Evening star., 1942-08-21

Oh, yes, there are dueS-25
between the ages of IL and 18, but
il youngster has a sincere interest
in sailing and finds himself tenn
porarily in financial difficulty, ways
usually are found for him to earn
his passage.
And with that 60 the privileges
Of the beautiful new $4,000 yacht
club-the home of the Community
Sailing Association-and use of its
nifty dinghies, the pier lockers and
showers Towels once were free,
too, but along with the changing
times there's fee now-f1ve cents.
The program-a civic sailing ven-
ture believed unique In this country
originally was designed for young
sters who otherwise couldn't afford
to sail.
Membership Is Cosmopolitan
It's probably now the most cos
mopolitan yacht club in the country
its more than 1000 members
ranging from 9 years Of age to that
peak where some people won't ad-
NIT the number of their birthdays.
The newsboy on the corner can
be seen footing along at a gres1
rate In the trim 13-foot dinghy,
probably testing his skill against
one of the city's leading doctors
4 fellow club-member.
The adults pay SIS 4 year-and
this plan to popularize sailing has
brought into the ranks physicians,
nurses. schoolteachers, policemen
firemen,. laborers. clerks and about
every other group.
Gasoline rationing has led some
to look, for this recreation they'd
never tried beforehand the red
tipped sails of these little boats can
be seen f1icking in the sunlight in
the Charles River Basin at all
hours by the scores.
Beacon Hill. with its red brick
buildings, lends a colorful backdrop
to the scene
The Community Sailing Associa-
tion now has 80 dinghies. their sails
rs and 56 square feet. respectively:
schooners, 20 dories, 10 rowboats
and rescue launch.
Designed by M. I. T. Professor.
The "dinks" were designed espe-
cially by Prof. George Owen of the
Massachusetts, Institute of Tech
nology. noted marine designer.
Chief force originally behind the
movement of sailing for every one
in the basin was Joseph Lee, whose
father, Charles Lee, was known as
the Father Of the American Play
ground"
From slum areas, Lee recruited
youngsters and taught them to build
= lugger- -rigged. dory shaped SAIL
boat. Gradually. civic organiza tions
became interested.
The metro <olitan district COM
mission authorized use of money in
the Storrow Fund, created by James
J. Storrow, pioneer in the devel-
opment of the basin, for construc-
ton of the yacht club and the pur-
chase OF boats and equipment.
The community fund offered to
help financially, but the "25-cent
yacht club" was such success from
the beginning that 1t hasn't been
necessary to use any OF this money
Walter (Jack) Wood. who started
= dinghy sailing program at M. I. T.
that now has spread to half hun
dred colleges, was named commo-
dore of the new club.
He has established shore schools
to train young and old in the fun
damentals of sailing, and once
passed in swimming tests the re-
cruits are allowed to try a hand
first as green seamen. then red
seamen and finally ordinary sea-
men.
Nearly half of the l ,0O0-odd men,
bers are girls-and Wood says tina.
while they're a bit timid at first
once they learn the rudiments
they've ranked among the best
sailors.
Sailor Unused to Canvas.
servicemen are elegible for junior
membership and Wood likes to tell
the story of the sailor from Texas
who brought two girl friends down
for . sail
He had been to sea on a battle
ship, but that was the extent OF
his sailing.
The girl friends were impressed
however, and they set out.
A tricky shift of wind put oul
hero in trouble Immediately ano
when he tried to head the dinghy
into the wind the little craft cap
sized.
A rescue boat brought the three