ATLANTIC RECORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 23

ATLANTIC RECORDS.

BLUE RIBAND OF THE SEA,

GREAT WESTERN TO QUEEN MART.

The recent achievement of the Cunard White Star liner Queen Mary in reducing the time for crossing the Atlantic by two hours has created great interest in (lie Atlantic blue riband and its past holders. The Queen Mary's fastest run was made on July 22-27, in 4 days Ultra 44m from Cherbourg breakwater to Ambrose lightship, at an average speed of 29.2S knots. The Normandie's best time for this run wan 2ii longer, but she sailed a longer course, and her average speed of 29.04 knots is better than the Queen Mary's 29.28 knots. The shipping officials are slill considering the matter, but to a layman, if a vessel can steer a shorter course between any two given points and by so doing reduce the time of passage, it would appear as if that vessel is entitled to hold the record for the crossing. It may lie that tlie Queen Mary will take some time to get into her "stride." The first ship to hold tlie blue riband was the steamer Great Western, for she undoubtedly beat her rival, the Sirius, to New York in 1838. On this voyage the Great Western averaged 8.2 knots. In 1840 the Cunard Company built four steamers, ' the best of them being the Arcadia. She i logged records of 9.25 knots westwards and 10.75 eastwards, later improving on the eastward performance by a fraction of a knot. The next ships to break tlie record were the Baltic and Pacific, of the Collins Line, both of these vessels attaining 13 knots. The record next went to the Arabia, the last wooden ship of tlie Cunard fleet. In 1850 she beat the eastward record with an average of 13-75 knots, although tlie Baltic's westward record .of 13 knots stood until the Scotia lowered it with an average of knots, in 1864. In 1869 the City of Brussels beat the Scotia's best eastward time by half a knot, averaging 14.5 knots. In 1872 the Adriatic beat tlio westward record with an average of 14.5 knots, and in the following year the Baltic took the Castward average up to 15 knots. In the few years following many ships held the record, but the next notable change in the record was that of the America, which made a great improvement on the record, with 17.5 knots, on the eastward run. An average of 19.5 knots was attained by the Cunard steamer Etruia on both eastward and westward trips, thus securing the record. In 1893 the City of Paris shattered the westward record with an average of 21 knots,: and the City of New York the eastward, logging 20 knots. Further struggling for the record was maintained until 1907, when the Cunard Company built the Lufsltania and the Mauretania, the latter, being destined to become the most famousship to sail the Atlantic. The Lusitania was the first of the two to secure the record, averaging 23.01 knots on the eastward and 24.25 on the westward. Tlie Mauretania was built a little later, and took longer to get into her but in 1909 she logged 25.89 jon the eastward and 26.00 on the westward. Her time from Daunt's Rock, entrance to Cork Harbour, to Sandy Hook, New York, was 4 days lOh 41m, a record which stood. for 20 years. With age her speed increased. After the war, 1914-18, she averaged 2D.5, 25.0 and 25.7 knots on several passages, while -racing to the assistance of a ship in distress In appalling weather she once worked up to over 29 knots. The North Gorman Lloyd then built the Bremen and Europa to capture the record, and It was successful. In 1929 the Bremen averaged 27.9 knots eastward and the Europa 27.91 knots westward. The Italia Line, composed of former rival com : panies, decided to build the Rex and Conti dl Savola, the first record-breakers they had ever considered. , Tlie. Rex. logged the first Italian record with a westward average -or 28.92 knots. State aid was given to the Compagnie Generate Transutlantiquc to build the Nornmndie, one of the two largest ships In the world. She gained the blue riband on her maiden voyage- by a large margin. From Southampton to New York she made a mean speed of -9.03 knots. The highest speed recorded on this run was 31.37 knots. •On the eastbound voyage her mean speed was 30.34 i knots, the highest recorded speed being 30.91 knots. ' - -<y

DEVONPORT YACHT CLUB. The Devonport Yacht Club will hold their annual presentation of prizes next Wednesday evening in tlie Navy League Hull corner o£ Church Street and King Edward Parade, Devonport. It will take the form of a "social-smoker" to coin a word. The president, Mr. G. Irevethlck will make the presentations., -The clubs annual meeting will be held on Thursday week, August 27, in the clubhouse. • MORE NEW CRUISERS. At the boat-buiiding yard .of Mr. S. Ford, Ellerslie, work is well advanced, on a «Jt standard type of motor ;cruiser, with a streamlined cabin top, tor Mr. Allen, of Auckland. A start has. also been made on a- 40ft motor cruiser tor Mr. J, Wills, of Epsom, late owner of tlie 37-tooter Icrana. Plans have been''approved,- iind work will commence shortly on a 32ft motor cruiser for Mr. W. Wilkie, of Turakino, Wanganui. A feature of the three boats is that they will "be- driven with Diesel type engines, burning heavy oil. The two 32-tooters will have engines of 16-24 li.p., and the 40footer one of 36-40,, h.p. Last week Mr Ford delivered a 35ft motor cruiser to Mr. Roy Swales, of Epsom, who is also installing a 16-24 li.p. Diesel. Mr. Swales is late of Ponsonby, and well known in yachting circles. , ■

PONSONBY MODEL YACHT - CLUB.

The Ponsonby Model Ynclit Club will hold n series of sweepstake races during the next two months, the first taking to-morrow. The events will be open to all-comers, and accommodation will ne found for models whose owners wish to leave them at St. Mary's Bay The first race for three-footers will start at - p.m.. followed by 4ft and all-comers events. PRIZE NIGHTS. August in—TJevonport Yacht Club. Affgust 29—Tamaki Club. September 10—X'oint Chevalier Model luclit ' Cliib;. ■ '