History of Model Boating
on Conservatory Water

In 1934 race fields reached the amazing size of one thousand boats!

150 MODEL BOATS RACE IN PARK LAKE; Lack of Wind Fails to Deter Boy Pilots of Sailing Craft in Yearly Tourney. MANY PRIZES ARE AWARDED Sea Lion, in Hands of Owner, 16, Scores an Easy Victory in Motor-Boat Division.

The calm waters and the lack of breeze on the conservatory lake in Central Park yesterday did not discourage more than 150 boys from various parts of the city who took part in the eighth annual competition for model boats, conducted by the Bureau of Recreation of the Department of Parks.

(The New York Times, June 5, 1932, pg 9)

 

The New York Times, April 29, 1934pN1

600 BOY 'SKIPPERS' VIE ON PARK LAKE; Keen Contests Develop in the Annual Model Yacht and Motor Boat Regatta. STIFF WIND WHIPS WATER Many Craft Turn Over or Are Stranded -- Complaints Cause One Race to Be Re-Run.

Marine triumphs, casualties and disappointments marked yesterday's annual sailboat and motorboat regatta on Conservatory Lake in Central Park. More than 600 youthful skippers of model yachts and motor boats, from 12 to 36 inches long, vied joyfully for supremacy in the various classes.

The New York Times, June 3, 1934, p N1

JUNIOR FLEET GOES ON REVIEW IN PARK; 300 Children With a Pint-Size Navy Hold Regatta of Model Sail and Motor Boats.

More than 300 nautical-minded children had their own naval day yesterday on the Conservatory Lake in Central Park. The occasion was the tenth annual model sailboat and motorboat regatta conducted by the Bureau of Recreation of the Manhattan Park Department and sponsored by Bloomingdale's department store.

The New York Times, Oct 13, 1934, pg15

1,000 Model Boats Compete in Park With Not a Single Protest Flag Up; Brisk Nor'wester Adds Thrills to Children's Sailing Events and Puts One Winner So Far Ahead the Judges Miss It -- Negro Boy, 9, Shares the Honors.

There were nearly 1,000 entries in yesterday's model sailboat and motor-boat regatta on the Conservatory Lake in Central Park, yet during the whole day not one protest flag was seen flying from the mastheads of any of the competing vessels.

The New York Times, May 12 1935, p N1
5,000 See Model Boats Vie in Park; Father-and-Son Race Is Feature; Largest Throng to Attend Conservatory Lake Event Watches Eleven Parents Compete -- Three Girls Win Prizes in Contests for Various Types of Craft.

Five thousand persons watched 500 diminutive vessels compete for prizes yesterday afternoon in the Conservatory Lake in Central Park at the eleventh annual model boat regatta, of which Bloomingdale's and the city Park Department were sponsors.

The New York Times, Sept 9, 1935, pg. 21

MODEL BOATS RACE IN CIRCLES IN PARK; Pilotless Power Craft Speed Around Pole in Lake After Spills and False Starts. QUEENS ENTRY SWIFTEST Dashes Over the Course at 25.7 Miles an Hour -- Mishap Puts Favorite Out of Regatta.

Tiny motor boats churned bubbly wakes in the conservatory lake in Central Park yesterday at the annual regatta of the New York Society of Model Engineers.

The New York Times, Oct 13, 1935, Pg N1:

347 BOATS CONTEST FOR MODEL HONORS; Annual Central Park Regatta Brings Out Wide Variety of Racing Craft.

Hundreds of model boats, including every type from home-made contraptions to sleek and expensive racing craft, dotted the surface of Conservatory Lake in Central Park yesterday morning as the semi-annual model sail and motor boat regatta was held.

The New York Times, May 3, 1936, P N1

300 MODEL YACHTS VIE IN PARK RACES; Many Strangely Rigged Craft Sail Conservatory Lake in Twelfth Annual Regatta. BOILER BLAST ADDS TO DIN For Home-Made Power Boats Also Have Chance to Win for Youthful Owners. 300 MODEL YACHTS VIE IN PARK RACES

Close-hauled and heeling well over in a spanking breeze, 300 model yachts owned by young racing enthusiasts whipped across Conservatory Lake in Central Park yesterday afternoon in the twelfth annual sailboat regatta conducted by the Department of Parks under sponsorship of Bloomingdale's.

 

The New York Times, May 10, 1936, pg N1

200 Sleek-Lined Model Yachts Vie for Prizes in Boys' Regatta; Craft, Sped by Spanking Breeze on Central Park Lake, Lustily Cheered by Young Salts -- Tour of the Normandie for Winning Owners. THE REGATTA FOR JUNIOR YACHTSMEN AND TWO OF THE WINNERS 200 MODEL YAGHTS IN BOYS' REGATTA

Sped by breezes that have been scarce the last two days, 200 sleek-lined model yachts, each a qualifying boat from its respective borough, careened across Conservatory Lake in Central Park yesterday afternoon in the finals of the Park Department's city-wide regatta.

The New York Times, May 24, 1936 Pg N1

650 TRIM CRAFT VIE IN MODEL REGATTA; Hulls of Manhattan Registry Take Most of the Prizes on Central Park Lake. MARINE DISASTERS FEW 2,000 Tars and Spectators From 6 Years Old to 60 Cheer Boats on Their Way. 650 TRIM CRAFT VIE IN MODEL REGATTA

Trim-lined hulls on craft of Manhattan registry cleaved through the water so cleanly yesterday afternoon that they annexed nearly all the events at the eighth semi-annual city-wide model sail and motor boat regatta conducted by Macy's and the Department of Parks on Conservatory Lake in Central Park.

The New York Times, Sept 14, 1936 pg. 28

TINY SPEED BOATS WHIZ ON PARK LAKE; Miniature Craft, Both Steam and Gas Engined, Roar in Exciting Contests. MAKE UP TO THIRTY MILES Tethered on 100-Yard Course, Some of the Little Racers Simply Refuse to Quit.

Amid staccato roars and whiffs of burning castor oil typical of midget auto racing, twenty-two miniature speed boats churned around the surface of Conservatory Lake in Central Park yesterday in the annual Walter Elliot Memorial Trophy race, conducted by the New York Society of Model Engineers.

The New York Times, April 21, 1935 pg. N1

1,000 Children Race Model Boats in Park Lake; Fast Power Craft Drive Startled Ducks to Cover; Home-Made Entries Outstrip Many 'Luxury' Cruisers in Contest for Gold Medals.

One thousand miniature boats -- steam, sail, electric and spring motor -- cut through the tiny swells of the Conservatory Lake at Central Park yesterday in keen competition for prizes in the semi-annual model boat regatta of which R.H. Macy & Co. and the New York City park Department are sponsors.