The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-01-03
RACE Of MOTOR
BOATS NOW
ASSURED
international Event Attract
ing Great Attention in
Sporting Circles.

| No event, with the possible excep
ton of the now famous yacht races
between English and American boats
! has attracted as wide attention in
sporting circles as the Miami-Nassau
motor boat race. or the race from
flag to flag" says the Jacksonville
! Times Union
This event, which is to be run of
for the first time. weather permitting
on February s, 1907, has practically
governments in the world, England
and the United States, England's
interest is shown by the fact that the
proposed race is Sir William Grey
Wilson, encouragement of the Ba-
hamas.
That this country is interested, Off
cially, is shown by the fact that the
navy department has, at the request
of Senator John r Dryden. of New
Jersey, and others, detailed certain
gunboats, with the Scorpion specifi-
cally designated, to act as escort. The
race begins in American waters, at
Miami, and ends in English waters,
at Nassau. No more purely interna-
tional event could be imagined.
The Scorpion, which has been desig-
mated to act as chief escort, is the con
verted steam yacht Sovereign. 1t is
twin-screw, has an indicated horse
power. of 2,S08, and its speed is placed
at 1I.S5 knots per hour. England
may designate similar boat to assist
in the work of escorting the little mo-
tor boats. and the excitement that is
certain to attend this event will be
almost limitless.
The Course to be Run.
The trim little motor boats enter
ed for the hazardous race, will not
follow the course usually taken by
steamers plying between Miami and
Nassau, but vial follow a course that
has been mapped out especially for
them. This course is as follows:
Starting from Miami, the trim. little
craft will make the first dash to Cape
Florida and from that point will head,
in direct line. to Gun Key.
At Gun Key, working their way
along through shallewer water, the
motor boats will cross what is known
sas the Great Bahama banks There
they will turn and run through the
northwest channel and then, swerving
slightly. race straight into Nassau,
where the beautiful cup offered by
Gov. Gen. Grey-Wilson will be pre-
sented to the winner
Marking the Course.
Arrangements have been perfected
whereby two large spongers will an
Choir at points between Gun Key
and the northwest channel, and be-
tween the northwest channel and Mas
sau. These will be plainly marked
with large, bright-red flags during the
day and with plainly Visible lights at
night. All racers will be required to
pass them in the race, and records
thereon will be made by officials sta
toned on the spongers.
The total course will be equal to
about zoe statute miles. It is one of
the most daring racing plans ever con-
ceived and because of this it has stir
red the lovers of water sport and the
admirers of the. trim, fast title motor
boats as few other events could have
done
The shallowest water that the rae
ers will encounter will be that over
the Great Bahama banks, and that
varies from one and one-half down to
one fathom, the shallowest giving
plenty of water for .boats of the class
entered for this big international
sporting event.