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Richard Branson renewed interest in the Blue Riband in 1985 by attempting to break the Atlantic crossing records set by the liner United States in 1952. His first run in a large powerboat named Virgin Atlantic Challenger ended in disaster after hitting a submerged object and sinking in mid Atlantic. The following year with a new powerboat named Virgin Atlantic Challenger II, Branson successfully completed the voyage averaging 36.79 knots. With his boat not providing a commercial service and having to stop to be refueled three times, the Hales Trusties refused to award him the Blue Riband. This led to the Hales Trusties adding some additional rules to their list of qualifications criteria for the trophy in 1989. These new rules stated that the Blue Riband only applied to ships of a wave breaking design intended for commercial service.

In 1990, Incat Australia was due to deliver a new aluminum hulled Catamaran capable of carrying 600 passengers and 90 cars to the British company Hoverspeed UK LTD. This vessel named Hoverspeed Great Britain was to be operated across the English Channel between Dover and Calais. To give her a chance of winning the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing, Incat conceived a delivery route that crossed the Pacific, passed through the Panama Canal and put into New York. Hoverspeed Great Britain then set out for England in an attempt to break the record. Crossing at an average speed of 36.97 knots, she broke the eastbound record of 35.59 knots set by the liner United States in 1952.

As Incat Australia were delivering a 300-foot catamaran named Catolina to the Spanish Buquebus Group in 1998, the same route was taken to America before crossing from Nantucket - Tarifa/Spain. This run saw the Spanish vessel take the Blue Riband with an average speed of 38.88 knots. Catolina was originally operated on the crossing between Barcelona and Mallorca.

Later in 1998, a third catamaran Catlink V was to be delivered from Incat Australia - Denmark. This vessel took the same route to America in an attempt to take the Blue Riband from Catolina. Even though Catlink V encountered heavy seas and had to assist in the search for a missing light aircraft, she still managed to set a new record by averaging 41.2 knots, crossing in 2 days, 20 hours and 9 minutes. Catlink V was originally operated on the 42 mile crossing between Arhus and Kalundborg in Denmark.

As these Atlantic crossings are for delivery purposes only, they cross in the easier eastbound route. Ships traveling in that direction are assisted by the Gulf Stream that runs up from the Gulf of Mexico to the British Isles. The liner United States still holds the record for the more difficult westbound route with an average speed of 34.51 knots. It is said the United States set the records in both directions using only her service speed, she was supposed to have a top speed in excess of 40 knots.

Update: Catlink V is now operated by Master Ferries as their Master Cat on high speed crossings between Hanstholm in Denmark and Kristiansand in Norway. The crossings take just 2 hours, up to 3 times daily.

Update: Catalonia has been operated on the crossing between Larne/Northern Ireland and Cairnryan/Southwest Scotland since 2005 by P&O Irish Sea under the name Express.

Update: Hoverspeed Great Britian is now operated by Aegean SpeedLines as their Speedrunner 1. Her new routes are throughout the Greek Island from ports such as Piraeus, Serifos, Sifnos, Milos & Folegandros. Click on image to enlarge.