MOTOR LAUNCH RACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 65

MOTOR LAUNCH RACE.

THE HISLOP CUP. WON BY THE KELVIN. This important launch race was held on Saturday under weather conditions which thoroughly tested the capabilities of the competing- boats. A fresh north-east breeze prevailed at the start, knocking up a heavy head sea right down the harbour as far as the cross channel, from which, point, however, to the Kaik, the sea was not so rough, giving tlie lower-powered boats, which with all the others, had made heavy work of it in the passage down the .channel, a better opportunity against their heavierengined opponents. The Mark Foy system of starting was adopted, and accordingly at 2 p.m. from the tongue wharf the limit boat (Gertie, (87min) was despatched, being followed at the intervals of the handicaps by the other boats till the Kelvin, the scratch boat, was sent away at about 3.30. The course was from the tongue wharf to the last red' pole at the Kaik, then back to the Three Legs, and with a finishing run to Broad Bay down the ferry boat channel —a total distance of about 32 miles. In the run down to the Kaik the boats held the order in in which they were despatched, all beingdriven hard into the teeth of the head sea, irrespective of the flying scud thereby occasioned. On the run back up-channel engines were driven to the limit in order to maintain the positions held,and in the case of the leading vessels to keep ahead of the greyhound Kelvin racing astern. The Matarua managed .to hold her lead from this onward from all boats save the Kelvin which in the run down the channel succeeded in overhauling her and winning by over 3imin. By this time all the boats that remained Ih the contest —for the smaller and lighterpowered boats dropped out when passed by the back division—had worked pretty well together, as the finishing times show. The following ,is the official result: W. J. P. M'Culloch's Kelvin (scratch), finished at 6.50 p.m ... 1 Hanlon and Thompson's Matarua (52min 30seo), finished at 6.53 p.m. ... 2 James M'Bherson's Pacific (40min), finished at" 6.54 p.m 3 Partell- Bros.' Query (55min 50sec), finished at'6.56 p.m 4 Coleman Bros.' Lavina (56min 20sec), finished at 6.57 p.m 5 These were the only vessels to finioh, the others having retired for the reason given. The finishing times .amply show how well the handicaps had been adjusted, for it ■cannot be otherwise than, creditable to the officials concerned to bring together in the space of 7min no fewer than five vessels after a 32-mile run. The ha,ndicappers were Messrs E. Kriewstubb and A. Bedford. The finish at Broad Bay was witnessed by a very large number of people, who accorded the winning" boat and owner a very enthusiastic reception. The winning boat* the Kelvin, is of 14 horse-power, and has practically only commenced her career in Ofcago Harbour, as she was launched just prior to Christmas. She competed at the Port Chalmers regatta in hex class, arid although crossing the line first by a prodigious margin was found to have been too heavily dealt with in the handicaps. '.On this occasion, however, although conceding starts up to 87min, ehe was able to secure the verdict by a small margin. Her win was a very popular one, for her speed, has i rom her first appearance made her the subject of admiration in motoring circles, , She was controlled in the race bv her owner, "Mr M'Culloph. Of hte other boats ajl .these finishing ran well and were well handled.