thumb|, last winner of the Blue Riband
thumb|Cunard's . She held the Blue Riband for the second-longest period of any ship, for 20 years, from 1909 to 1929.
The Blue Riband () is an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest average speed. The term was borrowed from horse racing and was not widely used until after 1910. The record is based on average speed rather than passage time because ships follow different routes.
Also, eastbound and westbound speed records are reckoned separately, as the more difficult westbound record voyage, against the Gulf Stream and the prevailing weather systems, typically results in lower average speeds.
Of the 35 Atlantic liners to hold the Blue Riband, 25 were British, followed by five German, three American, and one each from Italy and France. Thirteen were Cunarders (plus of Cunard White Star), five White Star liners, with four owned by Norddeutscher Lloyd, two by Collins, two by Inman, two by Guion, and one each by British American, Great Western, Hamburg-America, the Italian Line, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique and finally the United States Lines.) and changed several times thereafter. It was awarded to just three Blue Riband holders during the express liner era. The trophy continues to be awarded, though many people believe United States remains as the holder of the Blue Riband, because no subsequent record-breaker was in Atlantic passenger service.
Background
The first well-documented crossing of the North Atlantic, though not the earliest, was that of John Cabot's ship Matthew in the summer of 1497. Matthew crossed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 35 days, returning the following month in just 17 days.
Over the next three centuries, countless vessels (merchant ships and warships, fast and slow, in peace and war) crossed back and forth over the North Atlantic, all subject to the vagaries of wind and weather. They arrived at port when they could, dependent on the wind, and left when they were loaded, frequently visiting other ports to complete their routes. During this period eastbound passages of 30 and 45 days were not uncommon, while westward passages of 65 to 90 days excited no attention. It was the advent of the steamship, with its independence from wind power, which offered the possibility of regular, scheduled Atlantic crossings, in periods of two to three weeks, that opened a new era of transatlantic travel and competition.
History
The term "Blue Riband of the Atlantic" did not come into use until the 1890s, and the history of the trans-Atlantic competition, which was compiled retrospectively, was regarded as starting with the crossings by the steamships Sirius and Great Western in 1838. Although not the first steamships to cross the Atlantic (Savannah had crossed in 1819, and Royal William in 1831) nor the fastest to make the crossing (the packet sailing ship Columbia crossed west to east in 15 days 23 hours in 1830, and crossings by sail packets of 16 and 17 days were not unheard of) the Sirius and Great Western were the first steamships offering a regular, scheduled trans-Atlantic service; and crucially, they were involved in a race. Cunard refused officially to recognise the title because racing vessels was not in line with the company's safety policy.
Paddlers (1838–1872)
thumb|Sirius is considered the first Atlantic record-holder for her 1838 voyage to New York at
thumb|In 1843, Great Western recorded a record-breaking voyage of
The idea of building a line of transatlantic steamships was mooted in 1832 by Junius Smith, an American lawyer turned London merchant. The idea came to him during an Atlantic crossing which took 57 days, a not unusual occurrence, and it was published in the American Rail Road Journal. After receiving no support for several years, his plan gained credibility when Scottish shipbuilder Macgregor Laird became an investor. The next year, the Great Western Steamship Company was established, even though the rail line was still years from completion.
By spring 1838, Brunel's was ready for sea, but Smith's first ship was still without engines. When Great Western scheduled its initial sailing, Laird suggested that British and American charter the Irish Sea steamer from the St. George Steam Packet Company for two voyages to beat Great Western. Until 1850, the record passed between various Cunarders, finally reaching for an 8-day Liverpool-Halifax crossing by Asia. Record voyages during this period were often the result of using sails to gain extra speed from a following gale. In its first year, 1850, the set the record at on a 10-day run from Liverpool to New York. Unfortunately, Collins suffered a setback when its foundered with heavy loss of life.
thumb|Tom Gentry's Gentry Eagle at Mamaroneck, New York, prior to a record attempt
At sea, United States ' record stood until 1986, when it was challenged by British businessman Richard Branson and his high-speed motor vessel, Virgin Atlantic Challenger. Despite having to stop to refuel on several occasions, Branson shaved two hours off the record, increasing the average speed to 36.4 knots. However, as Virgin Atlantic Challenger was not a passenger vessel, the New York Maritime Museum refused to part with the Hales Trophy, so Branson inaugurated the Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy, for the fastest unqualified Atlantic crossing, open to all challengers. Three years later, this was won by Tom Gentry, whose Gentry Eagle slashed the record, crossing in 62 hours at an average speed of 47.4 knots.
In 1992, the Virgin Atlantic Challenge was won by the Aga Khan's Destriero, crossing in 58 hours 34 minutes and averaging 53.09 knots. She also made a record-breaking return journey, winning the Columbus Atlantic Trophy, posted by the yacht club in response to the Virgin Atlantic Challenge for the fastest two-way voyage, i.e. a single crossing and return voyage within a specified time.
