in Competition
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.,
Star STAFF Correspondent.

Star STAFF Correspondent.
OXFORD, Md, Aug. 9.-Passing
OF the famed Chesapeake Bay log
canoe as g. racing craft was the
important topic of conversation
here today as yachtsmen from all
sections of the hay, as we'll as New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, joined in
the opening race of the three-day
combined regattas of Tired Avon
and Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs.
Unless by some miracle more than
one entry appears for the sched-
uled log canoe events, baymen will
see the swan song of the colorful
two-masted craft this week end.
Even the more optimistic Eastern
Shoremen admitted there was little
possibility of sufficient canoes to
justify a race.
While the canoes were expected
to provide spectators with their
biggest attraction, the week end
card was studded with other I'M
portant events.
Traditionally the center OF bay
sailing, this small shipbuildlng
town was to be host to the top
sailors of the bay. This included
q large Washington delegation that
arrived here last night and this
morning both by land and by "sea. !"
More than II classes, including
stars, comets, snipes, 20-footers and
penguins, are on the program.
The Chesapeake Bay Y. C. por-
ton of the regattas opened this
morning, when a feet of cruising
and racing yachts started out from
Gibson Island, Md, for the SIS miles
down the bay and up the Chop
tank and Tired Avon Rivers to here.
They set out shortly after 9 o'clock
and tonight should see the. winner
crossing the finish line.
Numerous Prizes Offered.
To the yacht making the best
corrected time will go the Poker
BoWl-one of numerous trophies
that promises to make the dual
show highly attractive to shippers.
Others include the Pamela and
Gaetina Trophies for comets, Sir
Thomas Upton and j. Graham
johnson Memorial Trophies for
stars, DR.. Stevens Memorial Trophy
for cruising yachts and the new
Tired Avon Y. c. Trophy, donated
by Mr.. and Mrs. Michael j. Milli-
kan of New York City, for the
scrappy cat class.
And then there is Chesapeake
Bay Y. C.'s Commodore Cup for 10y
canoes, providing there are two or
more starters.
The log canoe, old-timers here
point out, has died because it was not
restricted class. Overenthusiastic
owners were crowding on too much
sail and spending too much money
for new gadgets that had no limit
And where can you get the men
today to man these boats?" one
Shoreman asked. "As many as Il
men are required to race a canoe >
he stated, adding sadly that not q
single canoe sail had been seen on
the Tired Avon River this summer
He then cited the famous Flying
Cloud, Oxford's pride, owned by
johnson Grimes, which lies un.
painted and almost forgotten at q
shipyard here. Others not place.
on commission this year include BOZ
Wilson's Magic, Norman Gibson
Mystery and Caulk Kemp's Island
Bird.
Only Two Canoes Show Up.
The Miles River Yacht Clut
regatta was the scene last week oi
a disappointing showing of the
canoes. Only two boats came out
Oliver Dukes Noddy and the May
flower, owned by Chestertowr
CMd) syndicate-for the Governor
Cup race. Noddy was the sole entry
for the Sidney Covington Trophy
for canoes built prior to 1917.
1t was this poor showing that
really awoke canoe lovers to their
plight. Even the pride of Virginia
odI1dl InlllCl 1ldulblOIly 1lUIIl
Hampton will not be on hand this
week end to defend its title.
First race of three in the Tired
Avon's portion of the regattas was
to be sailed this afternoon, while
second and third races are sched-
uled for tomorrow. Sunday Chesa-
peake Bay Y. c. takes over with
races for stars, comets and cruising
and racing classes.
A special feature of tomorrow's
program will be a rowing race be-
tween the deck crew and engine
room crew of a Coast Guard cutter
stationed here this week end
Tired Avon trophies will be award
ed tomorrow evening at the new
clubhouse here, while Chesapeake
Bay Y. G. prizes will be presented
shippers at a reception Sunday
afternoon at the estate of Mr.. and
Mrs. Elliot Wheeler of near here.