Useful facts + excellent stories about Virgin Atlantic Challenger II

Richard Branson narrowly succeeded on this his second attempt at this record after problems with fuel filters that the Irish Navy managed to sort out for him. His first boat sank.

Branson considered the world wide publicity the 2 attempts generated more than paid for his tilt at the Atlantic record.

The Blue Ribband was awarded to the ship that made the fastest commercial transatlantic crossing. The award is based on average speed rather than shortest elapsed time because the transatlantic routes vary in length.

The gallant paddle steamer Sirius made the first powered crossing of the Atlantic taking 19 days, often in bad weather from Queenstown (Cobh) to New York (see Sirius - and the Blue Ribband of the Atlantic ).

At that time commercial sailing ships race the North Atlantic usually taking 21 days.

The Cunard line "Mauretania" (you can buy a limited edition print of her maiden departure - see "The Mauretania, Cunard Express Liner" ) held the award for longer than any other ship until the SS Unites States.

The artist attended at the invitation of Tamzin Mitchell of Radio Cornwall and with the press, waited for 2 days at St Mary's. While the press did what they do best while waiting, Gordon Frickers produced 2 beautiful oil sketches of the port of St Mary. Eventually, he was present on the Fleet Street press boat on a choppy and squally evening as Virgin Challenger II passed Bishops Rock Lighthouse. Virgin Challenger II having made the (then) fastest powered Transatlantic crossing to date. He was the only photographer who managed to get colour shots on that damp rough evening.

The Artist produced a watercolour on the spot of his impression and completed it that evening during the press conference. It was signed on the reverse by all the crew (he still has it) and within a week he produced this dashing oil painting for an exhibition in Plymouth. Both Sir Richard Branson and Chay Blyth are clearly recognisable in the painting.

Later the oil painting was sold in London to Branson who haggled the price down to a few hundred pounds, good negotiating although some might say unappreciative of such a unique painting, even very mean. Maybe he just does not appreciate paintings?

His Atlantic dash was a considerable achievement, Branson was not given the converted "Blue Ribband of the Atlantic". That remains with the SS United States, to this day, still the fastest of commercial liners.