What is described by an English paper as “one of the most foolhardy adventures in the history of sport” took place in the English Channel last month when 49 outboard racers put out from Dover in foggy weather to race to Calais and back. Actually, no one completed the course, which was not surprising in view of the ignorance of navigation and inexperience of the open sea among most of the competitors. Two boats reached Calais. Thirty were brought back by rescue ships to Dover, after drifting helplessly about mid-Channel or getting miles off the course. Two competitors took refuge on the Goodwin lightship. All night long the rescue boats were scouring the Channel with flares and klaxons looking for the missing. This picture shows one of the boats being hoisted up on to a rescue ship.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 725, 26 July 1929, Page 7

What is described by an English paper as “one of the most foolhardy adventures in the history of sport” took place in the English Channel last month when 49 outboard racers put out from Dover in foggy weather to race to Calais and back. Actually, no one completed the course, which was not surprising in view of the ignorance of navigation and inexperience of the open sea among most of the competitors. Two boats reached Calais. Thirty were brought back by rescue ships to Dover, after drifting helplessly about mid-Channel or getting miles off the course. Two competitors took refuge on the Goodwin lightship. All night long the rescue boats were scouring the Channel with flares and klaxons looking for the missing. This picture shows one of the boats being hoisted up on to a rescue ship.