nil ffi - Powerboat Archive

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30 MOTOR BOAT AND YACHTING
FLAT OUT ALL
;3!
'"6-,
ft
"SurfL)ry" first boat home as
"Thunderfish" and "Delta" burn.
Strongest outboard challenge ever.
T
up
HE pace was both fast and hot.
The Gardner's "Surfury" notched
the fastest Cowes-Torquay run yet
aI an awe-inspiring 53 m.p.h. The
luckless "Thunderfish III" exploded
and burnt out; owner Albert Figgins
and his crew were mercifully no more
than shocked by a terrifying experience.
Speedy ooDelta" burned too, although
here the flames went out and both
crew and boat were retrieved from a
sultry West Solent.
The sea was glassy, the wind rarely
above force zero. Big boats won,
although Class III strove manfully
and landed a laudable fifth, sixth and
seventh place overall. "Waterline
,Huntress" was the lowest powered
finisher, "Tramontana" surely the
most clamorous and "Maltese Magnum"
the first ever with outboards to be
amongst the first three home.
Some expensive machinery hobbled
into ports of refuge from time to time.
Out of 58 starters, a record, 18
dropped out. Conditions were sunny
and spotless, and a shortened course
was uncalled for. The racers were
lucky; a day later the Solent received
the only weather in which cancellation
could be contemplated-thick fog,
visibilitv 200 vards.
The Scrutineering
Peter Feversham
Already by Thursday night Cowes was
growing accustomed to the thunderous
grumble of powerboat engines in practise
for Saturday's race. Already the 70 strong
entry list was receiving the inevitable flow
of pre-race casualties. 'oSmuggler 28" was
among the first to send in news that it must
remain confined to Swedish waters with
engine trouble. Other Swedish boats "Lat
Mej Fa Dansao'and "Mirage" signalled a
similar plight. Howard Weiler's "Seaboard
Wildcat" was withdrawn and so was Itatan
entry, Vicenzo Balestrieri's "Delta Blu".
Amongst the British entries, Maurice Hardy
had withdrawn "Wicked Lady" and nobody
had seen or heard anything of Keith
Schellenberg's "Thunderstreak". Seven
down with sixty-three to go and Friday's
scrutineering to be survived.
Basically there were two categories of
boat presented before the scrutineerin!
barge in the Medina river. There was the
majority comprised of eftcient craft, whose
owners were confident of success. and the
minority of less complete outfits whose
owners were obliged to reinforce confidence
with a certain bluff. The efficient majority
arrived for scrutineering either at dawn to
avoid the bluffers, because unskilled bluffing
can take all day and because unskilled
bluffers seldom rise early, or, alternatively,
at sunset after the day's bluffing was done
with. Of the opulently efficient majority

September 8, 1 967 31
THE WAY
Torquay for lunch-for some, most notably
the Gardner brothers, who zoomed along
the tne 198 tYU mile course from rrom Cowes uowes In in a recorq
rd
3 hours 44 minutes. The Daily Express event
has never had a larger entry. 58 boats
marshalled in the Solent on Saturday,
August 26, and spectators milled like
gannets on the lower slopes of Portland
Bill. Despite the calm there were dramas
a-plenty; our own team was in the thicl< of
it, on the water, in the air and amid the
whirligigs on shore. Here are our reports.
Pictures are by Eric Coltham , Paul Skilleter,
Mike Peters and Erroll Bruce.
there is little to say, except that it slipped
quickly through the multi-fingered clutches
of the scrutineering team. Some new type of
padded thigh support might catch the eye
perhaps.
There was considerable interest shown in
one solid mass of machinery, christened
imaginatively a B.P.M. Volcano. A brace of
Volcani could be seen glinting through half
raised hatches aboard I. Gargiulo's o'Hydrosonic
Special". I. Gargiulo hails from Napoli,
we knew as much from the six-inch high
inscription on the transom of both his
boats ("Delta Synthesis" is the other one),
"Hydrosonic Special" is the latest speedster
from the board of Sonny Levi, who was to
have driven her at Cowes but withdrew
because of his father's illness. Consequently,
I. Gargiulo had entrusted the 400 b.h.p.
Volcani to British driver Mike Trimming.
Now there are many methods of bluffing
the scrutineers but there are few artists of
bluff. The true artist will bluff lihe billy-oh,
even ifhe has no cause.
William Shand-Kydd slipped alongside
the scrutineering barge aboard his "Ultimatum".
"All right! all right! this isn't
Emergency Ward Ten. Come on my brave
scrutineers. where are vou?" "IJltimatum"
Continued Overleaf
r.q
tr1 ''
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unmistakably Levi-designed. "Surfury"
incidentally also won the "tim€ trial" back
the following day, and with it the Bollirger
Goblet.
Right, identification parade for the middle
markerc as they churn round the W€st
Lepe mark. Numbering off from the front
arc 2O3 "Flower Power", 3O3 "Waterline
Huntress", 2O5 "Tornado", O16 "Sandpiper
Too",266 "Tremor". All except "Sandpiper"
finished the course.

32
MOTOR BOAT AND YACHTING
FIAT O UT
Gontinued
was in, through and away before the private
mechanics of opulent efnciency could
fumble out a single fender.
