THE SPEED-BOATS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 3, 25 March 1927, Page 13

THE SPEED-BOATS

NEW STANDARD SET SOME THRILLING EVENTS The programme of speed-boat, fastcruiser and outboard motor-boat events arranged by the N.Z. Power Boat Association for to-morrow, Saturday, sets a new and very high standard for power-boat regattas. There are several events for every type of fast craft from the speed-boats down to the small outboard racing boat which, though equipped with portable motors, are expected to attain as high a speed as twenty knots. There will be thrills a-plenty, particularly in the general handicap race for which no fewer than seventeen craft with speeds ranging from thirteen to perhaps forty knots have entered. The outboard events, too, have drawn good fields and their enthusiastic supporters contend that these small racers will provide even more spectacular racing than the larger craft. These latter events have been carefully sandwiched in between the races for the larger craft so that there will not be one dull moment during the afternoon, seven events being set down for decision in just a little over two hours. All races wall be held within easy view of the end of the King’s Wharf, wliere seating accommodation is being provided. At no time will competing craft be more than one mile from the vantage point. Two separate courses have been laid down, one for the larger craft and another for the outboards. The races will be conducted on the “first past the post” system, all handicaps being conceded at the start. The registered number of each craft will be held up for one minute and on the fall of the number the craft is at liberty to start. Five minutes prior to the display of the number of the limit boat a preparatory gun (two shots in rapid succession) will be fired to draw attention of competitors. All cruising launches are required to carry the cruising equipment specified by the Association with the exception of the dinghy. Well Planned Courses

The course for speed-boats, fastcruiser and general handicaps is rectangular, two buoys being moored west of the King’s Wharf on a line running approximately north and south, and two more buoys on a similar alignment to the east of the eastern tide deflector. These four buoys are for the course proper. The starting line is between two other buoys moored off the King’s Wharf, the northernmost of these being a pontoon carrying an association burgee. All starts of cruiser and speed.-boat and general handicap races are up-harbour from this starting line. The course is thence round the four buoys forming the rectangle for the required number of laps and finishing up-harbour across the starting line on completion of race. The buoys marking the starting line need not be observed except when starting and finishing. The length of the course is approximately two sea miles per lap. The entries and handicaps are as follows:

General Handicap, for cruisers over 13 knots, and speed-boats; course, three laps, totalling six sea miles. Limit boat starts at 2.30 p.m.—Fleetwing Junior, scratch; Bonzo, 20sec.; Miss X., 45sec.; Miss Cheltenham, lmin.: Miss Devonport, 2min. 15sec.; Spot 11.. 3min. 15sec.; Hobo, 3min. 30sec.; I-Tirondelle, 12min. 30sec.; Miss Northcote, 6min. 30sec.; Manyana, 6min. 30sec.; Tarua, 7min. 15sec.; Baby Dev., 9min. 15sec.; Defender, 12min. 30sec.; Tasman, 13min. 15sec.; Romance 11., 14min. 45sec.; Lady Margaret, 16min. 15sec. Upon conclusion of this race the handicaps for the other fast cruiser and speed-boat races will be declared. Outboard Championship Outboard Championship of the Waitemata, for outboard motor-boats. — In this event only the starting will be on the five-flag system. Course for all outboard piotor-boat events is from starting line between end of Ivmg s Wharf and southernmost of the two buoys marking the starting line for the cruisers and speed-boats, thence round buoy moored inside of and west of the eastern tide-deflector on starboard hand, thence back round outer mark of outboard starting line on starboard hand and so on for the number of laps required for each race, finishing across starting line. The approximate length of each of the three laps is 1,800 yards. Entries: Imp, 6 h.p.; Bacteria, 4 h.p.; Bacteria Junior, 4 h.p.; Skipper, 6 h.p. Cruising Launches. —Handicap race, to start at 3.10 p.m. Course two laps. Handicaps will be declared on completion of general handicap race. Entries: Tasman, Defender, Tarua, Manyana, Lady Margaret, Hirondelle, Romance General Speed Handicap General Handicap for Speed-boats over 20 knots speed, and Auckland Provincial Speed Championship, Open, for Challenge Cup presented by Messrs. Walker and Hall. —To start at 3.40 p.m. Course, four laps. Entries: Fleetwing Junior, Bonzo, Miss X., Miss Devonport, Miss Cheltenham, Hobo, Spot 11., Baby Dev. and Miss Northcote. Competitors must attain 20-knot speed qualification. Handicaps will be declared upon completion of general handicap race. Outboard Handicap, for racing outboard motor-boats. —Any craft not competing in the championship race is to hand in her declared time for one lap. Any craft which exceeds its declared time by more than 2J per cent, is liable to disqualification. The fastest lap put up by each craft competing in the championship outboard race will be taken as the best lap of which the craft is capable, unless declaration is made to the contrary, and this fastest lap must not be exceeded by more than 21 per cent. General Handicap.—For speed-boats of piston displacement not exceeding 300 cubic inches. By permission of owners of competing craft the Mi -js Northcote is to be allowed to take pa*M in this race, although her piston displacement exceeds the class limit. To start at 4.30 p.m. Course: Three laps. Entries: Spot 11., Hobo, Miss Northcote, Baby Dev. Handicaps for this race will be declared on completion of general handicap. General Handicap Race, for bonafide row-boats, outboard powered.—=Coure, two laps. To start at 4.40 p.m. Owners are required to hand in time for one lap of the course and such time is not to be exceeded by more than 21 per cent., or craft is liable to disqualification. Entries: Row r -boats owned by Messrs. Everton, L. Palmer, A. H. Lees, J. Mason. J. Palmer, A. Hodgson. F. B. Cadman and H. Wiles, Junr.

The officials In charge of the racing will be: —Cruising and speed-boat races: Starter, E. L. Buchanan: judge, A. M. Wilson time-keepers, Messrs. W. D. Ross and R. Ross; recorder, A. J. Collings; inspector of cruisers, M. W. Lane. Outboard motor-boats: Starter, S. Bell Booth; judge, Dr. Stevenson; time-keepers, Messrs. C. H. Palmer and S. H. Layland.

Competitors are requested to note that Mr. M. W. Lane will hold his slipway in readiness to haul out any damaged craft. Craft mooring near the King’s Wharf to view the races are requested to do so well within the line of the end of the wharf so as to leave the courses free to competitors. Craft encroaching on the course may give rise to considerable danger. The Wanderoo, Wai Lani and Edwina have been appointed patrol boats and owners are requested to promptly obey any orders issued by them. Craft viewing the races are requested to come to an anchorage, as- their wash when finder way is detrimental to the small boats, particularly to the outboard motor-boats.