THRILLING SPORT

Southland Times, Issue 20833, 23 July 1929, Page 8

THRILLING SPORT

OUT IN SPEED BOAT NEARLY THIRTY MILES AN HOUR RACING PROBABLE IN SUMMER There is every prospect of a new and exciting sport being introduced into Southland this summer. This sport is speedboat racing, which has already become popular in northern cities. Motion picture patrons will be familiar with the sight of these graceful little craft skimming over the water at amazing speed. Soon, however, they will see exciting contests waged under their own eyes, or, should they wish to experience the exhilaration of flying through the water, they will be able to gratify this wish to the full. Invercargill is extremely fortunate in possessing right at its back door such a fine stretch of water as is afforded by the Waihopai at high tide. It is almost ideal for the use of speedboats, and if the sport becomes as popular here as in other parts of the world there will be plenty of thrills for onlookers as the fleet little boats flash in and out and perform the stunts which a capable driver can succeed in doing with perfect safety. Some idea of the excitement and lure of the sport was conveyed yesterday to a Times reporter, who ventured on the water in Mr W. Hamilton’s boat, the Chinook. Speed boats are built similarly to aeroplanes in that they are as light as possible as well as being very strong. The Chinook has a step on its stern half and planes on this step when sufficient speed is attained. The motor used is Johnson Sea-horse ten outboard motor, which on such a boat as the Chinook will develop a speed on the water of 27 miles an hour. As the reporter discovered these motors are wonderfully simple to start and manipulate generally. The Chinook can carry only the driver, but the Hamiltons expect a different type of boat down this week ■which will carry a passenger as well as the driver. It will be equally as fast as the Chinook despite its extra weight, for it is specially designed for use with a Johnson motor. Rather an interesting history attaches to Johnson engines. It was an engine made by this firm which was used in the first flying machine of Wilbur Wright. Within the next month or two it is expected that there will be several other speed-boats on the water and speed-boat racing is sure to figure on the programme at future regattas. Already there have been many interested spectators at the boat-sheds at Avenal when Mr Hamilton has been stunting on the Waihopai in the Chinook. What It Feels Like. With the opening of the throttle the boat shoots from the landing with the stern well down in the water and the bow very much in the air. In a few seconds the speed has increased sufficiently for a state of equilibrium to be established with the boat skimming over the surface on the step underneath the stern. Flying over the water at 25 miles an hour seems like going at 60 miles an hour in a motor car. The nerves are taut, but the exhilaration has a tonic effect. In fact the ideal form of existence seems to have been reached as the graceful craft, responding to the slightest touch of the helm, dashes over the water, flashes round a post, turns amidst a shower of spray and shoots forward again as fast as ever. The way a speed boat stops is amazing. It can be going full out and stop within two yards when the engine is shut off. In the hands of such an expert as Mr W. Hamilton a speed boat can perform astonishing stunts. When he has attained a speed of 25 or 27 miles an hour he will throw the helm hard round and by his leaning correctly the boat will turn almost in its own length. Ever-decreasing circles, figures of eight and other spectacular stunts can be done by a skilful driver. There is always a chance that the man at the helm may dare too much, in which case he will find that instead of sitting in the stern of the boat he is in the icy water. For this reason a life-belt capable of keeping a man afloat for seven hours is always worn. There is really very little risk, however, save through over-confidence. The fact that a novice can step into the boat and control it quite successfully at top speed shows this clearly. Becoming an expert “stunter,” however, takes time. In addition to experiencing the thrill of the speed-boat the reporter was taken by Mr Hamilton up the Waihopai in a 17 foot dinghy to which was attached the same outboard motor as was used in the speed-boat. Even in this big dinghy a speed of fifteen miles an hour was attained. The tide was high enough to enable the boat to be taken right up beyond the railway and traffic bridges. Though lacking the thrill of the speed-boat, this trip in the dinghy proved most enjoyable and made the reporter realize that few people seem to be aware of the excellent facilities afforded by the Waihopai when the tide is high. INTERNATIONAL TROPHY BRITISH BOAT SECRETLY BUILT. POWERFUL ENGINES INSTALLED. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, July 20. A secretly built speed boat driven by three Napier engines, each developing over 900 horsepower, was launched at the Isle of Wight last night and was to-day shipped on the White Star liner Arabia in connection with the attempt which its owner, Miss Carstairs, will make on Detroit River next month to win the international motor boat trophy. The boat, which is named Estelle IV, is 35 feet long and has been constructed at Miss Carstairs’s own expense and under her own supervision. The boat, which is in the care of a team of mechanics and boat builders, will first be taken to Gravenhurst (Ontario) where speed tests will be carried out on Lake Muskoka. —British Official Wireless.