Evening star., 1953-04-03
Record Growth Here
In Yachting indicated
By Early Activity

An early spring has launched
Washington area yachtsmen on
their annual fitting out program
amid indications that q record
number Of newcomers will enjoy
boating this year.
For days now District yacht
clubs. marinas and virtually every
available waterfront space have
been humming with activity.
Boat owners and an increasing
number Of family groups will be
found any afternoon plying sand
paper, paint and varnish. All
have their sights set on the big
day when boats are ready for
the first spin down the river, the
first cruise or the opening race.
Building Cruisers Here.
In the marine industry, the
tremendous interest generated at
the National Motor Boat Show
in New York last January appar-
emily Is carrying over to spring
and dealers are hopeful.
Washington even has its own
cruiser building industry, the
first since the Raleighs started
building those auxiliary sloops
some years ago. Over the winter,
Jack Styron Of Washington
Marina has designed and built
seven cruisers ranging in size
from 18-footers to 25 feet. The
Maine Avenue establishment now
employs 16 boat builders.
Leading the way in this years
early-hird trend, Capital Yacht
Club has decided to stage it's an
nual flag raising ceremony May
3, two weeks earlier than usual.
Comments Rear Commodore Dick
Jones: I'VE should be getting
some boats out early that way"
SchOOlbOy Oarsmen Earliest.
Earliest Of all this season have
been high school oarsmen from
Westinghouse in Arlington and
George Washington in Alexan-
dria. They have been practicing
for weeks in preparation for a
heavy schedule that, in the case
Of, George Washington. opens
next Saturday with a race
against Lower Merton, Pa, High.
A major intercollegiate rowing
event is in the cards here May
16. It's the sprint races to be
run off Hams Point. Many out
of-town rowing enthusiasts will
be drawn here for the week end.
Sail racing, a sport conducted
In Washington for nearly 20
years by the Potomac River Sail
ing Association, formally opens
off Hains Point on April 26. A
week earlier warm-up race will
be run off. The spring series,
as it is known. ends June 7.
The association plans races
each Sunday for Chesapeake 2Os,
Thistles. Lightnings, Comets.
Snipes, Penguins and Tempests.
Plans For Power Races.
Capital Power Boat Associa-
ton, meanwhile, has started
planning for its July inboard-
outboard regatta on the Potomac
between Lincoln Memorial and
Highway bridges. And any day
now. the Presidents Cup Regatta
Association may decide to hold
its annual meeting for election
Of officers. The big regatta
classic is slated September 1920.
In the just plain cruising fra
ternity, there are numerous yacht
club. Power Squadron and Coast
Guard Auxiliary events planned
during the coming months.
Potomac River Power Squadron
only last Saturday set 131 men
off on the right foot when they
graduated" from the squadron's
winter-long course in plotting.
All are entitled to fly the squad
ron flag on their boats and 60
on to advanced grades up
through navigator. In addition,
80 women who completed the
course were given certificates of
proficiency technically women
can't ioin' the souadron).