Soon o'Hum Drum" appeared driven by
Hilary Laing, adorned with the fair merchandise
of Hilary's Pimlico boutique. 'oNo
crash helmets, Hilary? Headscarves won't
do, even if they do come from 'Sea and
Ski'." (Scamper, scamper across the planks
to "Vivacity"; about turn and scamper,
scamper back again into the arms of eagle
eyed scrutineer.) "Put those helmets back
and fetch some of your own". "Go away
oHum Drum' and try again later."
So a hard day's scrutineering passed
with petty problems but no major disaster.
E. Wagner's "Heatwave" survived a minor
conflagration in the engine room, which
caused some excitement. Lady Aitken's
mechanics strove through the afternoon
and far into the night to adapt areplacement
Rolls-Royce engine aboard "Ultra Violet",
the original having burst its block.
The driver's briefing followed smoothly
on its way with the usual lobster pot jokes
and a fair weather forecast. We learnt that
Ron Watts' "Giovanna", P. Turnock's
'oBluepoint", L Toll's o'Tolstar" and C.
Pobhin's "Anglesey II" had been withdrawn
during the day. "Jackie S" we were
told would arrive for late scrutineering
before the race on Saturday morning. There
had been a handful of fallers, but, by and
large, the field was across the first hurdle.
The Start
Peter Feversham
Saturday morning dawned much as the
forecast had warned us it would, with a
gentle westerly breeze to ruffie the pallid
Solent calm and push away the overhanging
mist. By eight o'clock the first boats were
limbering up noisily in the bay. "[Jltra Violet"
could be heard making a satisfactory re-
Rolls-Royced gargle and "Jackie S"
stormed in for a breakfast time steering
panic before outwitting the scrutineers. By
nine o'clock the spectators were thronging
two deep along the Marine Parade, and in
another half hour commentator Tony
Marsh was telling them all that it was a
lovely day here at Cowes, There was just
one overnight retirement to announce, with
the Hon. Eddie Greenall's "Gee" withdrawn
with a watery starboard engine.
Ten minutes to go, with 58 starters
ambling into the pendty areai a line of
Squadron eyes peeped over the Bridge parapet
and a gun fired. The Solent lay thick
with spectator craft. A flock of aeroplanes
and helicopters hovered overhead. Ten
o'clock struck in a frenzy of droppin! flags,
yellow grenades, gun reports and the
thunder ofover a hundred powerful engines.
Charles and Richard Gardner in "Surfury"
were away first, close to the shore,
with Don Shead at the wheel of "Thunderfish
III" and I. Gareiulo's "Delta
Synthesis" in hot pursuit. R. Bateman's
little "Screwdriver" started quickly far out
in the line, as it thrashed with foaming wake
for the West Lepe turn and the eastward
run back past Cowes.
Within eleven minutes "Surfury" returned,
hurtling past for Southsea, followed
by the Swedish boat "Speedy Gonzales"
driven by S. Zettergren. Then came
"Delta", "Delta Synthesis" and "Thunderfish
III"; these first five within a single
minute. In sixth position came "IJltimatum"
pursued by "Hydrosonic Special", "IJ.F.O."
driven by G. Bethell from the Bahamas and
the Morris brothers in "Broad Jumper".
Merrick Lewis in "Momma Maritime" and
Don Aronorry with "Maltese Magnum"
bagged tenth and eleventh places respectively.
With the rest of the field still surging
past Cowes we noticed "Terri-Ann'o from
America, driven by W. Vickers, braving the
onslaught wifh a late start.
Then came news from Southsea that
"Surfury" and "Delta Synthesis" were
through together at an average speed of
53 m.p.h. As the next few positions were
announced it became clear that "Speedy
Gonzales" had dropped out of the running,
the first major casualty. But this news was
topped soon with the stunning report that
"Thunderfish" had caught fire and exploded
off Sandown, while lying fourth. The crew
were safe.
'_1
.r. :l!ita6
One of the smaller entries which performed so doughtily, Phil Hook's
"La Sorciere" was to be seen shrewdly wave riding in the wake of such
competito?s as the much larger "Gypsy Girl" (which she pipped at the
post by two minutesl. A Kelvins Sorcerer, the boat was powered by
three lOO h.p. Mercury outboards.
jili !l.i
iL;
Smoke and flat calm as "Thunderfish" blazes off Sandown. Formerly
the diesel record holder "Merry-Go-Round", the boat had a chequered
career before her demiee. She was once dropped on a quay, destroying
Sir Max Aitken's hopes of entering her in the Miami-Nassau classii.
Albert Figgins subsequ6ntly acquired her, rebuilt her and was aboard
iust before she met her end. Fortunately he, Don Shead and engineer
John Hodder escaped with only a shaking.
Not quite the quickest route betr reen the two points, the Gowes-Torquay
course is planned to give spectator intelest within the Solent and also
a downwind run, should the customary south-westerlies prevail. This
year they didn't, and no one had to contend with the awkward surfing
conditions which were expected near the Nab.

September B. 1967,
-
*";. -!!
Merrick Lewis' navigator seems to have
thrown up his arms in despair after the
powerful "Momma Maritime" was forced to
;etire with engine trouble. One of her two
6OO h.p. Daytonas can be seen with the covel
off as the boat limps back up the Sol6nt.
Her end a mattel of minutes away, "Thunderfish lll" roals out past Hors6 Sand Fort beyond
Southsea, The fire which was to consume her was thought to hav6 been caused by a broken drive
shaft which in turn buist a fuel tank and showered diesel fuel upon a hot component.
