WATERPLANES IN GALE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13091, 3 June 1913, Page 7

WATERPLANES IN GALE.

EXCITING TESTS WITH LESSORS

FOR BRITAIN.

MONACO, April 12: . The contest for the waterplane *Grai_d Prix, from Monaco to San Remo and back, took place against a south-west-erly gale of 50 miles an hour. Three machines were smashed in the, heavy swell, anpl no competitor complet-' ed the course . nevertheless the value of the lessons learned is very great, and constructors regard them as entirely revolutionising the art of waterplane ..construction. The general opinion is that much higher power will be needed— some say from 500 to 1000 horse-power; British waterplane constructors now have. the opportunity to gain their lead; and it is. said that the Daily Mail prices offer the .requisite encouragement at the proper moment. Moineau, in a very powerful Breguet machine, with 200-h.p. Salmson motors, made a fight against waves 6 feet high, in which the whole machine disappeared at times except the top plane. Sh^er power forced the floats through 'the waves, and, gradually' gathering speed, Moineau leapt from crest to crest of the waves* in foaming clouds, finally alighting ut San Remo, where he was compelled to accept a tow into the wind.. A large wave struck the madhine when she was thus unable to manoeuvre, and' she was wrecked and abandoned in a sinking oondition. In spite of the gale, Moineau had flown with splendid steadiness until this mishap. The committee has decided to award him £520.

A ' new race for the balance ;of • the prize money will take place on Tuesday.