1905 Manhasset Bay YC Regatta

Power Boats at Manhasset

Four Close Races Decided in Good Time Off Port Washington

The first power boat races of the season were contested off Port Washington yesterday in the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club's opening regatta. Three contests were decided, good time being made in each. J. Cassidy won the feature event, the Knickerbocker one-design race, with twelve entries. The summary follows:

(Transcribed from the New York Times, May 30 1905. )

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The Manhasset Bay Power Boat Races

The second annual Memorial Day power boat races, under the auspices of the Manhasset Bay Y.C., were held last Tuesday. The weather was fine, water smooth, and while the at- tendance was not as great and the number of boats in each class less than a year previous, there was very much interest centered in the various events.

Nearly all the competing boats had never before been entered in any competition, yet descriptions had appeared from time to time in various publications.

The Panhard boat, entered by A. Massenat, Columbia Y.C., was exhibited at both the New York and Boston Power Boat Shows this year, and was built by the Electric Launch Co.

Shooting Star, property of H. A. Lozier, also Columbia Y.C., was out several times last year, and her lines and appearance were quite familiar to many of the onlookers.

These two boats were the only entries in this class, and as in the third class, handicap starts were made. Panhard's rating by A.P.B.A. rules was 70.76 and Shooting Star's 65.47. Course was 15 nautical miles with a handicap of 4 minutes and 16 seconds in favor of Shooting Star.

It was some 3 minutes after the gun was fired before Panhard could be started, handicapping her just that amount. Panhard got away with engine running apparently poorly, and quantities of smoke at times pouring from her funnel, directly into the eyes of the helmsman and engineer. After a short time she seemed to find her gait and no mishap occurred until just before crossing the finish line, when there was a "panne," engine gave a few intermittent snorts, a convulsive shudder passed through her, and she drifted from her own momentum across the line in the face of quite a stiff breeze from the Southeast. Shooting Star finished 2 minutes and 24 seconds later. Elapsed time, Panhard 50 minutes and 58 seconds; Shooting Star 57 minutes and 38 seconds.

In the next class there were three entries, Simplex, C. R. Mabley, Columbia Y.C., Beldame, H. A. Lozier, also Columbia Y.C., and Colonia, Com. F. G. Bourne, N.Y.Y.C.

Here were three new creations, each built for a particular purpose, and in many respects dissimilar.

Simplex was designed by Clinton L. Crane and built by the Smith & Mabley Co., at Astoria. She was exhibited in the water at the New York Show, and at that time was described also in these columns. She is a regular yacht tender, with a 30 h.p. S & M Simplex engine, weighs 2,800 pounds, 30 ft. by 6 ft., with 20 in. draught. Her high freeboard, three cockpits and square transom stern were noticeable features. Before the race she made two trips with passengers to S. Y. Ardea, Vice-Com. Clarkson Cowl, Manhasset Bay Y.C., which was flagship and marked the start and finish in all classes, and after the races transferred many to the shore. She easily seats 15 in the after cockpit.

Colonia was designed and built by the Gas Engine & Power Co., and Chas. L. Seabury & Co., Consol., and was a particularly rakish and pleasing looking craft. She was ordered by Co. Bourne as a tender for his flagship Delaware, but the fire which devastated her, and the short time for the repairs before the opening of the season changed his plans and he used Colonia for his flagship, and launch therefore bears the name Colonia instead of Delaware.

Colonia is an extreme type of yacht tender and was likewise exhibited at the New York Show.

She is 32 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 4 in., and has a 6-cylinder, 4 1/2-in. by 5-in. Speedway model A engine. Boat is considerably lighter than Simplex, but has not, of course, her carrying capacity.

Beldame, product of the Lozier Co., is also an extreme model of heavy hunting cabin cruising boat. The roof of the cabin is extended over the engine with open sides and a summer canopy covers a raised cockpit. She is 53 ft. by 7 ft. 6 in., with 39 in. draught and weighs over 13,000 pounds. Cornelius Vought, designer for the Lozier Co., is responsible for her lines, while the boat was constructed at the Lozier shops, Westchester.

Simplex rated 50.95, Beldame 53.62, and Colonia 55.90. There was a handicap in favor of Colonia of 6 minutes and 32 seconds and favoring Beldame 3 minutes and 39 seconds. Simplex finished in 1 hour, 10 minutes and 43 seconds elapsed time, Colonia 1 hour, 5 minutes and 18 seconds, and Beldame 1 hour, 18 minutes and 21 seconds. With the time corrections Simplex beat Colonia 1 minute and 6 seconds, and Beldame 11 minutes and 17 seconds. Course was 15 nautical miles.

San Toy II had not been measured, consequently had no rating, and was therefore started without any handicap, with Pike in the next class. They finished as follows, elapsed time: Pike 51 minutes and 32 seconds, and San Toy II 54 minutes and 13 seconds. Course was 9 nautical miles.

San Toy II is owned by Wm. H. Barron, Columbia Y.C., and was races considerably last season, while Pike, owned by Samuel Stinson, Sea Cliff Y.C., is new this year and is considerably shorter than San Toy II. Power is a Mohler & DeGress engine.

When the Knickerbocker Y.C.'s one-design 21-ft. power boats approached the landing floats, they were given the attention they well merited. They came in full strength, 13 all told, with their hospital ship Kindergarten. Their appearance was applauded and as they lined up for the start it was feared on board the flagship that it would be a ragged one, but they got away together in fine style. A. L. Kerker's No. 5 did not start, while J. B. Schmelzel's No. 4 did not finish. She had only been out of the shop a few hours, and sawdust in the carburetor put her out of the race.

Joseph Cassidy's No. 7 was disqualified, owing to not having a member of any yacht club on board, so her time did not count. Charles Coughtry, the designer of the craft, was in No. 1, winning first prize, and F. L. Kraemer second. The course was 9 miles and the winner's elapsed time was 56 minutes and 49 seconds.

The Knickerbocker Y.C.'s Sea Skunks acquitted themselves nobly and it is understood that club races of these boats are being arranged under the auspices of several other clubs.

(Transcribed from Power Boat News, June 3, 1905.)

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page]

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