Destriero was a 67-metre (220 ft) long, 13-metre (43 ft) wide, 400-ton displacement, yacht built by Fincantieri in their Muggiano yard at La Spezia in 1991. She was fitted with three GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbines totalling 60,000-horsepower (45,000 kW),[1] providing her with a maximum speed of 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph; 59 kn). Destriero was built with the sponsorship of the Aga Khan IV and others specifically to cross the Atlantic Ocean in record time of 3 days and secure the Blue Riband.[2][3]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Italy | |
| Name | Destriero |
| Builder | Fincantieri |
| Launched | 1991 |
| Fate | Scrapped 2023 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Private yacht |
| Displacement | 400 long tons (406 t) |
| Length | 68.19 m (223.7 ft) |
| Beam | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Propulsion | 3 × GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbine engines, 60,000 hp (45,000 kW) total |
| Speed | 67 knots (124 km/h; 77 mph) |
In 1992 Destriero crossed the Atlantic, without refuelling, twice, firstly westbound from Tarifa Point, Spain to Ambrose Light, New York.[3] Her eastbound voyage was from the Ambrose Light to Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, a distance of 3,106 nautical miles (5,752 km), at an average speed of 53.09 knots (98.32 km/h). Despite the record time of 58 hours, 34 minutes and 5 seconds, Destriero was denied the Hales Trophy, because she was classed as a "private yacht" and not a "commercial passenger vessel".[2][4] Destriero did, however receive the Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy, awarded by former record-holder Richard Branson for the fastest crossing by any vessel, and the Columbus Atlantic Trophy sponsored by the Costa Smeralda and New York Yacht Clubs for the fastest trans-Atlantic round-trip.[2][3]
The ship was laid up in HMNB Devonport dockyard, Plymouth, England for ten years,[4] but was removed in February 2009, reportedly for Lürssen ship yard.[citation needed] Destriero was scrapped in 2023.
References
edit- ^ "GE Gas Turbines Provide Reliable Propulsion and Onboard Power for 17 Cruise Ships". GE Aviation. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ^ a b c "Fincantieri celebrates 20th anniversary of Destriero record". Superyacht Times. Superyacht Company BV. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ a b c Lloyd, Barbara (1 June 1992). "Boating; A Race Against Time And Atlantic's Waters". New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Destriero Laid Up at Devonport". Irishseashipping.com. 26 August 2006. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
External links
edit- Ships Registry Information
- Info Page for Motor Yacht DESTRIERO by Fincantieri Yachts - Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani
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