The Columbus Atlantic Trophy is an award for the fastest non-stop two way crossing of the Atlantic Ocean within a given time period. It was inaugurated in 1992 by
The Columbus Atlantic Trophy is a two-foot silver goblet, which was actually given in 1928 to the NYYC by
King Alfonso XIII of Spain
, as the prize for the 1928 trans-Atlantic yacht race won by NYYC's yacht Elena.
The trophy is available to any vessel that can set a trans-Atlantic record one way, then (within a set time-frame) set the corresponding record back. A further stipulation is that the vessel must travel without stopping, and without re-fuelling en route.[1]
History
At the time of its inauguration the non-stop east-west record was that set by the American liner
Hoverspeed Great Britain
in 1990, crossing in 79 hours 55 minutes at an average of 36.96 knots (and beating United States easterly voyage by 2 h 45 min, adding 1.37 knots to the average speed).
In 1992
Tarifa, Spain, to New York) and two weeks later returning at an average speed of 53.09 knots.[1]
This also beat the unqualified trans-Atlantic record set by Gentry Eagle in 1989, which crossed west to east in 62 hour 7 minutes, at an average speed of 47.4 knots.
