No. 113

“SPEEDBOATS PREPARING FOR THE POPULAR GALA WEEK FESTIVITIES IN 1911 AT STONE HARBOR, N. J.” – The image depicted here was discovered in the Stone Harbor Museum archives section.  It is an old photograph that was also reproduced and published in the form of a picture post card (see next image) that was sold very shortly after the Risley brothers promoted Stone Harbor with a multitude of activities for the Gala Week Festivities that were held during the week of July 1 – 5, 1911.

This actual vintage post card showing exactly what appeared in the first photo also contains the following printed caption and serves to give us some additional information about what is depicted.  The inscription reads as follows: “Stone Harbor Yacht Club and basin with visiting racing craft during Gala Week, July 1 to 5, 1911.  The two central launches are the famous ‘Sand Burr’ and the ‘Vanish’.”

This interesting scene shows the preparations that were underway for one of the Gala Week regattas on the Great Channel.  The photo taken at the Yacht Club Basin also features the Stone Harbor Yacht Club (SHYC) notably in the background to the right side of this image.  While rather difficult to discern, this writer magnified this scene and was able to distinguish at least 4 very large yachts at anchor in the basin.

Here is another image that surfaced in the form of a post card related to the photo featured above.  It shows 2 speedboats, the two mentioned above, racing and the caption on this card states: “Two great flyers, ‘Sand Burr’ and ‘Vanish’.  Stone Harbor Yacht Club Gala Week regatta on Great Channel”.  The Risley’s sure knew how to draw large crowds by planning and promoting some thrilling and very exciting activities associated with that week of special activities back in early July 1911.