SPEEDY "OUTBOARDS."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 251, 23 October 1928, Page 15

SPEEDY " OUTBOARDS."

BUCK LARD'S BEACH CONTESTS.

BIG GATHERING OF PUBLIC.

Buckland's Beach was crowded with over 2600 visitors yesterday afternoon, when the recently formed Outboard Motor Boat Club inaugurated a series of races for the popular small racing craft driven by an engine clamped to the tnck, and known universally at "outboard*." . There were three races and one free-ior-all, the latter event being run first to get a line on the speeds of the various competitors for handicapping purposes. The course for all races was the same, starting off the Buckland's wharf, thence round two marks off the northern end of the beach, and back round marks just above the wharf, distance one mile.. _ The racers were sent three rounds, being in full view of the spectators on the beach from start to finish.

The first event was timed for 1 p.m., but it was 1.45 before the competitors could be lined up ready for the starting

signal. The entries were:" Miss AMttan*(L Palmer), Humbog (L. Stericker), Invincible (8. Ford), Sea Devil (S. Ford), Vave (E. Maud). ,

The five boats got away tp a rather straggling start, and it was at once apparent that "Miss Akarana 'and Humbug-were much faster than the remaining trio, and these ran down the course at a clinking speed, sending showers of spray off their bows. Humbug reached the mark with a two-length lead, but Miss Akarana picked it up on the turn, onto drop back again on the straightway home. Humbug, planing very level with her big El to running like a clock, crossed the line'a winner at lh 47m 30s; Mis* Akarana. lh 47m 38s; Miss Invincible, lh 48m 335; Sea Devil, lh 49m 255; Vave gave up. THE FIRST RACE. The boats were handicapped as follows for the first race of three miles:—Humbug scr, Miss Akarana 30s, Miss Invincible 3m, I Sea Devil 44m, Freak 6m. The handicaps were given at the start, Freak starting' at 2h 10m, Miss Invincible 2h 13m. Miss Akarana 2h 15m 30s, and Humbug 2h 10m. Sea Devil did not start. The times on the first lap were: Freak, 2h 11m 30s;; Miss Invincible, 2h 16m 40e; Miss. Akarana, 2h 18m; Hnmbug, 2h 18m 10s. The second round was timed: Mite Invincible, 2h 20m 15s; Miss Akarana, 2n 20m 40s; Humbug, 2h 21m 15s; Freak. 2h 21m 50s. The final round saw Miss Akarana overhaul Miss Invincible on the run down to the" mark. Humbug also passing her. It was a great go between the two leaders. Humbug striving to cut down the lead of Miss Akarana, but the latter sped across the line a winner by 7s. The finish-, ing times were: Miss Akarana (winner), 2h 23m 406; Hnmbug (second), 2h 23m 475; Miss Invincible (third), 2h 24m 475. Freak retired. THE SECOND RACE. The entries and handicaps for this race were: Hnmbug scr, Miss Akarana 30s, Miss Tamaki 3jm, Miss Invincible, 3}m, Sea Devil, sm, Freak Bm. As in the first race, the course was three rounds, Freak, the limit boat, getting away at 2h 42m, but shortly after she retired. Sea Devil did not start, bnt Miss Tamaki got away one minute late for the 2h 45m 30s mark. Miss Akarana was off fairly well to time at 2h 49m 30s, followed by Humbug at -h 50m. The two back-markers, Humbug and Miss ; Akarana, had another good tnssle. and the first round saw Miss Tamaki leading at 2b ' 51m ss, Miss Akarana 2h 52m 15s, Hnmbug 2h 52m 255. Humbug bad reduced Miss Akarana's lead to 10s, and on the second

rat: down caught and passed' her. The second round was timed: Humbug, 2b 54m 555; Miss Altaians, 2h. 55m 8a; Miss Tamaki, 2h 55m 15s. The two leaders were tunning very evenly; what Miss Alcanna gained on the turn. Humbug made up on the straight, aad the finish was. timed: Humbug, 2h 57m 455; Miss Akarana. 2h 5Tm 58b Miss Tamaki,2t 59m 255. Hambug wins hy 13s. THE THIRD RACE. The final race was handicapped as follows :—Humbug scr, Miss Akarana 30s, Chancit s*m, Miss Tamakl Miss Invincible 54m. The three limit boats go: away Airly evenly at 3h 22m. Miss Akarana following at 3b 27m, and Humbug at 3h 27m 30s. both right on time. It was seem that Chancit, a new boat from Devonport, could beat the other two on the same mark, while Humbug's engine was missing' on one cylinder at times. -The first round w*s timed: Chancit, 3h 25m 555; Miss Tamakl, Sh 26m 20s; Miss Invincible. 3h 28m 265; Miss Akarana, 3h 29m 20s; Hnmbug, 3b 30m 15s. Times in the second round wereChancit, 3h 29m 255; Miss Invisible, 3h aOm; Miss Tamaki. 3h 30m 7s; Miss Akarana, 3h 32m 15s; Humbug, 3h 32m 50s. In the final round the times were : Chancit (winner). 3h 33m 50s; Mils .Akarana. oh 35m 15s; Humbug, 3h 35m 275; Miss Tamakl, 3h 37m.

The southerly wind made a short sea, which prevented the little speedsters making very fast time. Hnmbog did the fastest lap, at the rate of 26 miles. Miss Akarana doing over 25 miles, but conditions varied, as one one of the marks was not' visible on some of the rounds, which made the course a little shorter.

The officials for the day were:—Starter; Mr. F. K Fawcett; judge. Captain Holmes; timekeeper, Mr. X. Inder; handlcapper, Mr. C. B. Wilson.