Meanwhile, Incat, builders of fast catamaran ferries, and therefore indisputably commercial vessels, decided to make an attempt to win the Hales Trophy, the record still held by United States. This was achieved in 1990 by Hoverspeed Great Britain, with a non-stop crossing of 79 hours 54 minutes, averaging 36.6 knots, and Incat were awarded the trophy by the Hales Trophy Committee. Eight years later, this record was broken by another Incat vessel, Catalonia, and again the following month by Cat-Link V with 68 hours and 9 minutes (41.28 knots).
With the end of the express liners era, the Blue Riband has become an item of largely historical interest, with some authors regarding the United States as the last holder of the accolade.
| 30px
| 1838
| 4–22 April
| British & American
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 18 d, 14 h, 22 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1838
| 8–23 April
| GW
| Avonmouth
| New York
|
| 15 d, 12 h, 0 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1838
| 2–17 June
| GW
| Avonmouth
| New York
|
| 14 d, 16 h, 0 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1839
| 18–31 May
| GW
| Avonmouth
| New York
|
| 13 d, 12 h, 0 m
|
|-
| Columbia
| 30px
| 1841
| 4–15 June
| Cunard
| Liverpool
| Halifax
|
| 10 d, 19 h, 0 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1843
| 29 April – 11 May
| GW
| Liverpool
| New York
|
| 12 d, 18 h, 0 m
|
|-
| Cambria
| 30px
| 1845
| 19–29 July
| Cunard
| Liverpool
| Halifax
|
| 9 d, 20 h, 30 m
|
|-
| America
| 30px
| 1848
| 3–12 June
| Cunard
| Liverpool
| Halifax
|
| 9 d, 0 h, 16 m
|
|-
| Europa
| 30px
| 1848
| 14–23 October
| Cunard
| Liverpool
| Halifax
|
| 8 d, 23 h, 0 m
|
|-
| Asia
| 30px
| 1850
| 18–27 May
| Cunard
| Liverpool
| Halifax
|
| 8 d, 14 h, 50 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1850
| 11–21 September
| Collins
| Liverpool
| New York
|
| 10 d, 4 h, 45 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1851
| 6–16 August
| Collins
| Liverpool
| New York
|
| 9 d, 19 h, 26 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1854
| 28 June – 7 July
| Collins
| Liverpool
| New York
|
| 9 d, 16 h, 52 m
|
|-
| Persia
| 30px
| 1856
| 19–29 April
| Cunard
| Liverpool
| Sandy Hook
|
| 9 d, 16 h, 16 m
|
|-
| Scotia
| 30px
| 1863
| 19–27 July
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| New York
|
| 8 d, 3 h, 0 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1872
| 17–25 May
| W.Star
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 7 d, 23 h, 17 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1875
| 30 July – 7 August
| W.Star
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 7 d, 23 h, 7 m
|
|-
| City of Berlin
| 30px
| 1875
| 17–25 September
| Inman
| Queenstown
| Sandy Bank
|
| 7 d, 18 h, 2 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1876
| 27 October – 4 November
| W.Star
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 7 d, 13 h, 11 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1877
| 6–13 April
| W.Star
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 7 d, 11 h, 37 m
|
|-
| Alaska
| 30px
| 1882
| 9–16 April
| Guion
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 7 d, 6 h, 20 m
|
|-
| Alaska
| 30px
| 1882
| 14–21 May
| Guion
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 7 d, 4 h, 12 m
|
|-
| Alaska
| 30px
| 1882
| 18–25 June
| Guion
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 7 d, 1 h, 58 m
|
|-
| Alaska
| 30px
| 1883
| 29 April – 6 May
| Guion
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 6 d, 23 h, 48 m
|
|-
| Oregon
| 30px
| 1884
| 13–19 April
| Guion
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 6 d, 10 h, 10 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1885
| 16–22 August
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 6 d, 5 h, 31 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1887
| 29 May – 4 June
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 6 d, 4 h, 12 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1888
| 27 May – 2 June
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 6 d, 1 h, 55 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1889
| 2–8 May
| Inman
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 23 h, 7 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1889
| 22–28 August
| Inman
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 19 h, 18 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1891
| 30 July – 5 August
| W.Star
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 18 h, 8 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1891
| 13–19 August
| W.Star
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 16 h, 31 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1892
| 20–27 July
| Inman
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 15 h, 58 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1892
| 13–18 October
| Inman
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 14 h, 24 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1893
| 18–23 June
