1910 Labor Day Regatta (Portland)
Wolff Is Entered
Astoria Winner Will Defend Laurels Today
SPIRIT IS CHALLENGER
Engines of Pacer Placed in Seattle Motor Boat in Hope of Taking Coast Championship From Portland’s Pride
Over the course lying from the Steel bridge north to points as far as St. Johns, the annual Labor Day races of the Portland Motor-boat Club will be held this afternoon beginning at 1:30 o’clock. The entire length of the course lies between rows of docks and high banks, giving an excellent view of the races to spectators.
There are five events carded for the afternoon, beginning with an eight-mile handicap race for the Jaeger Brothers Trophy. There will also be an eight-mile cabin-boat race, a four-mile pleasure boat race, a 10-mile race for craft of 24 feet in length and a 20-mile free-for-all race.
Fast Vessels To Compete
Some of the fastest motor craft in Portland will compete in the races this afternoon. So great is the rivalry locally in the free-for-all contest that Portland and Seattle sportsmen have combined in an effort to take the measure of the Pacific Coast champion Wolff II. The engine of the Pacer, the crack Portland speed boat and nearest competitor of the Wolff II, has been placed in the hull of the Seattle Spirit, which beat the Wolff II over part of the course at the Astoria regatta and then broke down. With this combination the Wolff II will have to be at its best to win.
The engine of the Pacer is one of the most powerful ever brought to Portland, but has had no suitable hull. The hull of the Seattle Spirit is designed along the trimmest and fleetest of lines. When the engine of the Seattle Spirit is working properly there is no faster craft on the Pacific Coast.
Provided Otto Ranft, the builder, can get it in shape, the first complete home made speed boat ever built in Portland will race. This is the Happy Heine II. This craft, engine and all, was designed and built in Portland by Otto Ranft and Al Klingbill, who built the Happy Heine, renowned for its speed.
Rivals’ Race To Be Good
The race for 24-foot boats ought to be a good one. The Happy Heine and Spear, long-time rivals, are entered. These craft are about even in the speed line and have furnished an even brush whenever they have met. Particularly this was true at Vancouver. Over a 20-mile course there they ran neck and neck until the last few miles when the Happy Heine won out. The Happy Heine is owned in Rainier, but will be here in time for the races.
The cabin boat race is expected to prove to be an interesting one. There are several fast cabin cruisers in Portland, and as they are fighting for the handsome Commodore’s trophy, a lively brush is looked for. Among the entries in this race will be the Lollipop, Kittie II, Martha and possibly the Artisan. Considerable rivalry is present in the pleasure boat contest, too.
The course for the 20-mile race is from the Steel bridge to St. Johns and return, the boats going twice around the course. In all of the races except the four-mile event the boats will circle the course twice, thereby giving the spectators amusement. Last year on Labor Day the docks and banks were fairly lined with spectators.
[Transcribed from the Morning Oregonian, Sep. 5, 1910, p. 10.]
(Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page — LF)