AQUATICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20006, 25 January 1927, Page 6

AQUATICS.

WANGANUI REGATTA. SOME THRILLING INCIDENTS. (From Oub Own Correspondent-) WANGANUI, January 24. Over 6000 people got a thrill at Sandy Hook regatta on Saturday afternoon when Spot 11, which was racing full-out in a handicap event, overturned while rounding a buoy at 30 miles an hour. Spot, an Auckland boat, is a sea sled, blunt of nose and with a flat bottom. The water was choppy at the time and an uncertain wind was blowing up-stream. The buoy was just opposite the punt, and Mr A. Williams, who was driving Spot, took the turn almost at full speed. A sudden gust of wind caught her bottom when she was half round, and in the space of a few seconds she was floating upside down. Mr Williams and his brother managed to jump clear and reached the shore without injury. It was a thrilling moment for the spectators, and a tense silence was broken with cheers when it was seen that the crew had escaped with only a ducking. While the incident was still fresh in t j minds of the onlookers another thrill was provided. The local speedster Onestep, owned by Mr J. Bull, was just coming up to the buoy for the start of the second lap in the Helean Cup race when flames suddenly burst from her engine. Mr Bull and his companion lost no time in getting into the water, as there was a danger of the petrol tank exploding, and the crowd waited for the crash which it seemed must come. Fleetwing Junior had just started off on the race, but immediately spun round and dashed to the rescue with a fire extinguisher. This had little effect, however, and it was not until several tins of water had been dashed over the engine that the flames were subdued, luckily averting an explosion. As Onestep floated to the bank numbers of young children rushed out towards her. Constabje Willetts realised the danger, however, and herded them back to the bank, much to the relief of the anxious parents in the vicinity. Mr A. J. Collins, the owner-driver of Fleetwing Junior, was warmly applauded for his action in sacrificing his chances in the race to help Onestep, and his win when the race was re-run was very popular. ' Wanganui has the fastest speedboat in New Zealand. Following her race successes on Saturday, J. and J. was driven oyer a distance of a mile and a-quarter with practically slack water. The • distance was covered in Imin 25sec, equal to a speed of just on 53 miles an hour. There is no record of any boat ever attaining this speed in New Zealand before, though Miss Virginia, driven by Mr A, Hatrick, at Auckland last year covered a measured distance at the rate of 46 miles an hour. In the Helean Cup race on Saturday J. and J.’s average was over 46 miles an hour, including a turn at each end.