The Odyssey (UK Roller Coaster)

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The Odyssey
Previously known as Jubilee Odyssey (2002-2014)
Oddy.jpg
Fantasy Island (UK amusement park)
Location Fantasy Island (UK amusement park)
Coordinates 53°11′32″N0°20′46″E / 53.19222°N 0.34611°E / 53.19222; 0.34611
StatusOperating
Opening date23 May 2002
Cost£28 million [1]
General statistics
Type Steel  – Inverted
Manufacturer Vekoma
Model SLC (Custom)
Lift/launch systemChain Lift Hill
Height167 ft (51 m)
Drop141 ft (43 m)
Length2,924 ft (891 m)
Speed63 mph (101 km/h)
Inversions 5
Duration2:52
Max vertical angle75°
Capacity350 riders per hour
G-force 4.8
Height restriction51 in (130 cm)
TrainsSingle train with 10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train.
The Odyssey at RCDB

The Odyssey (formerly Jubilee Odyssey) is a roller coaster at Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells, England. Built by Vekoma of the Netherlands in 2002, it was named to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It is Vekoma's tallest example of their Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) design in the world. Standing at 167 feet (51 m), it is the fourth tallest roller coaster in the UK, after Hyperia (236 feet) the Big One (213 feet) and Stealth (205 feet). [2] It is tied for the second tallest full circuit inverted roller coaster in the world (alongside Banshee at Kings Island). It has a top speed of 63 mph and can exert forces up to 4.8 g's.

Contents

History

Initial plans

Original plans for the ride showed an SLC ride 265 feet (81 m) in height, which would have made it the tallest inverted roller coaster in the world and seventh tallest overall. The plans were scrapped due to complaints from local residents, limiting the height to a maximum of 180 feet (55 m) [3]

Opening and Jubilee celebrations

In the year of Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, 2002, it was opened and ridden by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. [4] It was initially sponsored by the chocolate bar Kit Kat, but this association has now ceased.

On 2 June 2022, it was made free-to-ride for all of Fantasy Island's visitors as a one-off in honour of the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. [5]

Modifications

Jubilee Odyssey's train in the ride station Jubilee Odyssey Station.JPG
Jubilee Odyssey's train in the ride station

During the 2003 season the restraint design was modified, due to complaints from several riders of "nipple burn", the restraints were changed at a cost of about £60,000. [6]

In September 2005 the trains were returned to Vekoma factories after a major breakdown in the form of a restraint connector snapping occurred. All the restraints were equipped with toughened steel and, presumably in an attempt to increase the smoothness the wheels were also tightened, this was thought to be the reason for a rollback on the first test run (due to the increased friction), however it is said to be a one-off occurrence. [7]

Closed sign at entrance to queue Closed Sign At The Entrance To The Queue Line.JPG
Closed sign at entrance to queue

The ride received a new colour scheme & station in February 2016, with yellow track and grey supports. [8]

Operation

Odyssey operates with a single train, which seats 20 riders in a 2 across in 10 rows formation. It currently costs £6.00 per ride or can be accessed with the Fantasy Island wristband or I-Card systems. [9]

The ride is frequently affected by high winds and will not operate with winds speeds in excess of 25 to 30 mph in certain directions due to the increased risk of the train stalling.

Its electrical components are powered by a £4 million dung-powered generator, which converts manure into methane gas. [10]

Rankings

Its reported construction cost of £28 million is the highest of any roller coaster built in the United Kingdom. [11] [12] [13] Its nearest competitor is The Swarm at Thorpe Park, which was completed in 2012 at a cost of £18,000,000. [14] [15]

The Odyssey is the largest SLC (Suspended Looping Coaster) in the world. Its 38-metre vertical loop is the highest in the United Kingdom and the fourth highest in the world. With a maximum height of 51 metres, it is the fourth tallest roller coaster in the United Kingdom and its 43-metre drop is also the fourth highest in the UK. Its top speed of 63 mph makes it the fourth fastest roller coaster in the UK. [16]

It was ranked 209th in Mitch Hawker's Roller Coaster Poll in 2007 and 177th in 2008. [17] [18]

Incidents and Stalling

Odyssey being recovered after stalling between the cobra roll and vertical loop Odyssey being recovered after stalling.jpg
Odyssey being recovered after stalling between the cobra roll and vertical loop

A year after the ride's opening, the Cobra Roll and Horseshoe elements were lowered in an attempt to minimise the risk of the train stalling, [19] as it had done numerous times in its opening year. Whilst lowering the track has had a positive impact, it has stalled in both 2015 and 2016 during passenger-less test runs.

Inversions

Odyssey has five inversions:

  1. 124' tall Vertical Loop
  2. Cobra Roll (Boomerang) (two inversions)
  3. Sidewinder
  4. Corkscrew (barrel roll)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roller coaster</span> Rail-based amusement park ride

A roller coaster is a type of amusement ride employing a form of elevated railroad track that carries passengers on a train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements usually designed to produce a thrilling experience. Trains consist of open cars connected in a single line, and the rides are often found in theme parks around the world. Roller coasters first appeared in the 17th century, and LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtained one of the first known patents for a roller coaster design in 1885, based on the Switchback Railway which opened a year earlier at Coney Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverted roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

An inverted roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. Riders are seated in open cars, letting their feet swing freely. The inverted coaster was pioneered by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard in the early 1990s with the development of Batman: The Ride, which opened at Six Flags Great America on May 9, 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thorpe Park</span> Resort Theme Park

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Launched roller coaster</span> Modern form of roller coaster

The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster. A launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or a series of linear induction motors (LIM), linear synchronous motors (LSM), catapults, tires, chains, or other mechanisms employing hydraulic or pneumatic power, along a launch track. This mode of acceleration powers many of the fastest roller coasters in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspended Looping Coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

The Suspended Looping Coaster is a model of steel inverted roller coaster built by Dutch manufacturer Vekoma. There are at least 39 different installations across the world. The minimum rider height requirement is 130 centimetres. Vekoma is now marketing a Suspended Thrill Coaster as a successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster. The Odyssey is the largest, fastest and tallest SLC ever built at Fantasy Island in the UK.

