NEW ATLANTIC RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1937, Page 8

NEW ATLANTIC RECORD

Fitted M'ith new propellers, the giant French liner Normandie has beaten the record established by the British liner Queen Mary for the fastest speed on the crossing of the Atlantic. The Queen Mary's average speed -in a voyage from Ambrose Light, off New York harbour, to Bishop Rock in the Scilly Isles, off the coast of Cornwall, in just under four days, was 30.63 knots. The Normandie's course was considerably longer and the time taken just over four days, but the speed is stated to have averaged 30.99 knots. The Normandie, therefore, for the moment, can claim the Blue Riband for the fastest steaming between America and Europe. Experts, ! however, according to a message from London, are of opinion that the Queen Mary can recapture the Blue Riband as soon as she likes, probably during Coronation Week. In this confidence the layman will rejoice, for the same Blue Riband, no matter how transatlantic rivalry is discountenanced, does mean much in maritime prestige. Both these great vessels, so vast that they were, to some degree at least, an experiment in oceanic transport, have both been overhauled since they first took the water and made their maiden trips, and improvements, dictated by experience, have had their effect in better performance. The idea with the Queen Mary appears to have been first and foremost the comfort of the passengers, and this was reported to have been enhanced as a result of her winter overhaul. The Normandie's new propellers, four-bladed, of a light alloy, saving three tons in weight, seem to have been similarly ■ successful in regard to speed. The performances of these friendly rivals of the ocean will be watched with interest during the next few months.