Destriero Laid Up at Devonport

Destriero Laid Up at Devonport Photographs © John H. Luxton 2006
			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.
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!