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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
I thought that QM2 could do over 30 knots

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The fact that this giant can do anything over 20 knots amazes me!

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Lasuvidaboy wrote:
If the QE2 is being tossed around that much, imagine what would happen to the big new floating boxes in the same conditions? I would rather be on QE2 with her excellent sea keeping qualities!

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Malcolm wrote:
I wonder how the 'Voyager' class would do in the same storm?

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Cruise ships are not meant for rough weather, their hulls and superstructures are not built for heavy seas. Their job is to steer away from such things. I guess they could probably handle 9m (30ft) waves, is that correct?

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
If the QE2 is being tossed around that much, imagine what would happen to the big new floating boxes in the same conditions? I would rather be on QE2 with her excellent sea keeping qualities!

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We were on the QE2 heading for Bermuda over Labor Day weekend many years ago. We had departed New York approximately 9 hours late, because of an approaching hurricane coming up the East Coast. We caught the tail end of the storm, and experienced a pretty rough night, but arrived in Bermuda on time without a scratch.

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Originally posted by Cunardcoll:
I 've heard reports from a very reliable source that QE2 and QM2 both reached 35 knots as top speed.

Jochen

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35 knots? Not a chance! Methinks your source is confusing statute miles and nautical miles. 30 knots = 34.5 statute miles per hour.

QE2 reached a top speed of 35.5 knots on her March 1987 sea trials after re-engining, but that was before her Grimm Vane Wheels started disintegrating and had to be permanently removed. The loss of the vane wheels reduced her top speed. She has not approached 35 knots since then, nor has sheen been capable of doing so. Her top speed is now officially listed as 32.5 knots, although in favourable conditions she might be capable of an extra half-knot or so, but no more.

QM2 hit a shade over 30 knots for a short distance on her speed trials, but her average top speed over the measured course was 29.8 knots. The contract called for a top speed of at least 29.35 knots, so it is doubtful she could ever hit 35 knots.

Brian

Sources:
QE2 figures.....Cunard press releases in 1987.

Had a chance to see both Queens from Battery Park as they departed. Sad to say the QM2 looks very much the cruise ship, all flood-lit and mauve lights highliting the mast and ventilators!!! Judging from this and comments heard onboard QE2, Cunard may be alienating their loyal clientele.

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Originally posted by Brian_O:
...... but that was before her Grimm Vane Wheels started disintegrating and had to be permanently removed.

Sources:
QE2 figures.....Cunard press releases in 1987.

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Curious here.... in one of JMG's lectures he related that these vanes did indeed improve the performance on the trials, but on return to the yard, when the divers went down for insepction, they'd gone! "Lost at Sea" pulled off with the force of her propellors, never refitted.

This makes out she never actually sailed with them, whereas the Cunard statement above indicates that they at least lasted some length of time?

Glad you had a good trip empressport, nice & rough.. look forward to the review.

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Originally posted by PamM:

Curious here.... in one of JMG's lectures he related that these vanes did indeed improve the performance on the trials, but on return to the yard, when the divers went down for insepction, they'd gone! "Lost at Sea" pulled off with the force of her propellors, never refitted.

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Based on press releases, news reports and reports in the trade press at the time plus coversations I had with on-board personnel (including engineering officers) later in the year ( 1987), I'd have to say JMG has his facts wrong.

As far as I have read and been told, the first problems with the vane wheels occurred on the voyage back to Southampton in April 1987 after the refit. After a demonstration manoeuvre it became obvious that something had gone wrong, so once the ship reached Southampton divers were sent down to inspect for damage. The divers found that some blades had broken off the vane wheels and they were ordered to balance the wheels by cutting off a few more blades. When QE2 reached New York more blades were found to be damaged and more cutting was done. Finally when QE2 returned to Southampton, the remaining blades were cut off.

Brian

[ 04-27-2004: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

[ 04-27-2004: Message edited by: chrisrotlmacin ]