Sir Max Aitken's sleek and beautifully finished "Gypsy Girl" might have been one of the hot
favourites if the weather had followed tradition and been rougher. However, she managed
to carry away the Unlimited Diesel Prize by finishing 8th overall,
Avengers at Cowes. Pre-briefing shoi captures
driver Mike Beald, ceritrc, and, in close-up,
crew drember "Pascoe" Watson, who spent
the final few miles sitting out on the stern,
after a trim tab broke. Their boat, "Avenger"
was th6 first Class lll entry home, a devastating
fifth. Right hand man in this trio is
designer Don Shead who himself had a less
fortunate race in "Thunderfish lll".
At the Nab Tower
Christine Searby
Glistening with a new and sticky coat of tar
the Nab Tower made an excellent navigational
mark for even the most errant powerboat
navigators. Conditions were ideal,
hazy sunshine, no wind, and, to quote the
Mariner (Ancient), all around the glassy
sea. Jolly powerboating weather, indeed.
Long before the anticipated arrival time
of the first competitors, the audience, comprising
motor boats, sailing cruisers and the
odd seagullo retreated to a respectful distance,
wisely leaving a large arena for the
gladiators.
We waited expectantly, peering through
the mist and pointing out phantom powerboats
on wrong courses until at 10.50 a.m.
our doubtful mutterings were confirmed.
Three powerboats hurtled towards the
Nab Tower, growing to enormous proportions
as they bore down upon us, Accompanying
the powerboats was a motley
assortment of aircraft, apparently intent on
spearing each other as they buzzed round
above the leaders in ever decreasing circles.
In front was "Delta" driven by Gardner
Junior, with the larger boats, "Surfury"
and "Delta Synthesis" close on her propellers.
They rounded the Nab in a somewhat
terrifying slalom fashion almost
scraping their sparkling paint on the nasty
concrete corners, and shot off towards
Southsea.
By the time the seagulls had settled the
rest of the pack were following in Indian file.
Two American boats, "Sterndriver" and
"U.F.O." whizzed by incautiously, followed
by the tiny "Vertigo" which bounded
kangaroo-fashion past us, doing very well.
The inhabitants of "Maltese Magnum",
lying seventh, gave our photographer a
cheery wave while engaged in the perilous
task of rounding the Tower at full speed;
we fully expected disaster but none occurred.
While the Danish "Oh-Oh-Sex" bounced
on, "Jackie S" passed at a very stately pace
with only the driver visible, the remainder
of the crew being occupied below deck
feverishly dealing with recalcitrant plug
leads. We were temporarily deafened by the
howl of "Tramontana II's" four Jaguar
engines as she roared by in sixteenth
position, making up ground fast.
Everybody was clearly making easy meat
of the conditions, especially the smaller
Class III boats; we removed a layer of
Lightweiglrt Swedish emry "Speedy Gonzales"
gets away from scrutineering with a mechanic
warding off water from the exhaust system.
With an extreme vee hullform and a single
Daytona, the boat had great potential but overheated
after streaking past Cowes on the
second leg and, in the process, briefly overtaking
"Surfury".

34
FIAT O UT
Continued
sweaters as they continued to bomb past
with great ferocity and as we cowered
nervously in our spectator craft.
By midday the field had nearly passed,
except for the taifenders "Maritime 02"
went past at great speed in a vain attempt to
make up for time lost earlier on, and "Hum
Drum", the only boat with an all girl crew,
brought up the rear with her engine covers
off.
Peace descended, the seagulls returned,
spectators put away their opera glasses
and sandwiches and we roared off home
leaving the Nab Tower still reposing in a
smooth-as-a-baby's-bottom type sea.
Last Time Past Cowes
Peter Feversham
A fraction before ll.l5 a.m. "Delta" with
Rikki Gardner at the wheel rocketed past
Cowes for the last time, with a minute in
hand over father Gardner's "Surfury".
"Delta Synthesis" pa.ssed a mere two seconds
behind "Surfury" with a comparatively
long gap before Rod Rodman's "Thunderstreak
II" hove into view in fourth place,
with "U.F.O." next fifth. There followed a
succession of duels at regular intervals;
"Maltese Magnum" and "Hydrosonic
Special", Don Shead driving "Avenger"
with sistership "Screwdriver" and P. Hook's
23 foot "La Sorciere" with Sir Max
Aitken's 40 foot "Gypsy Girl".
At this stage in the race "Speedy
Gonzaleso' was back at Cowes suffering an
overheated engine and Keith Horseman
could be seen strolling the Marine Parade
in his bathing trunks, the drive shaft
having broken aboard 'oVertigo". From a
patrol boat came the news that "Ultimatum",
"Broad Jumper", "Momma Maritime" and
"Heatwave" had also retired.
By now the leaders were approaching the
Needles and another bombshell exploded
out of the loudspeakers to the effect that
"Delta" was burning and that Rikki Gardner
had dived overboard. It seemed a bonfire
day to outrival any ffih of November, but
with *Surfury" and "Delta Synthesis"
leading the way to Bournemouth we were
glad to see one bonfire doused at any rate,
when "Delta" was towed into Cowes shortly
after mid-day.
The Race at Poftland Bill
John Nicholls
Despite its reputation for being a place best
avoided by boats of all kinds, Portland Bill
was this year in a bene'rolent mood. There
was a slight popple in the worst of the tide
race, but elsewhere the sea was undisturbed.
