1908 Buffalo Launch Club Regatta
Niagara River, Buffalo NY, August 15, 1908

At Buffalo August 15th How the Courier Scored -- Another Sterling Triumph

At the Buffalo Launch Club's regatta, held on the Niagara River, August 1, Courier, owned by W. J. Conners, of Buffalo, and equipped with an eight-cylinder 100-hp Sterling engine, won the speed race over the Bedell House course and made better than 27.3 miles per hour.

Where the interest in the race centered in Courier and H. S. (owned by Mr. Spillman), there were five other boats in the race, and the 5-mile course was covered twice. From the start Courier steadily overhauled the boats which had started ahead of her. H. S. held her place well during the first half, and it was not until the last quarter that Courier shook her off and shot over the line, winning by eight seconds.

Expert handicappers declare that the winning of this race places Courier in the championship class of motor boats of the country. Her speed demonstrated that she was the fastest boat on the river, and experts say she would race well with any boat in the country with the handicap which her measurements and power entitles her to.

Courier was designed and built by the Sterling Engine Company, and her dimensions are as follows: Length over all, 35 feet; length waterline, 34 feet 9 inches; beam, extreme, 4 feet 5¼ inches; beam, waterline, 4 feet 2 inches; draft 9½ inches.

Her engine is an eight-cylinder, 100-hp. Sterling of the regular model B type, which is built especially for speed: bore, 5½ inches; stroke, 6 inches. All working parts are exceptionally larege, which gives the engine remarkable endurance and power.

The Sterling Engine Co. of Buffalo, N.Y., will be glad to furnish interested parties full particulars regarding their engines, and a copy of their new 48-page catalogue will be mailed on request.

(Transcribed from Yachting, October 1908, pp.223-224 )

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

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