POWER-BOAT RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 13

POWER-BOAT RACING.

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SUCCESS OF MISS AKARANA. The New Zealand Power-boat Association held a series of races for speed boats and outboard motor-boats on the Whau River on Saturday afternoon. A good programme of events was set down for decision, but the choppy conditions on the harbour prevented many intending competitors from reaching the course. Only five speed-boats were on hand to contest the Provincial Challenge Cup and this number, was reduced to three when Miss Egypt aild, Fleetwing Junior faile<. to start owing to engine trouble. Hobo broke her benzine pipe when in a winning position, and a disappointing race was won by Spot, with Miss Clevedon a close second. Tliei- was a fair number of outboard motor-boats present to contest the handicap event, but the race for the open outboard championship was declared off, Humbug being the only contestant. A special handicap race arranged in lieu of the championship event was won by Vave, while Nymph was successful in the open outboard handicap. Mis.j Akarana scored a convincing win in the race for the B class championship, and successfully defended the Challenge Pennant. There was a fair number of spectators, who gained a fine view of the course from the many vantage points along the river banks. The officials were:—Starter. Mr. \V. D. Ross timekeeper, Mr. E. L. Buchanan; judge, Mr. A. M. "Wilson; assistant starters and timekeepers, Messrs. S. Bell-Booth and W. Ross; lap steward, Mr. C. Goldsbro'; parking steward, Mr. W. Alexander; course stewards, Messrj. L. Schiscbka, S. H. Leyland, F. Foster. Following are the details of the racing:— B Class Outboard Handicap.—Only three boats started in this event, Humbug and Fleetun each receiving two minutes from Miss Akarana. The limit boats got away to a good start, but Miss Akarana was 48s late. Humbug led throughout from Fleetuu, with Miss Akarana catching up slowly. The finishing times were:—Humbug, 2h 41m 365; Fleetun, 2h 42m 16s; Miss Akarana, 2h 43m 3s. Result: Humbug, 1; Fleetun, 2; Miss Akarana, 3. Speedboat Handicap.—Provincial Challenge Cup: Hobo, Miss Clevedon and Spot, •the only starters in this event, were despatched in that order. Hobo had increased her lead in the rough water on the run down stream for the second time, and was followed by Miss Clevedon, with Spot closing up fast. On the final lap Hobo struck trouble and had to withdraw, while Miss Clevedon and Spot entered the last lap almost on terms In a great finish Spot gained n narrow victory over Miss Clevedon. The finishing times were:—Spot, 3h 21m 21s; Miss Clevedon, 3h 21m 255. Open Handicap, for Outboard Motor-boats. —The handicaps were declared as followe for the extrs: ' event Humbug', ecr; Miss Akarana, 2m. Nymph. 2m 15s; Fleetun, 2m 15s: Vave, 4m; Chief. 4m; Chancit, 4m 455. Vave had completed two laps before the scratch boat Humbug started. At the end of the thitl lap Vave led the way from Chancit. Chief, Nywnh and Fleetun, with Miss Akarana and Humbug a lap behind. Vave held on to win easily from Chancit, with Miss Akarana third. The finishing times were:—Vave, 3h 41m 7a; Chancit. 3h 19.m 445;-Mi"" Akaran". 3h 42m 49a: Chief 3ti 43m 4s: Humbug, 3h 43m lis; Fleetun, 3h 43m 555; Nymph. 3h 4-lm' 495. Result: Vave, 1: Chancit, 2: Miss Akarana, 3. Speed-boat Handicap.—Four hoats faced the starter in this event. Hobo was despa to time, but Miss Clevedon. Spot and Miss Egypt struck trouble and did not start. Hobo was given the gun at the end of the first lap. Open Handicap for Outboard Motors.— The handicaps were revised for this event, each boat being timed on its best lap during the previous handicap. The competitors were despatched in the following order:— Vave, 2m 50s (started 40s before time); Nymph, 2m 50s: Fleetun, 3in; Miss Akarana, 2m 10s; Humbug, se'r. At the end of the second lap Vave led from Fleetun and Nymph, with Miss Akarana and Humbug closing up fast. On the final round Vave just led from Nymph and Fleetun, while Misc Akarana and Humbug had improved their positions. The order was the same in the final run to the flagship, but Miss Akarana passed Fleetun almost on the finishing line. Only a few seconds separated the boats at the finish, the times being:—Nytnph, 5h 13m 16s; Miss Akarana, 5h 13m 245; Fleetun, 5h 13m 265; Humbug, 5h 13m 465. Result: Nymph, 1; Miss Akarana, '2; Flertun, 3. B Class Championship and Challenge Pennant for Outboard Motor-boats.—The three starters were despatched by the gun. Fleetun and Miss Akarana crossed the line to a perfect start, with Humbug a few seconds late. At the end of the first lap Miss Akarana was lis ahead of Humbug, with Fleetun a close third. Miss Akarana increased her lead throughout and won handsomely in the end from Humbug, with Fleetun last. The finishing times were:— Miss Akarana. sh' 39m 255; Humbug. 5h 40m 17s; Fleetun, 5h 40m 545. Result; Miss Akarana, 1; Humbug, 0; Fleetun, 3.