Instead of being, as the Daily Express
programme described it "the Beecher's
Brook of the Cowes to Torquay Grand
National", the Bill merely marked the
beginning of the home straight.
Almost all the competitors, probably
...
,-i
.t p*
Post-race scrutiny. Harry Lincoln, pen and pad in hand, checks "Surfury's" equipment against
the U.l.M. rules and regulations. Note th6 dual controls which give Charles and Jimmy Gardner
equal status as drivers. Third member of the crew stands in the stern and clings to the two
padded rails.
Shirtsleeves or less was the order of the day amid the lunar landscape of Portland Bill, where
a large crowd gathered to watch the thrills.
remembering lessons learned in previous,
more turbulent years, passed close to the
rocks. Even so, one or two boats still
charged straight through the mini-race
offshore which must have slowed them
slightly. Perhaps they were bored with
skimming over the water and were looking
for some excitement. They should have been
more patient, for, right on cue, a breeze
filled in at about 12.30 p.m. and an hour or
so later, when the majority of the field were
out in Lyme Bay, small waves began to
appear. None of this bothered "Surfury",
however; she sped past the Bill at 12.25,
at which time she had averaged 53{ m.p.h.
since the start. Two minutes later "Delta
Synthesis" roared by, followed after I 1
minutes by "U.F.O.". The next hour lived
up to all the advance publicity and the
restive crowd, clinging like ants to every
vantage point, were treated to a steady
procession of hurtling projectiles. A11 com
petitors were obviously trying very hard
and most were travelling at near their maxi
mum speed.
\
The Finish
Alex McMullen
Noon Weather reports coming into the
Race Control room at Torquay indicated
that Lyme Bay was in a state of glacial
calm. Visibility was perfect with no sign of
the fog forecast earlier.
With "Delta" out of the race it was a
fight between the two Levi-designed craft,
"Surfury" and "Delta Synthesis", now well
clear of the rest of the field. Bar mechanical
failures, explosions or submerged logso
we had the pleasant prospect of a close and
exciting finish. However, this was not to be.
The number of minutes separating them
gradually increased as they reached across
Lyme Bay for the Skerries Buoy. "Surfury"
was going perfectly, her long nose hardly
lifting at &[, while behind her, Italo
Gargiulo was having the greatest dilficulty
in keeping "Delta Synthesis" on a level trim.

36
FIAT O UT
Continued
more than a symbolic tide race in an area
between half a mile and a mile south of the
BilI.
The race leaders, "Surfury" and "Delta
Synthesis", had overtaken us off St. Albans
Head, and by Portland Bill it was "U.F.O.",
"Maltese Magnum", "Avenger" and
"Bewitched" that came up with us. Most
took the usual course very close in to the
Bill, which meant good help from the tidal
eddy then running in their favour from the
Shambles lightship to Portland Bill itself,
and also avoided the speed-damping effect
of the Portland Race. However, to my
surprise one of the smallest boats steered
a course close outside H.M.S. "Ashanti",
which took her through what race there was
and also against the strongest counter tide,
still running at nearly three knots.
Soon after we passed Portland Bill, the
first little whisps of air began to tickle the
sea surface as "Gipsy Girl" passed. Then
within a mile or two, as "Tramontana's"
engine roar identified her a mile off, a
definite breeze had set in from the south to
push up an occasional little white horse, in
keeping with force three on the Beaufort
scale. This fitted in exactly with the met.
forecast offered in advance by the Royal
Navy, and this same forecast suggested
that later during the afternoon in mid-Lyme
Bay, the wind might even go a trifle higher
to touch force 4. However we did not linger
long enough to experience anything above a
gentie force 3, which brought with it a
slight haze.
For us, in the middle of Lyme Bay soon
after "Surfury" finished at Torquay, the
visibility was 5 miles. It seemed that it was no
better an hour or two later, as I heard of
racing navigators whose first sight of land
ahead after Portland Bill proved to be
Berry Head instead of Start Point, and this
set quite a price on erring deviation.
Guardian angel of competing powerboats
was the naval frigate H,M.S. "Ashami".
Erroll Bruce viewed the race ftom the stablo
comfoft of the ship's deck and took this
picture which shows, right, Dr. F. A. Gooper,
Vice-Commodore of the Royal Motor Yach
Club, and Dennis Sessions. honorary
secretary of the Powerboat Race Committee,
talking to Commander D. R. Compton-Hall,
commanding officer of "Ashanti".
the sky things happened [ast. At one
TN
I moment we were serenely crossing the
shoreline, our pilot, Mr. Smith, dutifully
piloting, me, shrinking away from the dual
controls, doggedly trying not to pilot and
Eric Coltham, stuffed behind us into a space
the size of a large orange box, gamely
focusing a telephoto lens upon infinity.
Below us a few powerboats were cavorting,
an enormous tanker was trudging towards
them, and there was fifteen minutes to go.
Suddenly we were no longer alone. Von
Richthoten's aerial circus was reincarnated.
Our tiny Tri-Pacer was in the thick of about
fifteen aerobatic madmen and the sky
became the limit. As they were all plainly
out to get us, I kept a fearful eye to starboard
as we veered away from Austers,
helicopters, and something which went
three times as fast as we did.
