SPEED BOAT RACING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 April 1926, Page 2

SPEED BOAT RACING

THE AUSTRALIAN HTI.K WON I'.V TORTOISE The nu.lor I d championship of Atis India, hold o: the Pork Adelaide I'"'-' rooord.lv, n'3U.''.r-.l if) a hollow victory for llie South An iM-a'.ian bod, 'JVxtoiao II Tho JSfvv SouU, iVaj-.w ppr:- c:ULv\ Contur; Tin-. had Ii? i",:-h,.-"::; ■ lo strike n Ron ting object in Ihe third round nnd was onh aMe to complete tho first heat. The other South Austraiian huol. I .oily Sid. ran aground in negotiating the first turn and was damaged ton barfly to continue. About To.ooo people witnessed the ia.ee. Iho entrants were:—Tortoise II- (A. O. and TO. S. Rymill), Lady Sid (Napier Bilks!, representing Swuth Australia, and Century Tire (R. C. W'aldei). representing New South Wales. A windless day made for ideal conditions. The boats g":.l away lo a splendid s'lari. Tortoise 11. iriimi'dialoly jumped into I lie Jead. and held Century Tire in her wash for the balance of* the heat. Lady Sid, in ronnding the north beacon for the first lime, took too wide a sweep and Van aground on a sandbank, damaging the propeller and shaft to such an e.xieut that she could not, continue. In the ijiird round Century Tire reported having, struck a (loating object and damaged her hull beyond repair. Immediately at'te.rwardfi she blew out two spark-plugs, and limped home, a quarter of a lap behind Tortoise . The speed of Tortoise was 49.85 miles an hour, her fastest la-p being 52.7 miles an hour. Tortoise completed the second Ileal nlor.e and thus retains the title and the (!riflit lis Cup. On the completion of the race Mr Waider. owner of Century Tire, stated that he would build another hull and return and attempt to wrest, the cup from South Australia next year