1909 Hudson River Carnival
Motorboat Den Wins Poughkeepsie Race
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As splendid a test as is often given of the qualities of motor boats for Hudson River service was given yesterday in the annual long-distance races to Poughkeepsie and Peekskill. The events closed the four days’ series of races that have been held under the auspices of the Motor Boat Club of America from the quarters of the New York Motor Boat Club, foot of West 147th Street. The stiff northwest breeze churned up the water and the speed boats all reported high waves with plenty of water rolling into the cockpit while going through the Tappen Zee.
In the three divisions twenty-three boats started, the largest fleet that has competed in the long-distance Hudson River events. Seven high-speed boat started at 9:40 o’clock in the morning for the big run of the day to Poughkeepsie and back, 115 nautical miles. Joseph H. Hoadley’s Den, the winner last year, captured the trophy again on time allowance, just getting the advantage over the scratch boat, Gunfire II, by 7 minutes 21 seconds, but on actual running time the former finished the long race in 5 hours 54 minutes 20 seconds, nearly 9 minutes ahead of Den.
Gunfire is a new boat, and this was the first long run of her career. She was in charge of H. W. Patterson, with Jack Schraffer as engineer. For a boat only equipped with a thirty horse power engine she did remarkably well, and her fast time created considerable surprise among the power boat enthusiasts. It was necessary to keep bailing at a lively rate through the wide stretch of the Tappen Zee, and the two men returned to the club drenched. No stops were made for fuel, the boat having carried thirty gallons of gasoline, and twenty-three gallons were consumed in the run.
A big fleet started in the cruising boat race for craft under 40 feet to Peekskill, sixty nautical miles. S. W. Granbery’s Irene II, although beaten on elapsed time by XL, won the race on corrected time, defeating the Elmo II by 15 minutes and 22 seconds. XL, unfortunately had to be disqualified by the committee as she failed to cross the starting line properly. William Duncan’s Barbara gave the Elmo II a close race for second honors, but lost the place by a trifle over 10 minutes.
Very few boats were disabled, but some of the boats with high handicaps did not finish until late.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, Sep. 19, 1909, Sect. IV, p. 3.)
[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page --LF]
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