Oil-launch Race.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 20, Issue 9, 2 February 1909, Page 5

Oil-launch Race.

Auckland, Jan. 81. What is considered locally to be the longest motor boat race yet held in Australasia was contested yesterday and to-day between Mr H. H. Adams' Eliza and Mr J. Reid's Seabird. The course was from Auckland to Russell and back, a distance of 240 knots. The boats left Auckland at 7.50 a.m. yesterday morning in calm weather. Outside the harbour a lumpy sea was met, the wind being east-north-east. The Eliza, which led throughout, passed the half-way mark at Russell at 10.40 yesterday evening, having taken exactly 15 hours (an average of eight knots) to do the 120 knots, i The wind held in the same quarter, and the sea increased greatly on the run home, the boats taking a lot of water aboard, and the crews being drenched. Auckland harbour was reached at 2.25 p.m. this afternoon by the Eliza, the whole journey occupying the time of 30 hours 35 minutes, the average running time being approximately eight knots. The Seabird rounded the mark at Russell 84 minutes after the Eliza. Captain McLeod, of the Northern Steam ■ ship Company's Clansman, who navigated the Eliza, said at one time he felt like stopping and running for shalter. He considered the boat a wonder to get through on the return journey, the sea being so nasty. The Eliza is fitted with a locally designed and manufactured engine. The race arose out of the Rudder Cup contest (105 knots), in which the Seabird made the fastest time, the Eliza being one of the defeated competitors.