1911] on Travelling at High Speeds on Surface of Earth. 127 



" I do not think the curve would be materially altered if vessels 

 of other builders were brought in, although there would naturally be 

 more points on it." 



I am able, however, to give you the results to-night of sometliing 

 which has altogether put in the shade even the speeds of the two first- 

 mentioned boats. This has been attained by a boat which, though 

 corresponding in some respects with previous hydroplane boats, has 

 been designed by Sir John Thornycroft to possess a certain amount 

 of seaworthiness. The rate of progress in the increasing speeds in 

 this class of boat is shown on a separate curve, Fig. 4, from which 

 you will see that the celebrated Miranda held as a hydroplane the 

 record with the Tartar for speed, the Ursula also holding the record 

 of about the same speed as a motor-boat. Only a few days ago, how- 

 ever, the new boat Maple Leaf III. has attained the extraordinary speed 

 of nearly 50 knots, that is to say, a speed approaching GO miles an 

 hour, using 600 horse-power to effect this speed. To use a vulgar ex- 

 pression, this certainly smashes all previous records for speed. I do 

 not pretend to give exact figures in this case, because such have not 

 been officially taken, but the statement is probably on the low side as 

 the boat has not been yet properly tuned up. You will see one re- 

 markable thing from the curve, namely, that the rate of progress has 

 been so rapid in this class of boat, and the curve rises so steeply, that 

 in about three months' time there is due from Sir John Thornycroft a 

 boat which will travel at about loO miles an hour. I am afraid, how- 

 ever, it would not be fair to press this graphical argument quite so far. 



Through the kindness of Sir John Thornycroft, and Mr. Edgar, 

 the owner of the Maple Leaf, I am able to show both the Miranda 

 and the Maple Leaf III. The latter, you will see, is travelling at 

 such an extraordinary rate that the water which is lifted up does not 

 fall to the surface again until the boat itself has travelled several 

 lengths away. You may be interested to see a model of this last boat, 

 which has been kindly prepared for me to show to-night, as well as the 

 Tartar and Miranda. You will notice the form of the Maple Leaf 

 III. is that of a steeped hydroplane, which in a modified form was 

 first suggested by Mr. Eamus many years ago ; it is the secret of 

 placing the weight, and also the development of light engines giving 

 large horse-power, which has enabled the dream of Mr. Ramus to be 

 fulfilled. 



Turning to the last of the three elements, namely, air, it was my 

 intention to have dealt with it at greater length than I now find it is 

 possible to do, but, thanks to the daily Press and illustrated journals, 

 this subject is as fresh in the minds of everybody as it is familiar. It 

 is not necessary in this room to remark that the wild talk of almost 

 incredible speeds has very little foundation. Bodies move quickly 

 enough in the air, and very often far too quickly, but what is gener- 

 ally overlooked is that the difficulty of the problem lies in the matter 

 of supporting the body in the air rather than moving through it, a 



