British Speedboat Founders 2 Hours Short of Record

The British powerboat Virgin Atlantic Challenger foundered in 12-foot seas off England’s southwestern coast Thursday, less than two hours away from setting a record for the fastest surface crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

A spokesman said it was not immediately clear if the $2.1-million vessel had sunk, but “we believe it had.”

Voyage spokesman Alan Hughes said the nine crew members got onto two life rafts and were picked up by the British cargo ship Geestbay. Two Royal Navy helicopters were sent to take them off the ship, Hughes said.

The Challenger made a distress call at 6:20 p.m., saying it was sinking 138 miles off the coast, on the fourth day of its voyage from New York, and less than two hours from its destination at the Scilly Isles.

Before running into bad weather Thursday afternoon, the 65-foot Challenger was reported on schedule to cut two hours off the record set in 1952 by the liner United States. The ship had crossed from New York to the Scilly Islands in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes.