1909 Monaco Regatta
The Monaco Motor-Boat Meeting
[5]Monte Carlo, April 7. Motor-boat racing at Monaco to-day took place under ideal conditions--bright sunshine and a smooth sea, with an absence of heavy swell. The chief race was for the championship of France, the first three boats being entitled to compete in the Grand Prix International (Coupe des Nations), which will be run on Friday, for a first prize of 10,000f. (£400). The race was over a course of 100 kilometres, the conditions being that the motor must be of French construction. There were no restrictions as to where the hull should be built.
The British boat E.N.V., owned by Captain Laycock, and driven by an E.N.V. engine, entered but she was never driven at her top speed, and though she crossed the line first she was soon overhauled, and retired after the first round. There were four other starters--Panhard-Levassor, which was only just beaten by the British boat Wolseley-Siddeley on Monday, Delahaye-Nautilus XIII, fitted with a Delahaye motor, Ricochet XXIII, fitted with an E.N.V., and Fauber-Labor-Motobloc, with a Motobloc motor. As was to be expected, Panhard-Levassor, with her greater length and higher-powered engines, lead easily all the way and won as she liked, doing the course in 1hr. 47min. 24sec. The chief interest centred in the performance of the two hydroplanes, the Fauber boat and Ricochet. The Fauber vessel is designed with a series of steps or planes in the hull, while the Ricochet has only one step. Suited by the smooth sea they both ran splendidly, going over the surface with very little fuss or pounding. Delahaye-Nautilus was well in for second place until the eleventh round, when she was forced to retire owing to engine troubles, leaving the hydroplanes to fight it out. In the end Fauber secured second place, beating Ricochet by a narrow margin.
A race for small cruisers was run in the morning over the 50 kilometres course. Chantecler, fitted with a Brasiers motor, won, doing the course in 1hr. 9min. 2 sec. An interesting feature, noticed only by a few, was a little trial spin which the American boat Dixie, which failed so sadly on Monday, had with the French crack Panhard. Whilst the latter was going full speed on Monday the swell was too heavy for the American boat, but to-day the weather conditions were more to her liking. Coming out of the harbour while the race was on she lay well away from the Panhard, and then going full out raced down one length of the course. From the shore she seemed to hold her own with the French boat just for this short burst. if the same weather conditions prevail on Friday, it is evident after all that Dixie will have to be reckoned with in the great international contest.
(Transcribed from the Times of London, Apr. 8, 1909, p. 5. )
[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page —LF]
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