Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy

In 1985 British entrepreneur Richard Branson's attempt to break the United States's record and win the Blue Riband led to the building of Virgin Atlantic Challenger, which failed in a crossing in July of that year.

The Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy is a three-foot silver sculpture, modelled on the Bishop Rock Lighthouse, chosen as the finishing line for many of the Blue Riband crossings, and of the successful 1986 voyage.

After surviving rough weather and the threat of late icebergs Challenger was fatally damaged by striking a submerged object 100 miles from Bishops Rock, the intended finishing line, and sank in heavy seas.

That same year American businessman Tom Gentry made an attempt in his 110 ft powerboat Gentry Eagle, (which cost $7 million in 1988[4] ($15.6 million in 2023 dollars[5]) and was fitted with twin 3,480 hp MTU V396 TB94s turbocharged marine diesel engines, in addition to a single 4,500-horsepower Textron Lycoming TF40 marine turbine engine for a total of 11,500 horsepower)[6] but she was damaged by heavy seas off Newfoundland and forced to turn back.

In 1991 it was reported that three challengers were under construction; a new boat, Eagle II from Gentry, North East Spirit from Richard Noble, the land speed record holder, and Destriero, from the Aga Khan.

To deal with the horrific beating the hull would take during a high-speed crossing, Gentry employed Vosper Thornycroft LTD, a company known for building destroyers, frigates, and fast attack craft.