Glicking Furiously
Dimly I perceived boats marshalling for
the start, running up to it, and leaving the
tanker standing. We swept down from an
exalted height and Eric started clicking
furiously. A dart shaped object, either
"Delta" or "Surfury", tore along inshore
and looked to be first away. The other
boats made patterns in the water and I
could see "Vertigo" wisely keeping to one
side and out of it all.
Ahead lay the first mark. Most of the
planes were circling the same way and
plainly all had holes cut in the same side for
photographers to peer out of. One circled
the other way and plainly had its photographer
on the opposite side. We ctmbed
furiously to avoid him, the Fast Plane
roared above us and as we ducked down
again we all but tripped over a helicopter,
clattering like a combine harvester above
the leaders.
The Swedish "Speedy Gonzales" whizzed
like a tiny tin bullet past "Surfury" but
MOTOR BOAT AND YACHTING
THE RACE FROM
THE AIR
John Liley
It wasn't iust a matter of flying close to the boats. The pilot ferrying our assistant editor and
photographor had to use all his skill in avoiding a collision with a wide variety of othel
airborne spectators, all fighting to get the closest view of the rac6. "D6lta Synthesis" and
"Thunderfish lll" are seen here hurtling towards Southsea, A few minutes late? "Thunderfish"
was a burnt-out hulk.
shortly afterwards stopped. The leaders
were strung out now, drawing a bead on
Southsea. I looked over my shoulder and
beyond Eric, and saw wake upon wake
flashing past the window. In time we would
overhaul a few boats, 030, "Thunderfish",
the Italian "Hydrosonic Special", redder
than any fire engine, and the big "Gpsy
Girl". The only engines we could hear
above our own were those of"Tramontana"
while the most devastating image of all was
the white "Delta Synthesis" bolting forward
inexorably at the behest of a lowering and
be-helmeted crew. We drew ahead and
crossed above her path. I looked down and,
incredibly, observed a tiny pram dinghy
being sculled by a man standing up. I read
the papers the following day and if "Delta
Synthesis" hit the dinghy, nobody noticed.
Perhaps we had altered course, before I
saw it, for we went back to photograph the
tail-enders, and perhaps the spectator boats
were not quite so near a sudden swatting
as they looked.
Class III was doing well. We saw
"Bewitched" lying in the wake of "Gypsy
Girl", the yellow "Avenger" going furiously.
I noticed some smoke towards Ventnor and
urged the pilot in that direction. Two years
ago I saw some exactly similar smoke whilst
watching the race from The Nab, but heard
no more about it. This time there was no
mistake; it was a boat, burning fiercely.
Alongside us, the middle of the field rushed
through glassy water off Dunnose, a spot
I'd been at myself a fortnight earlier, feeling
rather sick and then with the water far from
calm.
Ours was the first aircraft to arrive above
"Thunderfish", which burned like a giant
Bunsen. Eric took photos and we wondered
if anyone had been trapped within. A hatch
lying some way off indicated an explosion,
the smoke billowed ominously, while a swarm
of spectator boats stood gingerly by. It was

September 8, | 967
Lyme Bay never stays calm for long and
a slight chop developed, although not
enough to worry even the small Class III
boats, "Avenger", "Bewitched" and "Ia
Sorciere'', still pushing on relentlessly in
sixth, seventh and eighth spots respectively.
However, five craft retired or were seriously
set back within the last 20 miles. "[J.F.O."
had to concede third place when she broke
a vee-drive a few miles off the Skerries and
finished on one engine. She was overtaken
by "Maltese Magnum" 4 miles from the
line.
Lady Arran, co-driver with Mike Trimming
aboard "Hydrosonic Special", told a
surprising tale of how she had seen the
bottom of the transom torn away from the
hull. The reason for this is not quite certain;
the boat may have hit a 1og without the crew
knowing it. Alternatively, the extreme design
of the boat's stern, with a very deep-veed
and raked transom, may have proved too
revolutionary. To add to their troubles one
engine stopped with a fuel blockage and the
occupants were only saved from sinking
by a nearby, spectating, Fairey Huntsman
which towed them into Torquay Inner
Harbour at high speed; there "Hydrosonic
Special'o was beached. The incident was
not without its lighter moments-a fireman
pumping the boat out in an effort to float
her evidontly thought the quayside crowd
was not being properly entertained, and
aimed a hose at himself, this sporting deed
being warmly applauded by the watchers.
As "Surfury" came into Tor Bay, past
Berry Head, Charles Gardner was seen
standing outside the cockpit. Speculation
and rumours ran rife but he didn't stay
up for long and, at l.44, "Surfury" crossed
the line as smootlly as ever. Triumphantly
she motored into the harbour to patriotic
cheers from the large crowd which was now
well versed in the proceedings, a loudspeaker
having blared a commentary and
helped the uninitiated with useful chitchat
about powerboating, "Surfury" had
notched up an average speed of 53 m.p.h.-
the fastest in the history of the race.
Eleven minutes after o'Surfury", "Delta
Synthesis" found her way through the
throng of spectator craft to cross the line.
At 2.17 "Maltese Magnum" finished, two
minutes ahead of *IJ.F,O.", "Avenger",
"Bewitched" and "La Sorciere" were fourth,
fifth and sixth. Sir Max Aitken and John
Robinson, both no doubt regretting the fine
weather, finished eighth and ninth in
"Gypsy Girl" and "Jackie S" respectively.
