NO RACE INTENDED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 172, 7 August 1937, Page 8

NO RACE INTENDED

-Press Assosiation.)

Awatea and Monterey Leave Together

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night.In spite of assurances by the mastere of both ships and their companies that it was not intended that the linera Awatea and Monterey should have a speed match on their present crossing from Auckland to Sydney, unusual interest was taken in the sailings of both ships this evening. ' The Awatea cleared the harbour limits at 5.20 p.m. and the Monterey cleared po'rt at 9.10 p.m. The master of the Awatea, Captain A. H. Davey, said he did not ontertain any intention to race the Matson liner as racing was definitely forbidden by regulations. "I never stop to pick daisies, however," was his comment. Because instructions to Matson Line masters were against unnecessary speeding, no endeavour would be made by him to reach Sydney before the Awatea, declared Captain E. R. Johanson, master of the Monterey. "Our maximum speed will be 20.5 knots and no circumstances will prompt me to exceed that," he said# Both shipping companies have pointed out that nothing is gained in arriving at Sydney in the early morning and I have been emphatic in declarlng thafc. :the posBibility of a speed duel would ibe uneconomic and unnecessary. It is probable the Tasman crossing will be marked by rough weather and the discomfort caused to passengers by travelling at high speeds through such conditions is another factor held to militate against tlie suggestion of a race,