SWIFTEST MOTOR-BOAT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1891, 28 October 1913, Page 4

SWIFTEST MOTOR-BOAT.

9 FIFTY-SIX MILES AN HOUR. The British racing motor-boat Maplo IV, owued : by Mr. Macktiy Kdgar ana drivon by Mr. T. 0. M. Sopwith, the airman, on September 12, scoured for the United Kingdom the British International Harmsworth Trophy ior motor-boats. This victory places tho United Kingdom.ollo point ahead in tno , annual struggles for tho trophy. When this year's race started on the previous Wednesday on a 32.4 miles - course between Cowcs'and Rydo, the • United States had won four times and tho United Kingdom four times since tho trophy was presented in 11)03. France had won once. By her win on Friday Maple Leaf .'IV repeated her . triumph of last .year, when sho recovered tho trophy from tho Americans. On Wednesday tho French boat Des- ! pujols II was successful, Sho completed the courso: in.4lmin. 34sec., giving -an averago speed fo 46.77 knots, or about 52 miles an, hour. This was a record for tho race. Maple Leaf IV - was only sixteen (seconds behind tho ; .winner. On Thursday Maplo Leaf IV reversed tho positions easily, 'beating Despujols I (France). . Sho also created a new 'record by covering the course in 39min. 28 3-ssec., which works out at an aver- 1 age speed of just over 56 miles an hour. On Friday, with her powerful engines running superbly, Maple Leaf IV - clinched matters by securing the second ' victory lieoessary for holding tho cup. Tho final positions were:— Maple )<oaf IV (Great Britain), 40 min. 10 2-ssec. I Ankle D.eep (America), 43min. 29sec. < Crusader (Great Britain), 46min. 30 i 2-ssec. Despujols I (France), Disturbed 111 < (America), and Izme (Great Britain) did not complete the course. Tho races nave proved Maplo Leaf IV ' to bo tho fastest sea motor-racing boat i in tho world. Her victory on Friday 1 in a choppy sea was gained with tho greatest ease. Whilo tho small' 400 : h.p. French boat was jumping like a i rocking-horse, tho heavier ■ 750 h.p. ' Maplo Leaf was as steady as a pleasure- i boat. A largo crowd witnessed tho ' race from the Enchantress, tho floats : ing club-house of tho Royal Motor Yacht Chib, and Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht Erin, tho permission to uso which in connection with tho races has placed the club under a debt of gratitude to Sir Thomas. Misfortune befell Franco early, for Despujols I cot over tho starting lino before time. This was a bitter disappointment to the French enthusiasts, for it meant that tho boat would havo to complete a full' extra round. But Maplo Leaf, which, as usual, crossed tlie starting line last, proved conclusively that she was tho better boat. Discussing tho achievements of tho boat, Mr. Sopwith stated that for tho last three months mechanics have been tending .her engines night and day. No raicehorso had over had such close attention, lie declared. Sho had ! had trial after trial. After the -race Mr. F. P. Armstrong presented the handsomo trophy to tho owner, of tho British boat, and on behalf of Lord NorthclifEo. tho donor, , paid. a. tribute to tho high sporting dualities of tho challengers, tho TJnit-ed States and Franco. Representatives , of these two countries, in reply, spoko in high terms of tho way in wfoh tho ; contest had been conducted, and declared that the best boat had won.