Ref Number: 00138
His Majesty's Yacht Britannia the superb racing First Class Cutter was initially commissioned in 1891 was scuttled here 10 July 1936.
Ref Number: 00138
In 1891, Prince Albert Edward of Scotland commissioned the great Scottish designer George Lennox Watson to create the Prince, a magnificent racing First Class Cutter widely regarded as one of the best racing yachts in history. Because she was launched on April 20, 1893, a full week before the competition entry for the America’s cup, the Valkyrie II, the Prince was quite pleased.
From 43 races in her first year, the Britannia won 33 times; in her second year, she swept all seven races held on the French Riviera, and in 1893, she defeated the Vigilant, the defender of the America’s Cup, in her home port.
During a pause in 1897’s major yacht racing, Sir Thomas Lipton challenged the Shamrock I with the Britannia. Refitted for racing in the 1920s, the Britannia was a symbol of King George V’s efforts to bring back the “Big Class” yacht. She was one of the elder ships of her class, but because to many upgrades and refurbishments, she continued to perform well. Even after her 1932 transformation into a J-Class Bermuda rig, she lagged behind her more cutting-edge peers in terms of speed.
With almost 231 race victories and another 129 flags to her record, the Britannia was one of the all-time wonders of the racing yacht world when she competed in her final race in 1935 at Cowes.
King George V last wishes instructed was for his beloved yatch to follow him to the grave once he had passed. Captain W.N.T. Beckett RN carried out this request on 10 July 1936, onbaord HMS Winchester.
Britannia was stripped of her spars and equipment, the ship then towed out to St. Catherine’s Deep off the Isle of Wight and sunk.
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