EXCITING OCEAN RACE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19584, 14 September 1925, Page 2

EXCITING OCEAN RACE.

WELLINGTON TO DUNEDIN. CALM BEATS HOLMDALE. Keen rivalry exists between the coastal steamers Calm and Holmdale, and when the two vessels meet there is generally a test of speed to determine which is the faster boat. The latest speed test took place at the end of last week, when the ships engaged in what proved to be the best test so far. It was an exciting race from start to finish, and the Calm proved the winner, beating her rival by a few minutes only. There has been a conflict of opinion amongst those connected with shipping as to which ig the faster vessel, but the last teat .proves beyond doubt that the Calm is slightly the better of the Holmdale. Still, there is very little difference in the speed of the two ships, and there are probably no other vessels trading on the coast, of their particular size, which are so evenly matched. The Claim has demonstrated that she can beat the Holmdale in a test in fine weather and a smooth sea, while the Holmdale can out-distance her rival in heavy weather. The race, which was concluded early on Saturday morning, created great interest on the Wellington waterfront, and both vessels found many supporters. There was more than a simmer of excitement among the respective crows while the two ships lay at their berths at Wellington on Thursday last, for no secret was' made of the fact that a race was impending, as both vessels were timed to 'leave Wellington that afternoon for Dunedin direct. The distance is 340 odd miles, and both the Calm and Holmdale put up a very fine performance on the test, as both logged over 10 knots an hour, and both covered the distance in loss than 35 hours. It is claimed by her supporters that the Calm has beaten the Holmdale on every occasion that a race has taken place. Some weeks ago the two vessels engaged in an exciting race from Lyttelton to Wellington. The Holmdale was loaded to her scuppers, while the Calm was in light trim. The ships raced practically level to a point off Kaikbura, when the Canterbury Company’s boat went into the lead, and was berthed at Wellington exactly five minutes before her rival. At that time the hulls of both vessels were foul below the water line, but they have since been in dry dock, and both were, therefore, in good steaming condition. The two vessels Completed cargo operations at Wellington shortly, after 4 p.m. on Thursday. The Wellington Harbour Board’s official log book gives the times of departure as follows; —Calm (from No. 6, Queen's wharf), 4.50 p.m., Holmdale (from No. 4, Queen’s wharf), 4.56 p.m. It will thus be seen that the Calm boat her rival by four minutes from wharf to wharf. The exact steaming times (wharf to wharf) wore as follows: Calm 54hr 25min Holmdale 54hr 29min The Calm led the wav out of Wellington Harbour. On entering Cook Strait a heavy swell was encountered. This did not favour the Calm, but wan of distinct advantage to the Holmdale, which closed the gap. Once alear of the straits the ships ran into smooth water, and the Calm graclually drew further ahead. Throughout Thursday night the Cairn led her rival by about two miles. The weather was fine, with a smooth sea. A message received from the light-keeper at Akaroa stated that the Calm passed that point at 10.45 a.m. and the Holmdale at 11 a.m. on Friday. At noon the same tiny the Calm’s load had been reduced by about a mile, as both vessels encountered i southerly swell, which favoured the HolmlaJe. Running into smooth water, the Calm again eh owed her fine-weather qualities by increasing her load, which she maintained throughout Friday afternoon. She led the Holmdale by about two miles. A moderate sea and a fresh southerly breeze were encountered off Moeraki about 6 p.m,, and the Holmdale again closed on her rival, but only for a brief time, as smooth water again met the ships, and the Calm soon afterwards led the boat by about two miles. The ships wore abreast of Moeraki at 9 p.m on Friday, amjl the engineers of the respective boats gave them full power. Between 9 p.m. on Friday and 1 a.m. on Saturday the Holmdale reduced the distance between her and the Calm, but it was realised by the Holmdale's officers anff crew that she was beaten. Only a short distance separated the boats on entering the Heads. When the Calm was passing between the islands in the lower harbour the Holmdale was abreast of Port Chalmers. The Calm steamed without any manoeuvring to her berth at the Victoria wharf, the lince being made fast at 3.15 a.m. The Holmdale, on the other hand, was turned in the steamers’ basin, and lost several minutes as a result. She was made fast at the Rattray street wharf at exactly 5,25 a.m. But for the Holmdale’s turning movement both ships would have berthed at precisely the same time. TTio Holmdale carried much more cargo than the Cairn, (lie latter 'being in fairly light trim.