Jet Boats’ Adventurous Trip On Clutha River

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 9

Jet Boats’ Adventurous Trip On Clutha River

(From Our Own Reporter)

WANAKA, October 21. Three jet boats made the first power-boat traverse of the Clutha river from Wanaka to Roxburgh Hydro on Saturday and one of them yesterday made the first upstream journey by any kind of vessel over the 80-mile stretch of turbulent water. The journey down through the gorge where the Clutha joins the Kawarau river at Cromwell and. particularly the return journey upstream in this area was the stiffest test these Christchurchdeveloped boats have ever undergone. At Cromwell, the full flow of the Clutha hurtles through a gap only 40ft wide, rapids throw up foaming waves six feet high, and it is estimated that the current is more than 20 miles an hour. The members of the party which made the journey say it was a hair-raising experience. Mr C. W. F. Hamilton, who invented the jet boats; Mr George Davidson, of Irishman's Creek station; and Mr Guy Manncring. a Christchurch photographer: each alone in the three boats, took three hours and 20 minutes for the downstream journey. This was uneventful, except for the “awful rapids” at Cromwell.

Previously only one boat has made the downstream trip. This was rowed by Mr Jimmy Edwards, of Wanaka, in the early 1900's.

A few canoeists have made the attempt with varying success. Mr Davidson made the up-

stream trip yesterday morning. Mr Hamilton is not so young and the others were keen that Mr Mannering should make a photographic record. Using Mr Hamilton's boat. Mr Davidson roared away from Roxburgh Hydro while the others followed by car. In the narrow gorge at Cromwell, the little boat was at first tossed like a cork but the full power of its engine enabled it to bore through the torrent. “Very few people have been through that patch in any sort of boat and. believe me, you can use any words in the book to describe its fury,’’ Mr Mannering said. “I experienced it downstream and I can imagine just what it was like going up.” These boats have been tried in previously - (innavigable highcountry waters in Canterbury. The trio went south to give them the stiffest test they could find in New Zealand. No difficulty was reported at any stage of the journey, although all throe pilots gained the highest respect (or the power of the Clutha and have no immediate plans for making such a trip again.