AT THE SIGN OF THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 414, 24 July 1928, Page 14

AT THE SIGN OF THE PENNANT

country has challenged. Not only has she financed the design and construction of the boats, but she will herself pilot the fastest one in the British team. Her friends believe that s*e wiL easily attain a speed approaching 90 miles an hour; there are optimists who even talk of 100 miles an hour. Miss Carstairs herself expresses no view of the possible speed, but obviously this wealthy young woman is not spending tens of thousands of pounds without the possibility of a great triumph. Her handsome face deeply tanned by sea and wind, Miss Carstairs is practically devoting her life to the sport she took up only four years ago. This London girl returned to Europe in August. 1916, with the American Hod Cross. She came intending to spend a year, but stayed eight years, remaining in France until the armistice. and after that joining an ambul.mee corps in Ireland during “the trouble.” She thrives on adventure. Since she has taken up motor-boat

By

KEELSON

MYSTERY CRAFT WILL SPEED ACROSS ATLANTIC TO BEAT MAURETANIA A "hush-hush” motor-boat, which lias been built with the greatest secrecy at Cowes, is to make this month an attempt to beat the Mauretania’s record for the Atlantic crossing. The boat has engines of 2,000-h.p., and it is hoped to do the trip of 2.750 miles in less than three days. With other new boats which she is constructing. Miss Carstairs hopes to regain for Britain the International Cup, won by America in 1920. These boats are expected to reach a speed of *9O miles an hour. Some time in July, all being well, this boat is setting out from th.e west

coast of Ireland for New York, via St. John’s, Newfoundland, and it is hoped to make the complete trip of 2,750 miles in less than three days, thus easily establishing a new record for the passage. She will carry a crew of

six, of whom the leader will be that intrepid young yachtswoman and motor-boat racing enthusiast, Miss Carstairs. Her little craft will have four 500li.p. Napier engines, and it is believed that this super-motor-boat will average about 40 knots, as against the 25.59 knots of the Mauretania. THE ONLY CHALLENGER Britain lost the international trophy to America in 1920, and Miss Carstairs is the first British challenger to attempt Us recovery since 1921. The race will be run in fresh water at Detroit, Michigan, on September 1,3, and 4. Competing countries are allowed to run three boats, and these race as a team over a course of five nautical miles, eight laps being covered in each heat, or 46.06 land miles in all. But this year it is a case of Miss , Carstairs versus America, for no other !

racing, she has had her “spills,” and on one occasion she and “Joe” Harris, her engineer, had to swim for their lives. Miss Carstairs and “Joe” as shipmates are inseparable, and are known as “two Joe’s in a boat.”

Her first two racing boats for the International Cup will be taken to the river at Detroit with extraordinary care, and without transference to a train. Although the two complete Saunders-Napier engines each develop 900-h.p., the weight of the complete boat, including engines, fuel, and all accessories, is only between 2,500 and 2,900 lb. Miss Carstairs is pinning her faith to the engine with which Flight-Lieutenant Webster won the Schneider Cup and gave Captain Malcolm Campbell a world’s record. TAKAPUNA AT THE SHOW Although it is yet too early to state definitely the profit secured by the Takapuna Boating Club from the sideshow stall conducted at the recent Winter Exhibition, the takings are considerable. Mr. Ces. Hoverd, secretary and one of the organisers, declined yesterday to be drawn as to the amount gained from the enterprise. He mentioned something cryptic about a pretty penny in the bag and said that there will be more than enough money to paint the clubhouse, pay off the billiard table and guarantee all the prize-money won during last season’s racing. Akarana Yacht Club also held a sideshow and although the treasurer was also non-committal it is understood that his club will suffer no loss.

UNDECIDED PRIZE NIGHTS Only two clubs have not as yet fixed the date of their annual prize night. They are the Takapuna Boating Club and the Akarana Yacht Club. Takapuna is considering August 15, but the date clashes with Devonport’s prize night. The Ponsonby Cruising Club had to postpone its prize night from July IS to August 9 owing to the indisposition of its treasurer. There is some talk of postponing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s prize night from August 3 to a date to be fixed owing to clashing with other events.

THE YACHTSMEN'S CALENDAR 1928 July 25—-Point Chevalier SailingClub’s prize night. August 3—Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s prize night. August B—Manukau Cruising Club’s annual meeting. August 9 Ponsonby Cruising Club’s prize night. August 11—Manukau Y. and M.B. Club’s smoke concert. August 15—Devonport Yacht Club’s prize night. September 4—Tamaki Yacht Club’s prize night. September 2S—Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s annual meeting.