AZIMUT ATLANTIC CHALLENGER JET BOAT (OVERSIZE)

Azimut Atlantic Challenger RC Jet Boat

The "Blue Riband" trophy was inaugurated in 1933 by the Englishman Harold Holes for the fastest Atlantic crossing by a passenger ship. In 1952 it was awarded to the ocean-going steamship "United States", which traversed the Atlantic in 82 hours and 40 minutes, and that proved to be the last time it was awarded. To this day the trophy stands in Long Island Naval Museum.

In 1986 the English aviation industrialist Richard Branson crossed the Atlantic in a new record time of 80 hours and 31 minutes in his 72 foot long "Virgin Atlantic Challenger". However, the Americans refused him the trophy, as the "Virgin" was not a passenger vessel, had been refueled en route, and was not in regular line service. In response Branson inaugurated a new cup: the "Virgin Atlantic Trophy", which is awarded to the vessel which crosses the Atlantic the fastest – by any means.

In subsequent years repeated attemps have been made to notch up the fastest Atlantic crossing, and this was the aim behind the "Azimut Atlantic Challenger", which was built in Italy. The 88.6 foot long aluminium boat was designed by the well-known car stylist Pininfarina and built at the Benetti yard in Viaregio, which belongs to the Azimut group of companies. The boat is fitted with four 18-cylinder CRM engines producing a total of 6000 kW, coupled to two RIVA-Calzoni jet systems. The plan was to complete the crossing without a refuelling stop at an average speed of over 40 knots.

In the Summer of 1988 the AZIMUT set off, together with the American Tom Gentry in his "GENTRY EAGLE", which started at almost the same time. After about 1500 nautical miles, bad weather forced both boats to give up the attempt. The magazine "Schiffsmodell" published full details of the AZIMUT ATLANTIC CHALLENGER in issue 12/1990.

Our model was designed using original drawings, and is drawn to a scale of 1:20. It is completely true to scale. Like the full-size the model, it is powered by two water-jets. The model is steered via the control jets which deflect the water stream. This technology produces a model which has great accuracy.

Fitted with the water jet reversing mechanism the boat can even be run backwards without reversing the motors. At around half-throttle the reverse shrouds can be lowered from the transmitter to the point where the model stops dead in the water. If a rudder command is then given, the model rotates on the spot.

Fitted with two SPEED 700 BB TURBO electric motors and low-cost lead/acid batteries, running times of up to 20 minutes are possible. For higher speeds ULTRA motors and NC cells can be fitted instead; this is left up to the modeler's discretion and experience. The GRP hull is also quite strong enough to take an internal combustion motor if preferred.