1906 August Regatta at Netley

Motor Yacht Club Races At Netley

Although there was a brisk westerly breeze and during the early hours of the afternoon a hot flood, neither condition militated against the successes of the Motor Yacht Club's meeting on Saturday at Netley. Indeed, in view of the number of starters, the interesting character of the racing, and the presence of an even greater number than usual of members and their friends aboard the club ship Enchantress, it proved to be one of the most successful day's motor-boat racing held on southern waters this season. To begin with, the programme had been well arranged and the courses well chosen as usual; the southern end of the necessarily long straight course for the unrestricted speed class was, however, unfortunately hidden by the troopships moored further down Southampton Water. Then there was a particularly representative muster of the M.M.A. class boats of the fast harbour launch type, among which the Saunders-built Quicksilver (designed by Mr. Jas. A. Smith, M.I.N.A.), Mr. Cyril Maudsley's Maudsley (the winner on this occasion), Mr. Tom Thornycroft's smart little boat Veradaise, and Mr. G. J. F. Knowles's Iris II (designed by Mr. H. Halliday) were the most prominent. The cabin launch type was also well-exemplified by another Saunders-built boat, Mr. J. F. Siddeley's Swiftsure, although her performance was no criterion of her quality, as she is scarcely out of her builder's hands.

Again, in the unrestricted racer class, much interest was taken in Mr. S. F. Edge's Napier III, ex-Siola---still another Saunders boat---which made her racing number for the first time in British waters. The deafening rattle of her exhaust, however, contrasted disagreeably with the comparative quietness of Lord Montagu's Yarrow Napier; and still more with the absolute silence of Lord Howard de Walden's Simpson-Strickland steam racer Rose-en-Soleil. But as that quality is equally shared by Lord Howard de Walden's two petrol-driven racers, Daimler I and Daimler II---the former of which pair is quite as fast as last year---there seems to be no reason for any further suspension of the M.M.A. silencing rule in this class. Neither, however, was present on Saturday, although they were entered; but both will probably be seen out at the British Motor Boat Club's Ryde meeting to-morrow, as certain alterations which Daimler II is undergoing at the Saunders yard will then be completed. These will certainly make her easier to manoeuvre at speed, and, in conjunction with her exquisite model, should so increase her speed that she may well share, if she does not eclipse, the fame of Antoinette IV as the fastest motor-boat in the world.

The first race was for M.M.A. cruisers, for a cup presented by Mr. L. Rothschild, 6 ponds and 3 pounds. Only Swiftsure (14min. 59sec.) and Mr. Grahame White's Dolores (scratch) started, the latter being some 25min. late. On the other hand, Swiftsure got well away at gunfire at 2 p.m., and even increased her lead during the whole three rounds of the course, which was laid from the Enchantress to the After Barn, dean's Lake, and N.W. Netley Gas Buoys and back to the flagship, nine nautical miles in all. If anything, the scratch boat was the slower, as will be seen from the following times:

The second race, for M.M.A. classes A, B and C, not exceeding 1,000 rating, was run four times round the same course for prizes of 8, 4 and 2 pounds. The starters were J. M. Gorham's Quicksilver (scratch), Mr. G. J. F. Knowles's Iris II (5min. 36sec.), Mr. F. May's Defender (16min. 36sec.), Mr. O. B. Colls's Fleurette (16min. 36sec.), Mr. Cyril Maudsley's Maudsley (28min.), Commander Mansfield Cumming's Commander (37min. 36sec.), Mr. A. G. Fentiman's Javelin (22min. 36sec.), and Mr. T. Thornycroft's Veradaise (1hr. 7min. 48sec). The scratch boat, by far the fastest in the fleet, led out from Iris II, Defender, Fleurette, Maudsley, Commander and Veradaise. Javelin did not arrive from Southampton in time, but started 20min. late. Until the end of the second round, when Defender broke down and retired, and above order was unchanged tot he finish, Quicksilver, which ran with remarkable regularity, averaging about 11 1/4min, on each of her four rounds, while Maudsley, the winner, averaged about 17 3/4min. The M.M.A. time scale allowances therefore worked out very well, as the following times show:

Defender gave up.

