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Destriero Laid Up at Devonport Photographs © John H. Luxton 2006 |
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DESTRIERO has for many years been laid
up in #2 Basin at Devonport Naval Dockyard. Those familiar with
SUPERSEACAT TWO may just think that the bow has a certain
similarity.
Well perhaps its not surprising DESTRIERO was constructed by Fincantieri some years before the MDV1200 class of vessels appeared. She was constructed for Agha Khan in 1992 with a view to take the Blue Riband trophy then held by HOVERSPEED GREAT BRITAIN. |
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Whilst DESTRIERO
succeeded in breaking the trans-Atlantic crossing record on August
09, 1992 with a 53,09 knots average speed, in 58 hours 34
minutes and 5 seconds. her right to the Blue Riband Hales Trophy was
denied as she is classed as a private yacht and not as a commercial
passenger ship. The Blue Riband is currently held by Incat 049 which
currently carries the name MASTER CAT and operates between Hanstholm
and Kristiansand. However, this fact does not appear to have sunk in
with a number of Plymouth pleasure cruise operators whose
commentaries often inform passengers that the vessel actually holds
the Blue Riband! She has spent well over a decade at Devonport what the future holds is not known, but for what is basically a floating fuel tank powered by three General Electric gas turbines, this outsize power-boat is hardly the most saleable commodity in these oil price conscious times! |
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