OUTBOARDS ON WHAU

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 829, 25 November 1929, Page 6

OUTBOARDS ON WHAU

; | FIRST RACES OF SEASON FAST TIMES ESTABLISHED j An exciting tost of speed between ' i Auckland's fastest outboard motor- . | boats was seen during the sweepstake | handicap race of the races held under ! the auspices of the Outboard Division j of the New Zealand Power Boat Asso- ! ciation on the Wliau Crck on Batur- | day. The race soon resolved instelf j into a duel between Humbug and Boa j Horse, the former making up in fast ‘ covering what she lacked in speed. Bei ginning tlio third lap Sea llorse almost overturned and could not hold the pace after she righted. The races started well up to time, j but delays through liandicappers and ollicials working from two different . points made the last event lag more [ than an hour behind the time arI ranged, when a falling tide had left . only a narrow strip of water. A start- , ing clock in operation for the first time led to some confusion on occasions, in one race the starters having [ to be recalled. , A light breeze left only slight ripples on the ilood tide when the meeting . started, providing an almost ideal ’ course for half a mile up stream of the judges’ pontoon, which had been ’ laid on drums on the mud flats opposite the crowd. All five races were run with mile laps. The little craft, the roar of each explosion of their engines merging into •a long-drawn drone, churned the water into fierce spray behind them as they swung round the turns. Engine failures were much fewer than on previous occasions, and racing generally of a higher standard. Results: HANDICAP UP TO 30 cu. ins. 3 miles. ’ Nymph (tmin. 55sec) 1 Sunray (2.10) 2 > Fleetun (2.5) 3 Nymph Junior got away first on a five--1 minute handicap, followed by Chief, Miss • Edna, Sunray, Fleetun, Nymph and six - others. At the end of the first lap, Miss 1 Edna had come up into the lead, closely followed by Nymph Junior, Fleetun and ’ Sunray in that order. Sunray had come into the lead at the end of the second ' mile, with Fleetun and Miss Marquette l handy. Nymph came down the straight 1 at a fast speed to win by 20 yards from ’ Sunray, with Fleetun 50 yards away ; third. HANDICAP, OVER 30 cu. ins. , 5 miles. Lady Gay (2min. 20sec) 1 Humbug (scr.) 2 Blimp (scr.) 3 Time, 11.56 3-5.

Lady Gay, a two-place boat, went off well on the handicap, but the seven scratch boats were late in starting. Lady Gay led throughout to win easily by 100 yards. At the end of the first round Blimp was in second place, followed by Silver, Town Kid and Humbug. At the next corner Humbug passed Silver Town Kid, who was slightly ahead of Blimp. A mile later the leading boat had drawn slightly further ahead. The major positions remained unchanged until the boats were coming down the last straight, when Blimp pulled into third place. HANDICAP UP TO 30 cu. ins. 2 miles. Chief (3min.) 1 Miss Akarana (30sec.) 2 Miss Marquette (scr.) 3 Time. 10.54. Nymph Junior was on limit handicap, and went away with Chief. Miss Edna and Fleetun following. This was the order until two miles had been covered, when Chief was in front with Nymph, Miss Akarana and Miss Edna handy. Miss Marquette was coming up fast and ran into third place, failing to catch Miss Akarana by only a few yards. Chief won well by 100 yards. HANDICAP OVER 30 cu. ins. 5 miles. Sea Horse (50sec.) 1 Humbug (scr.) 2 Silver Town Kid (25sec.) 3 Time, 9.44. Sea Horse made the fastest time and won easily by a quarter of a mile with her handicap. The first two kept their order throughout, Lady Gay. on the limit, dropping back steadily. Humbug, in third place during the last lap, ran into second, followed 200 yards behind by Silver Town Kid. SWEEPSTAKE, Open 5 miles. Miss Marquette (1.30) 1 Hu pi bug (scr.) 2 Nymph (4.0) :j Time, 8.55. All nine starters went off together in a flying shower of spray. Sea Horse taking the lead immediately with Humbug close behind. At the end of the first mile about 25 yards separated these two leaders, but, by superior cornering, Humbug had drawn abreast, a lap later and they took the turn together. Sea Horse almost overturned. losing 100 yards, which had been doubled when the leader crossed the finishing line. Miss Marquette, which finished third, was awarded first place on handicap, with Humbug second and Nymph third. Hopalong withdrew early and others did not finish.