Evening star., 1942-08-07
Points Out War Need
OF Pleasure Craft
And Operators
Trophies to Be Placed
In Vault and Insured;
Fees Are Reduced
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
The Presidents Cup Regatta,
which last year Cancelled power
events because of lowering war
clouds, will suspend its remaining
notwithstanding, canoeing, SWIM
ming and sailing-for the duration
of the war, the associations board
of directors disclosed yesterday.
Decision to take the step which
has met unanimous approval of
board members was made at meet
ing of the organization on We'd
nesday.
Officials of Potomac River Sailing
Association, sponsor of the sailing
races each year since sailing craft
became an integral part of the re-
gatta, voted to relinquish it's part
in the regatta early last week, it
was learned today.
From Edward C. Baltz, president
of the cup regatta group, came this
pronouncement:
Pleasure boats are being used in
the war effort, rubber and gasoline
are scarce, and many prospective
contestants are busy in various
phases of war work. Under these
conditions we don't feel that re-
gatta would contribute to the war
effort"
Feel Regatta Out Of Place.
Other board members agreed with
the sentiment that the staging of
a regatta would be "out of step with
wartime Washington"
The PRSA had received sanction
from Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing
Association to stage sailing races
September 10 and 20 off Hams Point.
This sanction was given in Decem-
berthe day before the Jap attack
on Pearl Harbor.
Since 1926 the cup regatta has
been held annually, attaining a rep
utation of being one Of the largest
held anywhere, President Baltz said.
Sailing has been included on the
program since 1885. Although
threatening war conditions forced
officials to cancel the feature Presi-
dents Cup race and other power
events last September, ell other
races went off as usual.
The boards action Wednesday fol-
lowed a report Of special COM
mittee headed by DR.. G. Bache Gill,
former commodore Of Corinthinan
Yacht Club and vice president of
the PCRA. Serving with him were
J.. George Wenzel, r. Aubrey Bogley,
general chairman of last years re-
gatta, and L. Gordon Leech.
viii Continue Organization.
In his report, DR.. Gill wrote: ut
was the unanimous opinion OF these
gentlemen that there should be no
activity In this direction so long as
we are fighting this war"
Baltz stressed that the assocla-
ton plans to continue Its organiza-
ton intact during the war, looking
toward resumption Of all activities
as soon as conditions will permit
after the war. In this connection
1t was announced that memberships
In the ASSOCIATION WOulO NC toAA-
tinued with fees reduced.
All former contestants in rowing,
canoeing, swimming and sailing
races staged here are to be notl-
fed formally of the decision.
The board also authorized that
Bogley assume the job OF collecting
the PCRA's valuable array OF tro-
phies, including the Presidents Cup,
the John Charles Thomas Trophy,
the Mexican Embassy Trophy, the
Hearst Trophy and others, and plac-
ing them in single vault, fully in
sured against war damage.
Trophies for the sailing races have
been given each year by The Eve
ming Star and become the perma-
nent property of the winners.