1910 Hudson River Yacht Racing Association Regatta
Regatta of the Hudson River Yacht Racing Association
Before a gathering of five thousand motorboat racing enthusiasts representing eleven live clubs on the Hudson River, and in plain view of the many hundred "guests" at that notorious mansion, Sing Sing, The Hudson River Yacht Racing Association held its sixth annual regatta on Labor Day, off the clubhouse of the Shattemuc Yacht and Canoe Club, at Ossining, N.Y. The day was favorable for motorboat racing, a small sea rolled and the balmy atmosphere seemed to invigorate the crews aboard the racing craft. A light haze hung over the horizon and the mountains showed in outline against the dull background.
Fully a hundred speeders, the pick of the club fleets, were entered in the contests. Ten events formed the motorboat program, the first starting at 10 a.m. Each of the other contests were run off fifteen minutes apart. The course was a triangle extending over five statute miles, starting from a line between the clubhouse and Ge, George A. McAlpin’s cruiser, Sentinel. Every available spot along the shore held good crowds, and the verandas of the clubhouse were well filled throughout the day. The throngs aboard the spectator craft laughed and made merry, while phonographs shrieked comedy and dialogue. Gunfire II, Emerson, Elmer L. and Comet III made up the speed talent of the day.
The first race was for speedboats rating 70 and over, twice around a ten-mile course. Ten boats were entered in this contest, of which four finished. With motors firing like a naval battery, the boats stood at the line, the crews eagerly waiting the signal to start. Gunfire took the lead at the start and won from the speedy Elmer L on time allowance. Emerson, piloted by A. Travers, of Poughkeepsie, who succeeded in winning honors and smashing records at Peoria, could do no better in this event than finish third. Drisco, the scratch boat, trailed along in fourth place. The other contestants were outclassed and did not finish. Gunfire is a 35-footer, equipped with a Mercury motor.
The Class II affair for speedboats brought out six racers, rating under 70, for a gun over 20 miles. Artful walked off with the prize in this contest, followed by Alta, a minute later. Comet III, Sea Robin, and Adroit came next in the order named, a margin of from ten to twenty minutes separating each of the boats. Vim, the other entry, finished almost an hour behind the winner..
Class A, for cabin boats rating over 45, was over a ten-mile course, and of the thirteen boats entered but six started. Foxy Quiller, a 25-footer, equipped with a Ferro motor, rating 12.82-hp., walked off with first prize. Minnie S, the scratch boat, passed over the line second, five minutes behind.
The race for the Jos. R. Ellicott Cup, Class F, over a ten-mile course, was another test for speeders. Gunfire II, Elmer L, Emerson and Drisco started in the most exciting event of the day, finishing in the order named.
No handicap was figured in the Class X event free-for-all speedboats not over 40 feet. The racers were sent over a 20-mile course. Elmer L finished first, seven minutes before Comet III. A shortage of gasoline compelled Gunfire II to withdraw, and Emerson, as she led the field on the second l;ap, met with the only serious accident of the day. Her strut broke and the flanges buckled on the wheel, knocking a hole in the stern. The crew aboard realized the extent of the damage and rushed with all speed to the club landing. The Emerson was raised out of the water, and was saved in this way from going to the bottom.
At this time the regatta committee was acting on a protest filed against Gunfire II and Emerson in the race for speedboats, Class I, in which it was claimed that an error had been made in the measurement of the former, and that the Travers boat did not carry proper equipment. Official Measurer Charles A. Gunther, of Tappan Zee, was on hand, and after the decision of the committee he left to get his instruments and carry out the plan to re-measure. Class X concluded the motorboat program, and the committee called a recess of one hour, after which the sailing events were started. The committee was composed of the following commodores of the clubs forming the association:
Matt McCarty, commodore Albany Yacht Club; David Terry, commodore Rondout Yacht Club; William H. Frank, commodore Poughkeepsie Yacht Club; M. W. Collyer, commodore Newburgh Yacht Club; Milton Jordan, commodore Highland Boat Club; James Bedell, commodore Shattemuc Yacht and Canoe Club; Joseph H. Acker, commodore Tarrytown Yacht Club; Fred A. Russell, Jr. commodore Tarrytown Boat Club; F. Wm. Ulrichs, commodore Tappan Zee Yacht Club; Louis F. Marren, commodore Yonkers Yacht Club; Charles A. Starbuck, commodore Columbia Yacht Club.
The protested boats were no re-measured up to nightfall, and the winner in the first contest was not declared. The motorboat summaries:
| Auto Class I. Speed Boats Rating 70 and Over. 20 Miles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat | Owner | Handicap | Time | Cor’d Time |
| Gunfire | W. J. Brainard | 12:18 | 56:25 | 34:43 |
| Elmer L | L. De Long | 11:38 | 55:58 | 36:08 |
| Emerson | A. Traver | 1:14 | 44:03 | 42:49 |
| Drisco | R. J. Driscoll | Scratch | 55:36 | |
| Class II. Auto Boats Rating Under 70. 20 Miles | ||||
| Artful | H. Coons | :41 | 59:11 | 58:30 |
| Alta | F. Charaway | 12:55 | 1:12:35 | 59:40 |
| Comet III | F. A. W. Grissam | Scratch | 1:03:37 | |
| Sea Robin | C. E. Gilson | 15:40 | 1:24:46 | 1:09:06 |
| Adroit | P. Jacobson | 16:44 | 1:47:20 | 1:30:36 |
| Vim | J. P. Wahlquist | 6:03 | 2:01:50 | 1:55:47 |
| Class A Cabin Boats. 10 Miles | ||||
| Foxy Quiller | W. Ventschger | 7:41 | 58:35 | 50:32 |
| Minnie I | A. Traver | Scratch | 55:39 | |
| Widgeon II | W. L. Martin | 5:43 | 1:05:59 | 58:08 |
| Iris II | Matt McCarty | 8:14 | 1:08:36 | 1:00:22 |
| Cosimo | John Brown | 8:00 | 1:09:54 | 1:01:54 |
| Class F. Jos. R. Ellicott Cup. 10 Miles | ||||
| Gunfire II | W.J. Brainard | 7:09 | 27:13 | 16:22 |
| Elmer L | L. De Long | 5:49 | 27:43 | 17:48 |
| Emerson | A. Traver | :37 | 20:50 | 20:18 |
| Drisco | R. J. Driscoll | Scratch | 23:59 | |
| Class X. Free-for-All. Auto boats not over 40 ft. 20 miles | ||||
| Elmer L | L. De Long | 56:56 | ||
| Comet III | F.A.W.Grissan | 1:03:44 | ||
| Gunfire II | Withdrew | |||
| Emerson | Withdrew | |||
(Excerpts transcribed from MotorBoat, Sep. 10, 1910, pp. 44-46.)
[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page — LF]