1906 Hudson River Water Carnival
Hudson River, New York, September 10-15, 1906

Motor Boats In Long Run
Sparrow Wins Poughkeepsie Race, but Artful Makes Best Speed

Real Motor Boat Records Possible at Last to Secure Authentic Standards for America Motor Boats to Race for Records and Cups More Boats in Long Run Fast Motor Boat Afire at End of Run Motor Boats in Six Races Two Drown in Hudson Dixie Leads Motor Boats Motor Boats Divide Prizes Motor Boat Races on the Hudson The Carnival Motor Boat Ratings Needs Radical Change Motor Boat Club of America Week The Reliability Trials Long-Distance Race to Poughkeepsie and Return Carnival of the M.B.C. of America The National Carnival Editorials

No records were broken yesterday in the long distance motor boat race to Poughkeepsie and back, which formed the second day's event in the week's series of racing held by the Motor Boat Club of America. The contest started at 9:30 in the morning from the clubhouse at the foot of West 112th Street, the entire run being 115.6 knots -- about 130 statute miles. Nine boats started and the winner was C. J. Swain's Sparrow of 31.8 horse power, her generous time allowance of 3:37:27, landing her the winner, but the best actual time was made by Payne Whitney's new cabin cruising boat Artful. The latter boat made the trip from 112th Street to Poughkeepsie and back in 6:05:33. The Artful's average speed was 21.93 statute miles while the Sparrow did 19.74 miles. The Artful is 70 feet in length and her engines develop over 132 horse power. Charles L. Seabury steered her and the boat carried a crew of three men. The Artful has been used all Summer by Payne Whitney at Newport, and she was brought to New York a few days ago. The long distance record is a trifle over 26 miles made two years ago by XPDNC.

The scratch boat of the lot was J. P. Anderson's Irene of 201 horse power. It was absolutely impossible for her to win, for, according to the official rating, she would have had to make 37 knots, a speed that no motor boat has yet come anywhere near accomplishing. The Irene did not last long enough to show what she might do for off West Point on the outward trip she broke down. H. N. Baruch's 190 horse power Skedaddle broke her reversing gear off Spuyten Duyvil on the outward trip. The other boats that started were A. D. Proctor Smith's Simplex VI, James L Breese's Decoy, steered by James Breese Jr.; W. Ferguson Jr's White Fox; J. H. Durno's Durno, and L. L. Haggin's Vesuvius. Some of the boats did not finish until after dark. The times of the three leaders:

(Transcribed from the New York Times, Sep. 12, 1906, p. 7. )

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

Hydroplane History Home Page
This page was last revised Thursday, April 01, 2010 .
Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Email us at wildturnip@gmail.com
© Leslie Field, 2000