The chief event of the day was the race for the high speed boats, three times round the long course, from the Enchantress southward to the Baldhead Buoy, thence northward to a mark boat north of the line of boom defence-ships moored astern of the Enchantress, and back to the line, 18 1/2 nautical miles, the prizes being 25, 12 and 6 pounds. The starters were Yarrow Napier, Napier III, Rose-en-Soliel, and Quicksilver, the last-named boat getting a fraction the best of the start at gunfire, 4 p.m.. Instantly, however, she was overhauled by Yarrow Napier, which, running with great regularity at about a 20-knot speed, eventually won at 4hrs. 48min. 51sec. Napier III also got well away, but Rose-en-Soliel, which had only three of her four burners working, was less fortunate, and was much hampered by the wash of the three others. Neverthe- less, despite these disadvantages, she was handled in such a masterly manner by Mr. A. G. Fentiman that she overhauled Napier III on the northward run, and passed the flagship 18sec. to the good. In the short popple, however, there was no keeping her clear of water, and she was astern over 2 3/4min. on the two remaining rounds. Quicksilver did not run up to her form in the previous race, but did very well. The total times were:

Commander Mansfield Cumming was the officer of the day, assisted by the secretary, Mr. W. J. Fernie, and the honorary timekeepers Messrs. Linton Hope and R. G. L. Markham.

(Transcribed from the Times of London, Aug. 13, 1906, p. 9. )

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Motor Yacht Club

This club held a very successful regatta on Saturday off Netley, the courses being laid in close proximity to the floating clubhouse in Southampton Water. There were five events on the programme, and all filled well, the entries numbering over 40, though there were numerous absentees. The chief race was for M.M.A. class D boats over 1,000 rating for the Enchantress Challenge Cup. Four boats competed, the cup being won by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and Mr. Lionel Rothschild's Yarrow Napier. The Sultan of Johore's Challenge Cup for cruisers was won by Mr. S. F. Edge's Napier Major, subject to one of the competitors being measured. A race for auxiliary sailing yachts was won by Captain E. T. Dixon's Penguin, and a turning, reversing and starting race by Mr. A. G. Fentiman's Javelin. Details:

Race for M.M.A. Class D. over 1,000 rating. Course 18 sea miles

First prize, Enchantress challenge cup and gold medal; second prize, 12 pounds; third prize, 6 pounds.

Entries:---

The two Daimler boats were absentees. Rose-en-Soliel was first across the line, but Hutton II, with more way on, soon overtook her, but gave up early owing to mechanical troubles. The Napier boats were late in starting, but they soon got to the front and led to the finish. The elapsed times were:

Race for M.M.A. cruisers, Classes 1, 2 and 3. M.M.A. restrictions, rating, and time scale;

Course, 8 1/2 sea miles;

First Prize, the Sultan of Johore's Challenge Cup; 2nd prize, 6 pounds; 3rd prize, 3 pounds

Entries:---

Swiftsure was a non-starter. Sea Urchin led at the start, but was overhauled and passed by Wanderer before the end of the first round, Napier Major being gradually dropped, but subject to the measurement of Wanderer being correct Napier Major won on time.

The elapsed times were:---

Race for M.M.A. Classes A, B, and C, not exceeding 1,000 rating. M.M.A. rating and time scale. Course, 11 1/4 sea miles

First prize, challenge cup presented by Mr. Bircham, and 5 pounds;

2nd prize, 4 pounds; 3rd prize, 2 pounds; 4th prize, 1 pound. Entries:---

Eileen, Ful Sked, Scud, Albatross, and Defender were absent. Maudslay broke down and did not finish.

The elapsed times were:---

The turning, reversing, and restarting race caused much amusement. The boats crossed the starting line as usual, but had to turn a complete loop before reaching the next mark boat. They then reversed their engines and went astern to the next mark. The boats next went ahead and passed in and out of four marks, leaving the first on the port hand, the next on the starboard, and so on. On returning to the starting line they had to stop engine and boat behind the starting line, restart by order of the officer of the day, and proceed round the bows of the Enchantress to the finishing line. Javelin was first, Fleurette second, and Quicksilver third.

(Transcribed from the Times of London, Aug. 20, 1906, p. 9. )

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

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