The Duchess of York's Trophy

The Duchess of York’s Trophy BAD WEATHER FOR ANNUAL CONTEST

WIN.’1’HER conditions were far from favourable when the B.O.R.C. held its meeting just over a month ago to decide the winners of the Luchess of York’s Trophy, the “

Bomford” Trophy and the ‘ Duckham” Challenge Cup. The large number of entries for the Duchess of York’s Trophy necessitated the holding of three heats, each compris ing six laps. The first heat was won by ” Jill II.” with a speed of 29.43 knots, followed by” Miss Norwich,” 28.54 knots, ” Too-Too “27.30 knots and ” Whoopee ” 25.41 knots. The first three ran a very even race, they being the first three to cross the starting line after the firing of the gun. In this heat, ” She’ll do it” piloted by Mr. W. G. Boyer, overturned whilst rounding the buoy, and its owner was precipated into the chilly waters of

the Welsh Harp. It is doubtful whether Mr. Boyer appreciated this contact with the waters, as, owing to the biting wind. and rain, he was in all probability both damp and cold enough! In the second heat in which nine boats started ” Whoopee ” and ” Itsit XV ‘ were each penalised 9 seconds for being over the line three seconds too soon. The winners of this heat were “Sea hopper”

30.95 knots, ” Itsit XV.” 30.85 knots, ” Babouche “, 28.69 knots and” Comet” 28.31 knots. Heat 4 saw the greatest number of boats together, eleven crossing the line, with only a few seconds between them, led by Mr. D. R. Tennant’s “Don Q” which led the whole of the course, arriv

ing first with a speed of 29.35 knots, followed by ” Blue Bug” 29.27 knots, ” Whale ” 28.42 knots and “Thrill II ” 28.35 knots. Of the twelve boats taking part in the final the only non starter was Clark’s “Miss Norwich.” ” Itsit ” was going very well from the start as were her

followers, “Don Q” and ” Comet.” Bomford’s ” Seahopper ” spent too long running in and started 40 seconds late with a third of a lap’s distance between him and the other competitors. In the second lap, Palethorpe, in his ” Whale,” had to retire and during the third lap Weatherall’s ” Itsit ” overturned and was overtaken by “Don Q.” By this time ” Seahopper ‘ had overtaken boats to such an extent that she was now in. the fourth place. By beating ” Jill II” on the corner at the end of the eighth lap, ” Seahopper ” found herself in the second place. The enthusiasm and excitement of the onlookers ran high and the feelings of sympathy for the late starter changed to those of hope. The boats were eagerly awaited and on the tenth lap” Seahopper ” was leading by a head. The end of the twelfth lap was a fine victory for ” Seahopper ” who was leading by seven seconds. “Don Q” who had had such a gruelling fight was second with ” Comet’ third, ‘ Babouche ” fourth, ” Too-Too ” fifth and ” Whoopee ” and “Blue Bug” sixth and seventh respectively.

Thus ended a very fine race and its popularity was seen by the greetings given both on the landing stage and later during the presentation of prizes by The Marquise of Casa Maury.

The Bomford Trophy.

The ” Bomford ” Trophy race did not provide the same interest as the previous event. Only nine out of 21 boats started. Paleth.orpe’s “Baby Bass,” which led at the start and finish, was unfortunately disqualified as this boat was an eleventh hour substitute for his ” Tarpan.” The second man, Harrison, who was piloting “Non Sequitur,” was thus placed first with a speed of 32.73 knots, second place being allotted to Viscount Kingsborough in his ” Itisntit II ” at 30.42 knots, with

“Jill II ” 29.54 knots and ” Leda XVI ” 28.80 knots in the third and fourth places.

The Duckham Challenge Cup.

The Amateur Outboard Club, the East Kent Motor Yacht Club and the British Outboard Racing Club were the only teams out of an entry of 7 to start in this event. This was owing to the fact that many of the boats entered had been in the previous races and for one reason or another they were unable to start.

The first relay was won by E. M. Stebbing in his “Blue Bug.” The next man round, H. J. P. Bomford. in” Seahopper ” after completing, handed over his baton to F. S. Cotton, who whilst rounding the buoy after his first lap had the bad luck to find his boat careering over to the side of the lake, coming to rest in the mud just in front of the Steward’s office, owing to some defect in his steering. After repairing his engine he pushed off, but the B.O.R.C.’s last man had rounded the buoy after the first lap. Try as he m:ght Cotton was unable to get going again and the Duckham Challenge Cup went to the British Outboard Racing Club. The representatives of the different Clubs were :— A.O.C.—

Class B. E. M. Stebbing, ” Blue Bug.” Class C. H. J. P. Bomford, “Seahopper.”

Unlimited Class. S. Cotton, ” Xqqme II.” B .0. R. C.— Class B. P. R. Thornton, “Star 2.” Class C. B. G. Parker, “Too-Too.” Unlimited Class. C. H. Harrison,

“Non Sequitur V.” E. K.M. Y.C.— Class B. C. J. Turner, ” Itisntit.” Class C. J. P. Turner ” Tobasco XII.” Unlimited Class. Viscount Kingsbor

ough, ” Itisntit II.” M. E. S;