QE2's Speed !

[eddy666]

And I thought my carribean cruise was a fast one. 

[highlander0108]

Does anyone recall what the average speed was on the Final Crossing with QM2?  Myles do you recall?  Any screen shots?  I assume it was at or close to the service speed since it was with two liners   After looking at some of the Youtube vids of that crossing, she looks like she's traveling much faster than I experienced in January with QV in tandem.

[Rob Lightbody]

I would have thought it would be 24/25 knots as it was a 6 night crossing, rather than 7 with the QV puffing along at 20-22...  It would have been nice if they'd done it in 5, like the old days.

[Andrew W]

That's about right looking at the screens - we slowed down so that the QM2 did not have to run the gas turbines. Here's the navigator's log from the first day (Saturday) noon observation - 23.1 knots.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thepumpdoctor/2947533421/in/set-72157608090406881/

[Scott Ebersold]

Hey Andrew.

I was onboard at the same time ... maybe we met?

[Malcolm]

It would have been nice if they'd done it in 5

Why not four as she once managed? 

[jdl]

For me one of the best/most amusing things about QE2's speed was the fact that as a liner she could travel faster going astern than most modern cruise ships could travel going forwards.

Now that would have been something to have seen!!!!!

John

[eddy666]

I always wondered if GBTT had an own "fastline"track in the channel on her way back home, like the purple carpet for the Queens plane.

Every time we were speeding along the channel like no other.

Like a speedboat ! AMAZING

[cunardqueen]

Does anyone recall what the average speed was on the Final Crossing with QM2?  Myles do you recall?  Any screen shots

Im sure l do have screen shots but having only just got back online and a new pc just give me some time and will see what l can do..

[Twynkle]

May I ask a really naive question !!

Did it cost more for QE2 to sail for a day - going at say, an overall slower speed for the whole voyage - or to spend it in Southampton?

[junglejames]

Question. Whats the fastest the QE2 has ever gone? 33/ 34 knots?

Something still slightly in topic. QE2 was very nearly caught in the speed race by another merchant vessel. Maersks B class container vessels, when new, could travel at 31 knots. Plus thats with one engine and one prop!!

However these vessels have now been derated slightly as the top speed is no longer needed. Dont know what the top speed is now.

James

[Rob Lightbody]

Question. Whats the fastest the QE2 has ever gone? 33/ 34 knots?

Not sure, but she did 33.8 in 1987 when returning from Bremerhaven to Southampton with me on board!  (Source for this exact figure is bruce peter's book)

[junglejames]

Cheers Rob,
She definitely still holds the record as the fastest merchant vessel then.

James

[Twynkle]

Hello James - and it's good that you have joined us!

It sounds as if there might be fun to be had, 'racing ships'!
Was QE2 really a target for beating? 

[Louis De Sousa]

Not sure, but she did 33.8 in 1987 when returning from Bremerhaven to Southampton with me on board!  (Source for this exact figure is bruce peter's book)

That figure was true during the seas trial with the new engines.After that refit she did go over 32 knots a few times.

With the new engine she could make 28.5 knots just with 85% of her engine power.

Louis