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 15 h, 37 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1894
| 12–17 August
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 9 h, 29 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1894
| 26–31 August
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 8 h, 38 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1894
| 23–28 September
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 7 h, 48 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1894
| 21–26 October
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 7 h, 23 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1898
| 30 March – 3 April
| NDL
| The Needles
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 20 h, 0 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1900
| 6–12 July
| Hapag
| Eddystone
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 15 h, 46 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1900
| 26 August – 1 September
| Hapag
| Cherbourg
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 12 h, 29 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1901
| 26 July – 1 August
| Hapag
| Cherbourg
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 16 h, 12 m
|
|-
| Kronprinz Wilhelm
| 26px
| 1902
| 10–16 September
| NDL
| Cherbourg
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 11 h, 57 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1903
| 2–8 September
| Hapag
| Cherbourg
| Sandy Hook
|
| 5 d, 11 h, 54 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1907
| 6–10 October
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 4 d, 19 h, 52 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1908
| 17–21 May
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 4 d, 20 h, 22 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1908
| 5–10 July
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Sandy Hook
|
| 4 d, 19 h, 36 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1909
| 8–12 August
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Ambrose Light
|
| 4 d, 16 h, 40 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1909
| 26–30 September
| Cunard
| Queenstown
| Ambrose Light
|
| 4 d, 10 h, 51 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1930
| 20–25 March
| NDL
| Cherbourg
| Ambrose Light
|
| 4 d, 17 h, 6 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1933
| 27 June – 2 July
| NDL
| Cherbourg
| Ambrose Light
|
| 4 d, 16 h, 48 m
|
|-
|
| 25px
| 1935
| 30 May – 3 June
| CGT
| Bishop Rock
| Ambrose Light
|
| 4 d, 3 h, 2 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1936
| 20–24 August
| C-WS
| Bishop Rock
| Ambrose Light
|
| 4 d, 0 h, 27 m
|
|-
|
| 25px
| 1937
| 29 July – 2 August
| CGT
| Bishop Rock
| Ambrose Light
|
| 3 d, 23 h, 2 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1938
| 4–8 August
| C-WS
| Bishop Rock
| Ambrose Light
|
| 3 d, 21 h, 48 m
|
|-
|
| 29px
| 1952
| 11–15 July
| USL
| Bishop Rock
| Ambrose Light
|
| 3 d, 12 h, 12 m
|
|}
Eastbound record breakers
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ship
! Flag
! Year
! Dates
! Line
! From
! To
! Distance
! Days, hours, minutes
! Speed
|-
| Sirius
| 30px
| 1838
| 1–19 May
| British & American
| New York
| Falmouth
|
| 15 d 0 h
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1838
| 7–22 May
| GW
| New York
| Avonmouth
|
| 14 d, 15 h, 59 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1838
| 25 June – 8 July
| GW
| New York
| Avonmouth
|
| 12 d, 16 h, 34 m
|
|-
| Britannia
| 30px
| 1841
| 4–14 August
| Cunard
| Halifax
| Liverpool
|
| 9 d, 21 h, 44 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1842
| 28 April – 11 May
| GW
| New York
| Liverpool
|
| 12 d, 7 h, 30 m
|
|-
| Columbia
| 30px
| 1843
| 4–14 April
| Cunard
| Halifax
| Liverpool
|
| 9 d, 12 h, 0 m
|
|-
| Hibernia
| 30px
| 1843
| 18–27 May
| Cunard
| Halifax
| Liverpool
|
| 9 d, 10 h, 44 m
|
|-
| Hibernia
| 30px
| 1843
| 18–27 July
| Cunard
| Halifax
| Liverpool
|
| 8 d, 22 h, 44 m
|
|-
| Canada
| 30px
| 1849
| 19–28 July
| Cunard
| Halifax
| Liverpool
|
| 8 d, 12 h, 44 m
|
|-
|
| 29px
| 1851
| 10–20 May
| Collins
| New York
| Liverpool
|
| 9 d, 20 h, 14 m
|
|-
|
| 29px
| 1852
| 7–17 February
| Collins
| New York
| Liverpool
|
| 9 d, 17 h, 15 m
|
|-
| Persia
| 30px
| 1856
| 2–12 April
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Liverpool
|
| 9 d, 10 h, 22 m
|
|-
| Persia
| 30px
| 1856
| 14–23 May
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Liverpool
|
| 9 d, 3 h, 24 m
|
|-
| Persia
| 30px
| 1856
| 6–15 August
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Liverpool
|
| 8 d, 23 h, 19 m
|
|-
| Scotia
| 30px
| 1863
| 16–24 December
| Cunard
| New York
| Queenstown
|
| 8 d, 5 h, 42 m
|
|-
| City of Brussels
| 30px
| 1869
| 4–12 December
| Inman
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 7 d, 20 h, 33 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1873
| 11–19 January
| W.Star
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 7 d, 20 h, 9 m
|
|-
| City of Berlin
| 30px
| 1875
| 2–10 October
| Inman
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 7 d, 15 h, 28 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1876
