ROUGH SEA MARS OUTBOARD RACES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19269, 5 January 1931, Page 11

ROUGH SEA MARS OUTBOARD RACES.

MR T. GOUGH WINS CUP AT AKAROA REGATTA

A rough sea at Akaroa on Saturday marred the outboard motor boat regatta, but, nevertheless,/some fine racing was witnessed by a fair crowd of spectators. The finishes wei-e In most cases close and thrilling. A strong ncr’-west wind made the harbour very rough and caused the events to be postponed until the afternoon. There were three series of events, the first two each of three heats and the last of one heat. The course, which was to have been of four miles for each heat, was shortened to about a mile and a half owing to its being necessary to keep the boats under the shelter of the hills overlooking Children’s Bay. A start was made from a flag opposite the new wharf, on which the crowd clustered, and the boats raced twice round the shorf course towards Children's Bay. The seven outboards competing made a spectacular sight as they rode the waves in a swirl of foam. The boats, which included many -well-known on the Redcliffs Estuary, were Pelorus Jack (J. Brasell), C-Btrd (T. M’Caughan), Miss Audrey (G. Blogg), Sea Horse (M. M. Watson). Country Boy (E. Rathgen). Miss A. (W. A. Hopkins), and l’lay Boy (J. Simpson). The silver cup awarded to the winner of the third event went to Mr T. Gough, owner of Miss A., and the miniature silver cup for second place was gained by Mr R. M’Millan, owner of Country Boy. Presentation of tho cups and prize-money was made by the Mayor of Akaroa (Mr G. Armstrong) at a gathering in the Borough Council Chambers in the evening. Regret that the weather had been ST> rough was expressed by the Mayor of Akaroa at the presentation of prizes. He expressed the hope that the racers would come again to the town and enjoy calmer conditions. The Borough Council would like to have helped in transportation of the boats, but finances wore somewhat strained at the time. Later on some assistance might be able to be given in that direction. Thei'e were some people who did not care about the boats coming, but tho authorities had to provide for all tastes, and he trusted that tho races would an annual In accepting the silver cup Mr T. Gough, on behalf of the drivers, thanked the Akaroa Regatta Club for the fine reception accorded them. Outboard racing was thrilling, but Akaroa had not seen it under ideal conditions, when times recorded would be much better than those put up that day. Mr T. M’Caughan was accorded a vote of thanks for his assistance to the drivers, and the handicappers were praised by Messrs M'Caughan and RathFollowing are the results of the events:— X*irsfc Series. First heat: Sea Horse 1. Miss A. 2. C-Bird 3. Second heat: Play Boy 1, Country Bey 2, Sea Horse S. Third heat: C-Bird 1. Country Boy 2, Pelorus Jack 3. The aggregate points gained were:— Country Boy. 1011 points 1 C-Bird and Sea Horse. 724 points (equal) 2 Play Boy, 656 points •» Second Series. First heat: Miss A. L Sea Horse 2, j Play Boy .1 Second Heat: C-Bird and j Miss Audrey f equal) ? Miss A. 3. Third fIL it

heat: Miss A- 1, Play Boy 2, Pelorus Jack 3. Following were the aggregate points: Miss A., 1124 points 1 Play Boy. 974 points 2 Sea Horse. 617 points 2 C-Bird and Miss Audrey, 400 points (equal) 4 Third Series. Miss A., 400 points 1 Country Boy. 361 points .... 2 Sea Horse, 324 points 3 C-Bird. 298 points 4 Play Boy did not finish. This race for the silver cup was a thrilling one in the roughest water of the day, and the finish was close and exciting.