Powerboating


disappeared. Now for the fi rst time in 3 ½ days we could relax. We had done it, crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a faster time than anyone had before. It was a strange feeling being part of history and then it becomes almost an anti-climax. I think we all felt a sense of achievement but really we were just so glad that the pounding and noise had stopped. Virgin Atlantic Challenger II has a place in my heart as one of the most amazing boats ever built and now, after 25 years, she lies in Palma, Majorca waiting for a buyer with enough money to get her going again. We started to restore her fi ve years ago when a British guy brought her but he died of cancer and the project stopped. What a pity if this famous British boat ends up on the scrap heap.


Group That group of grey haired men will have a lot to talk about in the Scillies this summer. Richard Branson has seen his airline boom in the wake of this promotional record attempt. Steve Ridgway is now the MD of the airline. Chay Blyth is enjoying retirement is Scotland and then there was Peter McCann from the BBC and Eckie Rastig the MTU engineer. I have gone on the do another four Atlantic record attempts and only sunk once more but none of them quite as dramatic as Virgin Atlantic Challenger II which averaged 36 ½ knots on that crossing


Now for the fi rst time in 3 ½ days we could relax. We had done it, crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a faster time than anyone had before


44 cywinter 2011


Above:


VAC 11 at Beaulieu


Left:


The fi rst Chal- lenger sinking


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