AQUATICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2414, 1 February 1909, Page 5

AQUATICS.

A LUNG MOTOR-BOAT RACE

IP u i;sa Associ ATI on . J AUCKLAND. Jan. 31. What, is considered locally to lie the longest motor-boat race yet held in Australasia was contested yesterday and to-dlry, between. Air. H. 11. Adams’ Eliza and Air. J. Reid's Sea .Bird. The course was from Auckland to Bussell and back, a distance of 210 knots. The boats left Auckland' .it 7.50 yesterday morning, in calm weather. Outside the harbor a lumpy sea. was met, tlic wind being east north-east. The Eliza,' which led throughout, passed the half-w vy mark at ‘Bussell at 10.50 yesterday evening, having taken exactly 15 hours (an average of eight knots) to do the 120 knots. The wind hold in the same quarter, and the sea increased greatly on the run home, the boats taking in a lot of water aboard, and the crews being drenched. Auckland harbor was reached- at. 2.20 "this afternoon by. the Eliza. The whole journey occupied the time of 30 hours 35 minutes, the average running time being approximately eight- knots. The Sea Bird rounded the mark at Bussell 48 minutes after the ElizU. Captain McLeod, of the Northern, Steamship Company’s Clansman, who navigated the Eliza, said at one time he felt like stopping and running for shelter. Ho considered the boat a wonder to get through the return journey,the sea being so nasty. The Eliza is fitted with b locally-designed and manufactured engine. The race arose out of the •Rudder Cup contest (100 knots), in’ which the Sea Bird made the fastest time, tho Eliza being one of the defeated competitors.