It was Italy that worked, that was experimenting, that was going to conquer the world. In August 1992, a flash over the Atlantic. It was the Steed. An incredibly avant-garde boat, unfortunately too sunk in oblivion. But there are those who, thirty years after that record for the fastest crossing, ask to have it reborn. And he appeals to Prince Karim Aga Khan to support his recovery.
The made in Italy of the sea
Aluminum hull of 67.7 meters in length from the displacement hull in the bow and planing in the stern, with turbine engines that emitted 60,000 horsepower and were associated with hydrojets, the Destriero was built by Fincantieri between 1990 and ’91 in the Muggiano and Riva Trigoso shipyards, designed by Donald Blount who availed of the support of Pininfarina, in the record time of 270 days. It was, until then, the largest light alloy ship ever built, one of the naval vessels with the highest concentration of efficiency, power and technology.
The challenge on the Atlantic in search of the Blue Ribbon for the fastest crossing was born from the passion for new naval technologies of Prince Karim Aga Khan, promoter of the project with the support of the most significant representatives of the Italian industrial reality of the time: Giovanni Agnelli, Franco Nobili (Iri), Umberto Nordio (Alitalia) and Arrigo Gattai (Coni) and prestigious sponsors such as Agip, General Electric, MTU and KaMeWa.
The challenge was therefore to conquer the speed record in the Atlantic crossing: a promise kept. On August 6, 1992, the Destriero left behind the Ambrose lighthouse in New York, the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the Verrazzano bridge to start the hunt for the record. The 3,106 miles without refueling over the Atlantic Ocean to Bishop Rock Lighthouse, Isles of Scilly, England they were flown at an average speed of 53.09 knots (98.323 kilometers per hour) with peaks of 66 knots, in a time of 58 hours, 34 minutes and 50 seconds. An incredible, unimaginable average, over 100 km per hour over the ocean with the spectacle of a white trail that remained compact for two kilometers.
Giovanni Agnelli and Prince Karim Aga Khan, the “fathers” of the Destriero
“Let’s save the boat”
It was the first ship to cross the Atlantic with turbines associated with water jets, rather than diesel engines associated with propellers, and this revolution marked the beginning of the era of high-speed commercial shipping. «Destriero marked a real watershed in world boating: there was a” before “Destriero, and an” after “. The fact that after all these years, despite the various attempts, the record is still unbeaten makes the feat we have accomplished even greater and is a real “gold medal” for all those who conceived, supported the project and participated to its success. I just want none of them to forget ”, Cesare Florio, the commander and project manager, said in an interview. *
Indeed, if that record has not been forgotten, and with it ideally the boat, then in a more practical sense the Steed has sunk into oblivion. He had to try to go around the world, but this new undertaking remained on paper. It should have become the personal yacht of the Aga Khan, but the prince changed his mind and after a few years of custody and maintenance in La Spezia (on board the commander Odoardo Mancini, now missing, and two members of the team) gave it up. The boat was transferred to England, then landed at the Lürssen shipyard in Lemwerder-Bremen, Germany, where it would now be in a state of neglect.
A forgotten icon. «A forgotten Italian heritage», says Alberto Scuro, newly appointed president of the Historic Motoring Commission of the General States of the Italian Heritage (he is also president of Asi, the historic Italian motorbike club). Scuro sent a message to Prince Karim Aga Khan, as president of the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club, club that gave the guide to the Destriero, to get news about the boat and to raise awareness of the prince to support a recovery initiative.
“The Historic Motorism Commission considers the Destriero an element of the Italian heritage – writes the president Scuro – it would like to start an initiative to restore and make the ship usable, arriving, in the eventuality, also to request the declaration of cultural property by the Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini ”.
Thirty years later
I re-read an interview with Cesare Florio, rally and powerboat driver, sporting director of Lancia and Fiat. He was summoned by Giovanni Agnelli, who gave him a sheet of paper with a number and said: “Get ready for a new adventure.” The number was that of the Aga Khan.
«The boat was ready in April 1991. A race also in the yard because the Aga Khan wanted to attempt the record already during that year. Il Destriero also got the better of the strikes, the workers granted a sort of dispensation. The Gulf War, however, forced the prince to change plans ».
The first start in July 1992, from Gibraltar to New York. «We were supposed to leave in June, a month that promised ideal weather conditions: but it wasn’t. The Aga Khan then decided on July, immediately after the liberation of little Farouk Kassam, kidnapped in Porto Cervo. It was not the right choice, after 300 miles it was a storm and we lost precious hours to get around it ».
The attempt is repeated from West to East. «On 6 August we leave New York’s Ambrose Lighthouse behind. It will be two days of crazy racing, with peaks of 66 knots of speed, an average of 53.09 knots. I alternate at the helm with commander Odoardo Mancini, who unfortunately no longer exists, and deputy Aldo Benedetti (in the team also Sergio Simone, Franco De Mei, Giuseppe Carbonaro, Mario Gando, Nello Andreoli, Massimo Robino, Silvano Federici, Cesare Quondamatteo, Davide Maccario, Michael Hurrle and Giacomo Petriccione). Beyond all limits: the day before arrival we had already broken the record set by Richard Branson, Mister Virgin, in 1986, but we were looking for the unbeatable record. We didn’t give up ».
And at dawn on 9 August, after 58 hours 34 minutes… «The greatest emotion. “Hello, this is the Steed ship, we left New York, thanks for recording the date and time of our passage,” I said to the staff of the Bishop Rockl lighthouse, guarding the British Isles of Scilly. “Good morning Destriero, we weren’t expecting you so soon”, was the reply ».
It was discussed whether the Nastro Azzurro was waiting at the Destriero (expected at the time of the liners for the crossing from East to West), rather than the Hales Trophy, in addition to the Virgin Atlantic and the Columbus Atlantic Trophy … “We have been and are still the most fast motor boats on the Atlantic. Nothing else matters”.
* The crew that took part in the 1992 Destriero enterprise was made up of: Cesare Fiorio, commander and manager of the Destriero Challenge project, Odoardo Mancini commander, Aldo Benedetti second in command, Sergio Simeone first officer, Franco De Mei telecommunications operator , Giuseppe Carbonaro engine manager, Mario Gando and Nello Andreoli machinists, Massimo Robino electrician, Silvano Federici and Cesare Quondamatteo engine engineers, Davide Maccario automation technician, Giacomo Petriccione propulsion technician, Michael Hurrle turbine technician as well as Franco Liistro Destriero Challenge communication manager.