RMS Lusitania by fog. On her second voyage in better weather, "Lusitania" arrived at Sandy Hook on 11 October 1907 in the Blue Riband record time of 4 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes. She had to wait for the tide to enter harbour where news had preceded her and she was met by a fleet of small craft, whistles blaring. "Lusitania" averaged westbound and eastbound. In December 1907, "Mauretania" entered service and took the record for the fastest eastbound crossing. "Lusitania" made her fastest westbound crossing in 1909 after her propellers were changed, averaging . She briefly recovered the record in
Harry Manning preparing for her first crossing in 1951 when he met with representatives from the ship's designers and the US Lines in his captain's quarters on the "America". They were already considering breaking the transatlantic speed record for the Blue Riband and discussed how far the ship should be pushed on her first voyage. The maiden crossing began at Noon on July 3, 1952. The publicity over the new ship and the secrecy over her speed fed speculation that the ship would try for the eastbound speed record. When asked by reporters on board Manning coyly replied, "If the ship makes