POWER BOAT RACING.

Press, Volume XIIX, Issue 14553, 2 January 1913, Page 4

POWER BOAT RACING.

THE HYDROPLANE EVEST.

The centre of attraction for the thousand:! cf spectators w-.is, without doubt, the hydroplane race. Thi3 is the first time such a race has been seen at Lyttelton Regatta, but it proved immensely popular, the spectacle presented by the four high-powered crai't tearing at high speed for ten laps of n ten-mile course ronnd the inner harlwnr being a thrilling one. The boats were started on their handicaps, the limit bon*, P.D.Q., with IJJ minutes, having done ever three laps before the tiny but very fast and powerful Patiki (Gmin) got going 25 seconds late. She made h terrific, noise aa she tore round, but the real exhibition of speed was given when XQQ ME (2shun) and Uira (scr) started. it seemed impossible that theae two boats would ever make up the laps between them and the early starter;}. XQQ ME, which, in marked contrast to the others, ran with scarcely a sound from lie-r powerful engines, gave a splendid exhibition of speed, and overhauling her rivals, won a great race from P.D.Q., which finished 'second. Uira, a-fter doing three laps, had bad luck. Her cngino came away iron) its bed, and, to save disaster, she waa stopped at once. XQQ ME, in addition to fira'j prize, also wou the prize for fastest time, covering the ten miles in 27min 23 2-otti sec. Following are the results: — XQQ ME (Robinson and Hancock), 2jmin; time, 27min 23 2-sth sco .. .. 1 P.D.Q. (F. Ball), HJmin; time, 38min 4G 2~sth sec .. .. ... .. a Patiki (L. A. Curtis), 6min; time, 33min 43 2-oth sec .. .. .. .. 3 Uira (Simpson and MoDougall) scr, also stnj'ted. MOTOR BOAT RACE (under 10 knots)'; four times, round outer harbour course, 12 miles. First prize £10, second £3, third £2. Kea (John Smith), 32min ; corrected time, 2hr 16min losec .. ... .. 1 The Bat (G. Beecroft), Wrain; corrected time, 2hrs 25min iiOeec .. .. 2 Moa (J. Miller), 9min; corrected time, 2hrs ."lOmin lOsec .. .. ..3 Spindrift scr, Siola 3min, Mjiranui Hmin, Mawhaki llmin, Water Rat 11. lCmin, Wiiimariri 17min, Ophorditis 17min, Edna 19m in, Waianui l'Jmin, Stranger 22min, Ariki 22min, and Seahorso 27min also Btarted.