"Surfu4/" had had a smooth run, bar a
loss of oil pressure shortly before the end.
This had been the cause of Charles
Gardneros venture on to the deck (to
replenish the oil supply). An agreement with
Charles' son, Rikki, had allowed "Delta",
the smaller boat, to 'go ahead between
Ventnor and the Solent. Jimmy Gardner said
he was far happier at this victory than
that in 1964 when "Lucky Moppie" just
missed the line and let "Surfrider" throueh
to win.
"Delta Synthesis" trim troubles were due
to an excess of fuel on the starboard side,
creating a tendency to heel. Like many of the
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bigger boats, she had been hoping for
rougher weather.
"Maltese Magnum" and "Hydrosonic
Special" had both stood by "Thunderfish
III" and helped rescue her crew. Don
Aronow, in "Maltese Magnum", said he
was delayed about ten minutes and when
restarting found water had got into the
starboard englne; he failed to get full revs.
out of it for the rest of the race, "Pascoe"
Watson, crewing for Mike Beard aboard
"Avenger", finished the race sitting on the
stern to correct the effect of a broken trim
tab. "Avenger" is by far the smallest boat
ever to finish so high up the list. Don Shead's
rd
father, H. C. Shead, finished nineteenth in
"Inertia" after the boat temporarily caught
fire near the Skerries.
The first diesel-powered boat to finish was
Sir Max Aitken's "Gypsy Girl". The Fast
Cruiser Prize went to the Danish entry
"Oh-Oh-Sex" driven by A. Westerlund.
The last boat to be accounted for was
Robin Bateman's "Screwdriver" which was
found at 9.30 after drifting in Lyme Bay for
eight hours. She had been lying ninth at
Portland Bill but had broken down soon
after, when a fuel pump started sucking air
into the engine.
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Cowes, Friday, August 25, was the sceno of bustling activity as scrutineer€ cast their b€ady €yes
over competing boate, their ongines and equipment. Ownere and drivers iust pray that months
of hard work and preparation won't be nullified by disqualification. Number 006 incidentally
is the Danish Colonet 6ntry "Oh-Oh-Sex", 145 is G. & J. Galliford's "Michelle S".
SEEN FROM THE
ESCORT VESSEL
By Erroll Bruce
LJM.S. "Ashanti" gathered speed to the
rro lvs5flvard after the fleet had raced
back a second time past her position as
outer mark to the starting line. The sea
surface of the Solent was unruffled except
-
where the tide stirred things slightly in
minor rips, such as at the Fiddlers Race
off Yarmouth. Near there lay a string of
boats with their sails hanging helplessly in
folds. There was some stir on the water
where the tidal stream hurried through the
Hurst narrows, yet beyond them the
Needles Channel seemed more glass-like
even' than the Solent itself, although the
ripples on the Shingles showed up clearer
than on a windy day.
Once past the Bridge and into fully
exposed sea, the English Channel was
smoother than I ever remember it, except
perhaps on one exceptional January, when
three or four windless days were just about
to give way to a full winter gale which sent
no warning swell ahead of it. However there
was nothing like this to follow the calm of
the powerboat race. Even off Portland Bill
the sea remained glassy, with no breath of
wind to stir up even the smallest waves, and
no swell running in from some distant blow,
while the coast was clearly visible as far as
25 miles away.
The Captain of the "Ashanti", Commander
Compton-Hall, had agreed to my
request that he take his ship through the
middle of the Portland Race, which was
conspicuous in such an environment of
calm, but still only a minor disturbance, as
the main flood tide was easins to leave little
Continued Overleaf

September B, 1967
a sobering spectacle which I worried about
until early evening when a newspaper
confirmed that Don Shead and crew were
shaken, but safe.
We had enough fuel for a return flight
to the West Solent, but failed to catch the
leaders. "Kitten Kat" was temporarily
stopped, "Maritime" was hobbling back.
3H44, "Terri-Ann", obviously delayed by
something, was overhauling the tail enders
in the manner of a shark after meat. She had
nonetheless a longer way to go than the tiny
orange "Screwdriver" which had done its
stint round Ventnor and The Nab and was
heading back in the opposite direction.
We just had time to reach Yarmouth,
I.o.W. En route a strangely deserted "Delta"
bobbed in the wash of more fortunate
tearaways. There was just time for us to
glimpse "Maltese Magnum" overtaking the
Thoresen ferry for Cherbourg, and a weird
khaki hovercraft leaving its own unique
wake, before we wheeled away from the
bedlam in the air for the last time.
We landed at Portsmouth. Mr. Smith
went to see about fuel for the flight back to
Lympne, and Eric and I bought sandwiches
amid the holidaymakers bound for Jersey.
It had been a most stirring couple of hours
in the air, an experience I can recommend
anyone who can afford it, provided that
they are inured to aerial combat, or something
rather like it.
Results
Three craft of a vari6ty of designs churn up the placid waters of the Solefi. Top to bottom:
"Ragnar", driven into 36th place by owner R. F, Derry and winner ofthe Concoursd'Elegance
Glass ll, "Grand Espoir", which finished 24th, and the Amelican "Terri-Ann", which started
20 minutes late and had to retire with engine trouble after working through the fleet to
14th pGitbn.
Overall Positions
l. "Surfury" (C. & R. Gardner), 36 ft. Souter/
Levi, Daltona, 3 hr. 44 min., 53 m.p.h.