| 5–13 February
| W.Star
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 7 d, 15 h, 17 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1876
| 16–24 December
| W.Star
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 7 d, 12 h, 41 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1879
| 22–29 July
| Guion
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 7 d, 8 h, 11 m
|
|-
| Alaska
| 30px
| 1882
| 30 May – 6 June
| Guion
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 22 h, 0 m
|
|-
| Alaska
| 30px
| 1882
| 12–19 September
| Guion
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 18 h, 37 m
|
|-
| Oregon
| 30px
| 1884
| 29 March – 5 April
| Guion
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 7 d, 2 h, 18 m
|
|-
| Oregon
| 30px
| 1884
| 26 April – 3 May
| Guion
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 16 h, 57 m
|
|-
| Oregon
| 30px
| 1884
| 30 July – 6 August
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 12 h, 54 m
|
|-
| Oregon
| 30px
| 1884
| 3–10 September
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 11 h, 9 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1885
| 1–7 August
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 9 h, 0 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1888
| 7–14 July
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 4 h, 50 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1889
| 15–22 May
| Inman
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 6 d, 0 h, 29 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1892
| 17–23 August
| Inman
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 5 d, 19 h, 57 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1893
| 6–12 May
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 5 d, 17 h, 27 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1894
| 6–12 May
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 5 d, 13 h, 28 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1894
| 2–8 June
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 5 d, 12 h, 59 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1895
| 18–24 May
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 5 d, 11 h, 40 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1897
| 23–29 November
| NDL
| Sandy Hook
| Needles
|
| 5 d, 17 h, 23 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1900
| 18–24 July
| Hapag
| Sandy Hook
| Eddystone
|
| 5 d, 15 h, 5 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1900
| 4–10 September
| Hapag
| Sandy Hook
| Eddystone
|
| 5 d, 7 h, 38 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1901
| 13–19 June
| Hapag
| Sandy Hook
| Eddystone
|
| 5 d, 11 h, 51 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1901
| 10–17 July
| Hapag
| Sandy Hook
| Eddystone
|
| 5 d, 11 h, 5 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1904
| 14–20 June
| NDL
| Sandy Hook
| Eddystone
|
| 5 d, 11 h, 58 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1907
| 19–24 October
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 4 d, 22 h, 53 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1907
| 30 November–5 December
| Cunard
| Beady Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 4 d, 22 h, 33 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1908
| 25–30 January
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 5 d, 2 h, 41 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1908
| 7–12 March
| Cunard
| Sandy Hook
| Queenstown
|
| 5 d, 0 h, 5 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1909
| 3–8 February
| Cunard
| Ambrose
| Queenstown,
|
| 4 d, 20 h, 27 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1909
| 17–22 March
| Cunard
| Ambrose
| Queenstown
|
| 4 d, 18 h, 35 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1909
| 5–10 May
| Cunard
| Ambrose
| Queenstown
|
| 4 d, 18 h, 11 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1909
| 16–21 June
| Cunard
| Ambrose
| Queenstown
|
| 4 d, 17 h, 21 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1924
| 20–25 August
| Cunard
| Ambrose
| Cherbourg
|
| 5 d, 1 h, 49 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1929
| 27 July – 1 August
| NDL
| Ambrose
| Eddystone
|
| 4 d, 14 h, 30 m
|
|-
|
| 26px
| 1933
| 10–15 June
| NDL
| Ambrose
| Cherbourg
|
| 4 d, 16 h, 15 m
|
|-
|
| 25px
| 1935
| 7–11 June
| CGT
| Ambrose
| Bishop Rock
|
| 4 d, 3 h, 25 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1936
| 26–30 August
| C-WS
| Ambrose
| Bishop Rock
|
| 3 d, 23 h, 57 m
|
|-
|
| 25px
| 1937
| 18–22 March
| CGT
| Ambrose
| Bishop Rock
|
| 4 d, 0 h, 6 m
|
|-
|
| 25px
| 1937
| 4–8 August
| CGT
| Ambrose
| Bishop Rock
|
| 3 d, 22 h, 7 m
|
|-
|
| 30px
| 1938
| 10–14 August
| C-WS
| Ambrose
| Bishop Rock
|
| 3 d, 20 h, 42 m
|
|-
|
| 29px
| 1952
| 3–7 July
| USL
| Ambrose
| Bishop Rock
|
| 3 d, 10 h, 40 m
|
|-
|}
Footnotes
See also
- Transatlantic sailing record
- Ocean Rowing Society
- Orteig Prize
References
Further reading
- which cites
External links
- SS Rex flying blue pennant at pinterest