ACROSS NORTH SEA

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1931, Page 5

ACROSS NORTH SEA

TRIP IN OPEN SPEED-BOAT. SYDNEY GIRL’S VOYAGE.. London, Dec. 8. Miss Betty Thompson, a Sydney girl of 212, has commenced an adventurous four-day voyage from London to Amsterdam in a tiny speed-boat. Six feet in height, Miss Thompson is an attractive brunette of athletic appearance, and is well known on Sydney surfing beaches. She is accompanied on her adventure by Mr. R. C. Cole, who is also 22, and who has had a great deal of experience with motor-boats. They will take turns in piloting their frail craft, which is 14ft long, and has a 3J horse-power outboard engine, capable of a speed of 20 miles an hour. The boat is entirely open. The two occupants, bareheaded and clad in waterproofs, were farewelled at Westminster Pier, many of their friends taking sausages, chocolates and biscuits for them. They are calling at Dover to refuel. The trip is intended as a demonstration of the capabilities of British speedboats. Miss Thompson has been residing with her parents on board a yacht moored at Richmond. She has handled all types of motor craft all over the world. She says •she realises this is a bad time of the year for her attempt, as the North Sea is generally notoriously rough in December, but she laughs at the hardships and difficulties. Mr. Cole says the boat behaves wonderfully in the choppiest water. If all goes well they intended returning the same way.