<i>Nemesis Inferno</i> Steel inverted roller coaster

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nighthawk (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster

Nighthawk is a steel flying roller coaster located at Carowinds. Constructed by Vekoma, it is located in the Thunder Road section of the park. The roller coaster originally opened as Stealth at California's Great America on April 1, 2000. In 2003, Paramount Parks decided to relocate the roller coaster to Carowinds. It reopened as Borg Assimilator – the first coaster in the world to be themed to Star Trek – on March 20, 2004. After Cedar Fair purchased Carowinds in 2006, Paramount themes were soon removed from the park, and the ride was renamed Nighthawk. It is one of only two Flying Dutchman models still in existence from Vekoma, the other being Batwing at Six Flags America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy</span> Roller coaster in Queensland, Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katun (roller coaster)</span> Amusement ride

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talon (roller coaster)</span> Inverted roller coaster at Dorney Park

Talon: The Grip of Fear, or simply Talon, is an inverted roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Dorneyville, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and designed by Werner Stengel at a cost of $13 million, Talon opened to the public in 2001 and was marketed as the tallest and longest inverted coaster in the Northeastern United States. It stands 135-foot (41 m) tall, reaches a maximum speed of 58 mph (93 km/h), and features four inversions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasy Island (UK amusement park)</span> A Resort Theme Park on the East Coast of Lincolnshire.

Fantasy Island is a Resort Theme Park located in Ingoldmells on the East Coast of Lincolnshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumali</span> Roller coaster

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goudurix</span> Amusement ride

Goudurix is a steel roller coaster located in Parc Astérix in France. The Vekoma-built ride jointly held the European record for the greatest number of inversions upon its opening in 1989. The record was lost in 1995 to Dragon Khan in Spain. It is one of only two coasters in the world to feature a butterfly element. In 2007, following the release of the animated movie Asterix and the Vikings, Viking theming was added to the station and nearby rides, in the form of a wooden Viking longboat. Goudurix is located in the back-west of the park, near the Tonnerre 2 Zeus. The ride was repainted to a yellow and red track with grey supports color scheme from its previous white and yellow track with blue supports. It is one of the park's main attractions, along with the Tonnerre 2 Zeus, OzIris, Trace du Hourra and Toutatis rollercoasters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennium Roller Coaster</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman: The Ride (Six Flags México)</span> Roller coaster

Batman: The Ride is a steel inverted coaster at Six Flags Mexico that has been operating since 2000. It is a standard Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster model themed to the famed Batman franchise, and was part of Premier Park's massive renovation in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fønix (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster at Fårup Summer Park

Fønix is a steel roller coaster at Fårup Sommerland in Blokhus, North Jutland, Denmark. The coaster was announced on June 23, 2021, and opened to become Denmark's tallest and fastest. Fønix represents a DKK 100 million investment, the largest in the park's 46-year history with the second largest only being DKK 44 million on Orkanen in 2013. Fønix was designed and manufactured by Vekoma, and features 3 inversions - including the world's first "stall loop" element - as well as 14 airtime moments.

References

  1. ↑ Koranteng, J. (2001) Jubilee Odyssey Honors Queen, Amusement business. New York: The Nielsen Company, p. 38–.
  2. ↑ "Ten Tallest Roller Coasters In The UK - Roller Coaster Data Base". Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "Fantasy Island - Island Quest - Ingoldmells - Skegness - Fantasy Island Unbuilt Rides". Island Quest. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  4. ↑ Church throws itself into Jubilee rejoicing - Church Times Archive
  5. ↑ Fantasy Island: Free rides for jubilee. RideRater. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Restraint Modifications - BBC News". 27 February 2003. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  7. ↑ "Odyssey Up And Running - Island Quest" . Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  8. ↑ "Fantasy Island on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on 27 April 2022.[ user-generated source ]
  9. ↑ "Island Quest Park Prices" . Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  10. ↑ Top 50 rollercoasters - Daily Telegraph. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  11. ↑ High and mighty - The Guardian. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  12. ↑ Jubilee Odyssey - Review - Coaster Grotto
  13. ↑ Top 10: Britain's fastest roller coasters - Daily Telegraph newspaper
  14. ↑ Thorpe Park & The Swarm; New Ride Area. TopDogDays. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  15. ↑ Thorpe Park's new ride The Swarm terrifies Red Arrows pilot. AOL. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  16. ↑ Top 10: Britain's fastest roller coasters - Daily Telegraph newspaper
  17. ↑ "Mitch Hawker's 2007 Poll Results" . Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  18. ↑ "Mitch Hawker's 2008 Poll Results" . Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  19. ↑ "Jubilee Odyssey - Roller Coaster Data Base" . Retrieved 23 November 2008.
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