POWER BOAT HITS WAVE AND SINKS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28258, 22 April 1957, Page 3

POWER BOAT HITS WAVE AND SINKS

Mishap At Meeting On Lake Kaniere (From Our Own Reporter) HOKITIKA, April 20. A £lOOO power boat struck the backwash of another craft, capsized and sank immediately in 150 ft of water on Lake Kaniere today. The Miss Westland, built only six months ago and uninsured, is owned by Mr Gerald West, who was competing in the inboard handicap event for the A. H. Baty Challenge Cup at the South Island speedboat championships. He suffered shock and a dislocated shoulder. Mr Paul Stuart, a passenger, was unhurt. The race was the last event of the day at the Easter regatta held during the week-end. The Miss Westland was cornering at an estimated speed of 40 miles an hour when it hit the backwash of another craft and turned over. Other drivers were immediately summoned to give assistance and the race was stopped. The craft sank before securing lines could be attached. It is believed to lie about 150 ft below the surface and officials belieye that salvaging will be difficult. Tonight, a floating buoy marks the spot where the boat went down. The Miss Westland was an 18foot inboard V-bottomed boat powered by a Mercury motor. After the mishap the club’s commodore (Mr A. E. Stephens) said that nobody was to blame. “It was just sheer bad luck.” He said that the only other mishap in the history of the 18-year-old club occurred last year when two speed boats collided—one was sliced in half. No-one was hurt. There was a poor attendance at the regatta and officials estimated the crowd at about 200. Last year there was a record attendance of 4000. Representatives from 10 South Island clubs took part.

Championship results were: B Class Outboard Championship.— Avago (H. G. Andrews, Kaniere Club) 1, Bambi (T. J. Lyes, Kaniere Club) 2, Quickie (J. N. Robinson, Kaniere Club) 3. Ninety-five Cubic Inch Hydro Championship.—Sabre (J. F. Wilkinson, Kaniere Club) 1, Whacko (E. H. Andrews, Kaniere) 2, Little Smokey (C. D. Broadbridge, Marlborough Club) 3.

C Class Outboard Championship.— Missile (A. J. Andrews, Kaniere Club) 1, Avago 2, Bambi 3. 140 Cubic Inch V-Bottom Championship.—Kaniva (R. Bunker, Kaiapoi) 1, Pacific Spot (D. V. Syme, New Brighton) 2, Condor 111 (R. A. Wilkinson, New Brighton) 3.