FAST TRAVELLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 938, 27 February 1908, Page 13

FAST TRAVELLING.

Recent European experiments with hydroplane motor-boats have given some remarkable speeds. In one instance an Italian hydroplane attained a speed of over 50 miles an hour, whilst M. Santos Dumont has built a fine boat for the purpose of winning a £2,000 wager that he will attain a speed of 60 miles an hour oh the water. At the rate experiments are progressing, Dumont has a good chance of winning his wager. The ideal hydroplane craft, according to the inventors of these boats, is that in which the hull, when under propelling power, is raised by the planes clear out of the water. This happy realisation would seem to have been reached in recent experiments, for at a speed of 20 miles an hour the hull of the craft was right out of the water, whilst at forty an hour there was quite 18in. clearance between hull and water. When travelling at a fair speed the hull is virtually suspended upon two stilts. Naturally, a hull carried in this fashion has to be made extremely rigid. In the case of small boats this rigidity is easily obtainable, but whether one could build a large ship on this principle, capable of carrying a number of passengers and heavy cargo, is another question. At present the Continental marine engineers are of opinion that the theory is only practicable for small boats and smooth water. The propelling power is supplied by one or more immense aluminium aerial propellers, driven by high-powered petrol motors, ranging from about 50 to 100 h.p.

The North Shore Yacht Club postponed the race to Waiwera on Saturday, as, with the wind in, the roadstead at the “ hot water” resort is an open one.

Seventeen boats took part in the Manukau Y.C. race on Saturday, the winner turning up in Mana (60m.), with Heather (scratch) second, and Clematis (35m.) third.