MISS WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 222, 19 September 1936, Page 8

MISS WANGANUI

SPEEDBOAT CHANGES HANDS BOUGHT FOR DUNEDIN Purchased by the Otago Power Boat Club to contest the Masport Cup races, the speedboat Miss Wanganui will succeed Miss Syndicate, which has been a familiar craft in Otago Harbour for some time (says the Star). She has been acquired through the generosity of Mr. vv. Murphy and several members of the club, who have arranged the finance, and it is hoped that, eventually, with flic heln of interested citizens, the boat will become the entire property of the club. Miss Wanganui will be thorough- | ly overhauled and reconditioned with I a view to entering her for the 1937 I contest, for the Masoort Cun. It. is expected that, about two months will be occupied in the overhaul, during which the engine will be taken out. • The boat will be renamed, and though there has neen no decision made as to the new name. Miss Otago has been mentioned as suitable. A two-step hydroplane. Miss Wanganui is powered with a 300 horsepower Hispano aero engine, which drives the propellor at 5000 revolutions a minute through a gearbox. The boat is 24ft. long, with a beam of 6ft. 4in.. and the hull was designed and built by Mr. Ford, of Auckland, in 1933, for Mr F. Freeman, nf Wanganui. Associated with M r . Freeman at that, time was Mr. R. Andrew's, now of Wellington, and to him must, be given the credit for the designin" and building of the gearbox rn'l carrying out successfully the insinuation of the engine. Miss Waneanui was a challenger in the 1934 Masport Cun contest, b-it was forced to retire in the fourth lap when leading the field b ,r a good margin. The following year she failed to win the cup, though she gained the fastest time for one lap. Last year Mr. Freeman was again at the starting line with his craft, but she developed a blockage in her petrol pine and did not start. Miss Wanganui holds the Nexv Zealand record for a flying mile, with a time of 64asec.. and on her first trial run at Wanganui in 193 4 attained a maximum speed of 62 mUc? per hour.