2. "Delta Synthesis" (I. Gargiulo, Italy), 40 ft.
PartenocrafVlevi, Daytona, 3 hr. 55 min., 50i m.p.h.
3. "Maltese Magnum" (D. Aronow, U.S.A.), 27 ft.
8 in. D. Aronow, Mercury, 4 hr. 17 min.,46m.p.h.
4. "U.F.O.' (W. C. Meyers and G. A. Bethell,
Bahamas), 28 ft. 3 in. Thunderbird Products,
Holman & Moody, Ford, 4 hr. 19 min., 46 m.p.h.
5. "Avenger" (M. D. Shead, driven by M. Beard),
2l ft. Souter/Shead, Mercury, 4 hr.26 min.,44i
m.p.h.
6. "Bewitched" (M. Headford), 20 ft. 4 in. Kelvins
Accessories,{t4aloney, Mercury, 4 hr. 28 min.,
44 m.p.h.
7. "La Sorciere" (P. L. Hook), 23 ft. 2 in. Kelvins
Accessories/Maloney, Mercury, 4 hr. 35 min,,
43 m.p.h.
8. "Gypsy Girl" (Sir Max Aitken), 40 ft. Souter/
Hunt, Cummins, 4 hr. 36 min., 43 m.p.h.
9. "Jackie S" (J. V. Robinson), 34 ft. ClarVCross &
Clark Bros., Ford, 4 hr. 39 nnn.,42| m.p.h.
10. "Oh-Oh-Sex" (O. Botved, driven by A. Westerlund,
Denmark), 24 ft. Botved Boats/Wynne &
Walters. Volvo Penta. 4 hr. 4l min.. 42 m.p.h.
ll. "Tramontana II" (T. Powell and N. Barclay),
41 ft. 3 in. Vospers/du Cane, Jaguar, 4 hr. 54 min.,40
m.p.h. 12. "Trident" (J. W. Robertson), 23 ft. Clar(
Levi, Volvo, 5 hr. 4 min., 39 m.p.h. 13. "Sea Fox"
(A. V. Burnard), 21 fr. 11 in. Burnard, Perkins, 5 hr.
26 mn' 36] n.p.h. 14. "Fairey Huntsman" (L.
Dawkins, driven by C. Currey), 28 ft. 10 in. Fairey
Marine, Perkins, 5 hr. 31 min., 36 m.p.h. 15. "Big
Moose" (C. J. Russell), 44 ft. SouterAVatson, Ford,
5 hr. 13 min., 35 m.p.h. 16. "Lucinda" (J. P. Francin),
23 ft. Formula Marine/Wynne & Walters, Daytona,
5 hr. 50 min., 33j m.p.h. lT. "Firecracker" (J. Renouf),
27 ft. Union Dynamics/Campbell, Perkins, 5 hr.
56 min., 33 m.p.h. 18. (J. Sharrocks), 2l ft.
3 in. Port Hamble, Volvo, 6 hr. 5 min., 33] m.p.h.
19. "Inertia" (H. C. Shead), 27 ft. Cheverton/Levi,
Volvo, 6 hr. 6 min., 32| m.p.h. 20. "Finandardy"
(A. S. Bolton), 30 ft. 9 in. Freezer, Perkins, 6 hr. 10
min., 32 m.p.h. 21. "Dum Dum" (A. Betteridge),
26 ft. Senior Marine, Bedford,6 hr. 11min.,32 m.p.h.
22, "Tornado" (K. Bogeberg), 27 ft. 1l in. Tod,
Perkins, 6 hr. 12 min., 32 m.p.h. 23. "Maritime 02"
(M. Lewis, driven by G. Peroni, U.S.A.), 25 ft. Maritime
Products, Johnson, 6 ht'. 15 min., 3l] m,p.h.
24. "Grand Espoir" (Cdr. P. Thornycroft), 40 ft, 4 in.
Nelson, Caterpillar, 6 hr. 16 min., 3lf m.p.h. 25.
"Pegasus" (J. Jacob), 31 ft. Christchurch Yachy'Cox &
Haswell, Perkins, 6 hr. 17 min.,31-| m.p.h.26. "Guiding
Light II" (Earl of Normanton), 28 ft. 10 in. Fairey
Marine/Burnard, Perkins, 6 hr. 20 min., 31 m.p.h.
27. "Flower Power" (Miss P. Carter), 28 ft. 10 in.
Fairey Marine/Burnard, Perkins, 6 hr. 23 rnin., 31 m.p.h.
28. "Tremor" (C. Tremlett), 25 ft. Tremlett (Skicraft),
Mercruiser, 6 hr. 28 min., 30] m.p.h. 29. "Just Dandy"
(D. R. Mines), 2'7 ft. Freezer/Palmer, Perkins, 6 hr.
30 min., 30] m.p.h. 30. "Poseidon" (D. W. Wright),
23 ft. ClarVl-Evi, Volvo, 6 hr. 34 min., 30 m.p.h.
31. "Vivacity" (Sir Max Aitken, driven by I. Lallow),
38 ft. Bertram Boat Co., Cummins, 6 hr. 41 min.,
29! m.p.h. 32. "Chasseur" (B. Heath), 27 ft. Bertram
Boat Co./Hunt, Chrysler, 6 hr. 42 min., 29f m.p.h.
