UNLUCKY DRIVER

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32764, 15 November 1971, Page 24

UNLUCKY DRIVER

Power boat incident

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. | A dejected Auckland driver, I. Boyce, withdrew from the BP 100-mile power boat race on Wellington harbour on Saturday less I than an hour short of certain victory. Boyce, and his crew of B. Millet and D. Dainty, had ; taken lara Too in front after the second lap of the 2J-hour event and was slowly increasing his lead when his boat struck a piece of debris [which broke a propeller. This put an end to Boyce's hopes for a second win in succession in the event. Instead. an Australianbuilt entrv. Formula, skippered by P. Meredith, ot 'Masterton. won the race, from Clipper Commander (R. [Weston-Webb). ' Tara Too, Formula and ) Clipper Commander showed i that it would be they who would fight out the major placings as they opened up a huge lead before the completion of one round. The Canterbury entry, Mr Fi-Glass, was an expected, and a good, winner of the 60mile race. Skippered by F. Simpson, Mr Fi-Glass was the strongest entry in its field, being powered by two 135 h.p. Mercury outboards. The choppy seas and the all-too-familiar Wellington northerly accounted for 10 withdrawals from the “100,” and 20 from the “60.” Two of the lighter craft were swamped and one lost its outboard. However, all were recovered from the harbour. Results were:— 100 mile.—Speed: Formula (Masterton) 1, Clipper Commander (Auckland) 2, Nicolette (Gisborne) 3. Trimcraft (Wellington) 4, Diffusor (Rotorua) 5, Manmotto II (Wellington) 0. Handicap: Lady Strollawav (Christchurch) 1. Diffusor 2, Clipper Commander 3, Toledo (Christchurch) 4. Nominated speed: Valkyrie (Wellington) 1, Lady Strollaway 2, Manmotto II 3, Rambler (Gisborne) 4. 60 mile.—Speed: Mr Fl-Glass (Christchurch) 1, Goldfinger (Christchurch) 2. Gulf SUnger II (Auckland) 3, Rough Rider (Auckland) 4, Avenger (Wellington) 5. Calypso IV (Wellington) 6. Handicap: Wild One (Gisborne) 1. Hi-Fi 111 (Wellington) 2. Crulsette (Auckland) 3, Miss Mod (Wellington) 4. Nominated speed: Phantom (Wellington) 1, Pebbles (Wellington) 2, Miss Mod 3, Niki (Wellington)