1905 New Rochelle Regatta

Power Boat Races Of New Rochelle (N.Y.) Y.C.

Those who attended the power boat races June 10th off New Rochelle, under the auspices of the New Rochelle Y.C., were well paid for the trip. As at Manhasset Bay, the Knickerbocker Y.C. Sea Skunks were the feature, and there is no doubt that at all the principal power boat meets hereabout failure to start these one-design boats will be seriously felt.

In the first division Challenger, W. Gould Brokaw, N.Y.Y.C., rated 88.35, having no competitor, went over the 9 1/2-knot course with turn twice, finishing very prettily in the choppy sea in a smother of foam in 54 minutes and 15 seconds. Course 19 knots.

Owing to the hazy condition of the atmosphere and the flying spume Challenger's pilot mistook the judges' boat and made the shore nearly 2 miles East, accounting for the slow time, although one cylinder seemed to be giving trouble at the finish, missing explosions. it was a particularly pleasing exhibition run.

In the second division, White Fox, Charles Hatch, Corinthian Y.C., Stamford, rated 55.18, was pitted against Simplex, C. R. Mabley, Columbia Y.C., rated 50.95.

Simplex had given good account of herself at two previous meets, but White Fox, a new untried creation, was the subject of considerable speculation. Her hull showed her to be built on racing lines, and with her engine moved easily through the water with little fuss, but it was easily shown she was no match for Simplex, allowing her 7 minutes besides. Simplex was the winner by 34 minutes and 58 seconds actual or 41 minutes and 58 seconds corrected time. Course 19 knots.

The lesson taught in this race was that either there is unfairness in the rules rating 2 and 4-stroke engines, or that there was a great loss of power in the White Fox's 2-stroke engine at high speed, or an error in computation.

But two starters in the third division, Beldame, H. A. Lozier, Columbia Y.C., rated 53.62, and Argonaut, Godfried Piel, also Columbia Y.C., rated 45.53. These boats had met the week previous off the Columbia Y.C. Beldame was winner by 10 minutes and 1 second actual and 26 minutes and 21 seconds corrected time. Queen Bess, winner of the week previous, did not start, nor did Isabel, the other entry. This course was also 19 knots, and was covered by Beldame in 1 hour, 47 minutes and 21 seconds, and by Argonaut in 1 hour, 57 minutes and 22 seconds.

Reliance, A. C. Stratford, Columbia Y.C., rated 39.93, started alone in the fourth division, the only entry, and did not finish.

In the sixth division Hully G., Dr. H. Foote, New Rochelle Y.C., rated 31.40, was out against The Grace, L. A. Newcome, New Rochelle Y.C. Course was once around, 9 1/2 knots. Hully G. finished first in 1 hour, 21 minutes and 19 seconds, with the Grace 13 minutes and 16 seconds later.

Division seven was for the Knickerbocker Y.C. one-design Sea Skunks. There were ten starters. There was bu 43 seconds difference between the time of the first and last boat across the starting line. The course was once around. With he crew soaked to the skin No. 7, Joe Cassidy, finished first in 1 our, 2 minutes and 19 seconds.

(Transcribed from Power Boat News, June 17, 1905, pp. 192-193.)

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