33. "Kitten Kat III'(F. H. Child, driven by M. Cornforth
and J. Buck), 21 ft. Child, Mercury,6 hr.45 min.,
29 m.p.h. 34. "Waterline Huntress" (A. R. Sibldy,
driven by P. Twiss), 23 ft. Fairey Marine, Perkins,
6 hr. 45 min., 29 m.p.h. 35. "Lobster Thermidor"
(R. Hobart), 25 ft. Campbell,/Hunt, E-type Jaguars,
6 hr. 47 min., 29 m.p.h. 36. "Ragnar" (R. F. Derry),
2'7 ft. 3 in. Selco, Volvo, 6 tu. 47 min., 29 m.p.h.
37. "Heatwave" (E. V. Wagner), 23 ft. 9 in., Hardingham/Wagner,
Mercruiser, 7 t:r, 34 min., 27 m.p.h.
38. "Sheburn" (B. J. Jelley), 28 ft. Tod, Volvo, 8 hr.
38 min., 23 m.p.h. 39. "Missus Smith" (P. McKiernan),
27 ft. Dell Quay, O.M.C', t hr. 53 min., l7] m.p.h.
"Hum Drum" (Miss H. Laing) completed the course
after the time limit had exPired.
Retirements (with last mark passed).
"Viva Tridante" (D. Smith), "Speedy Gonzales"
(T. Boghammar), "llltimatum" (W. Shand-Kydd),
"Michelle S" (C. & J. Galtiford) and "Broad Jumper"
(J., D. & M. Morris): Cowes (lst time). "Thunderfish
III" (A. Figgins, driven by D. Shead), "Tremor" (C.
Tremlett) and "Ultra Violet" (Lady V. Aitken):
Southsea (lst time). "Sandpiper Too" (E. Lacy-
Hulbert): Ventnor. "Vertigo" (K. Horseman):
Southsea (2nd time). "Wildcat" (K. Cassir) and
"Delta" (R. Gardner (Jun.)): Cowes (2nd time).
"Terri-Ann" (W. Vickers) and "Thunderstreak II"
(R. Rodman): Bournemouth. "Seahunter" (J. K.
Iddon), "Screwdriver" (R. Bateman) and "Hydrosonic
Special" (L Gargiulo, driven by M. Trimming):
Portland Bill. "Venus" (Miss H. Laing): Skerries Buoy.
Prize List
Overall Winner (Beaverbrook Challenge Trophy
and f1,000): "Surfury" (C. & R. Gardner).
2nd overall @illy Butlin Trophy and f,500): "Delta
Synthesis" (I. Gargiulo).
3rd overall (Lombard Bank Trophy and 1100):
"Maltese Magnum" (D. Aronow).
Best All-rounder (Perkins Engines Trophy and
f,500): "Pegasus" (J. Jacob).
First S.B.B.N.F. British hull (S.B.B.N.F. Members'
Trophy and 1500): "Surfury", built by Wilf Souter
of Cowes.
All British Prize (Royal Motor Yacht Club's
Trophy and f500): "Trarnontana II" (T. Powell &
N. Barclay).
Visitor's Prize (Leeds Trophy and f250): "Delta
Synthesis".
Fast Cruiser Prize (f100): "Oh-Oh-Sex" (Botved,
driven by Westerlund).
Fuel Economy Prize (f,100): "Waterline Huntress"
(A. R. Sibley/driven by P. Twiss).
Unlimited Diesel Prize (King George's Fund
Trophy and f100): "Gypsy Gid" (Sir Max Aitken).
Restricted Diesel Prize and f,100: "Seafox" (A. V.
Burnard).
Production Boat Prizes'-
Class A (Royal Yacht Squadron Trophy and
f,100): "Fairey Huntsman" (L. Dawkins, driven by
C. Currey).
Class B @oyal Torbay Yacht Club Trophy and
f,100): "Inertia" (H. C. Shead).
Class C (Cowes Town Cup and fl00): "Oh-Oh-
Sex".
Team Award (Iriplex Trophy and fl00): United
Kingdom Outboard Boating Association, "Seafox",
"Guiding Light II" and "Fairey Huntsman".
First Outboard (Johnson Trophy and 3100):
"Maltese Magnum".
Lowest-powered Finisher MEMA Trophy): "Waterline
Huntress".
Index of Performance (Needell Trophy and fl00):
"Pegasus".
Miami Nassau Prize (Bahamas Trophy): "Maltese
Magnum".
Concours d'Elegance Class I (International Boat
Show Award): "Pegasus".
Class II (S.B.B.N.F. Award): "Ragnar" (R. F.
Derrv).

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26A,67 again. Eric Goltham's camela catches four ln full flight for Torquay (which they all
reached). Number 2O5, K, Bogeberg's "Tornado" is seen braving a competitor's wa$h,just about
the roughest water anyone had to face.
1 1O is the redoubtable "Jackie S" (which once brought Dr. Emil Savundra additional fame);
she is now owned by J. V. Robinson and has twin 4OO h.p. Interceptols aboard in place of the
earlier Sea Unicorns. Centre boat of the trio is the all-aluminium "Just Dandy", built for
D. R. Mines by A. E. Freezer of Hayling lsland.2O2 is "Guiding Light ll", a Fairey Huntsmanand
one ol a range which are surely amongst the most consistent race performers anywhere.