| Jubilee Odyssey | |
| Location | Fantasy Island UK |
|---|---|
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 23 May 2002 |
| Cost | £28,000,000 |
| Type | Steel - Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | SLC (Custom) |
| Lift/launch system | Chain Lift Hill |
| Height | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Drop | 141 ft (43 m) |
| Length | 2,924 ft (891 m) |
| Max speed | 63 mph (101 km/h) |
| Inversions | 5 |
| Duration | 2:52 |
| Max vertical angle | 75° |
| Capacity | 350 riders per hour |
| Max G force | 4.8 |
| Height restriction | 4 ft 0 in (122 cm) |
| Jubilee Odyssey at RCDB | |
| Pictures of Jubilee Odyssey at RCDB | |
| Amusement Parks Portal | |
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 metres), it is the third tallest roller coaster in the UK, after the Pepsi Max Big One (213 feet) and Stealth (205 feet).[1] It has a maximum speed of 63mph and is capable of forces up to 4.8g.
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Original plans for the ride showed a SLC ride 265 feet (81 metres) in height, which would have made it the tallest Inverted 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' (54.60m).[2]
It was opened and ridden on by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.[3] It was initially sponsored by the chocolate bar Kit Kat, but this association has now ceased.
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.[4]
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.[5]
Jubilee Odyssey currently operates with only one train, which seats 20 riders in a 2 across in 10 rows formation. It currently costs £3.50 per ride or can be accessed with the Fantasy Island wristband system.[6]
It is frequently affected by high winds and will not operate with winds speeds in excess of 35 mph due to the high risk of the train stalling.
Its lift-hill motors and brakes are powered by a £4 million dung-powered generator, which converts manure into methane gas.[7]
Its reported construction cost of £28,000,000 is the highest of any roller coaster ever built in the United Kingdom.[8][9] Its nearest competitor is Thirteen at Alton Towers, which was completed in 2010 at a cost of £15,000,000.
Jubilee 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 third tallest UK roller coaster. Its 43 metre drop is also the third highest in the country. Its top speed of 63 mph, makes it the fourth fastest roller coaster in the UK.[10]
It was ranked 209th in Mitch Hawker's Roller Coaster Poll in 2007 and 177th in 2008.[11][12]
A year after the ride's opening, the Cobra Roll and Horse Shoe were lowered in an attempt to prevent the train stalling,[13] as it had done numerous times in its opening year. Whilst lowering the track has had a beneficial impact, the most recent occurrence was during March 2009 where the train stalled on the cobra roll element whilst testing.[14]
Jubilee Odyssey has five inversions: