Arguably the most distinguished yacht ever sailed, the Royal Yacht Britannia was built by D & W Henderson to the then revolutionary design by G.L. Watson for Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. She was passed to King George V. She measured 102 feet and carried 10,000 sq. ft of sail. In the carefully researched replication opposite, Gordon Frickers has painted her in her original rig but eventually she had 7 major rig changes. She won over 200 first prizes, a record unbeaten record at the turn of the 21st century. Many of these races were won with Capt Albert E. Turner at the helm and with a crew selected from Wivenhoe and other River Colne villages. Upon the death of King George V, and at his request, she was scuttled by the Royal Navy. |
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The Royal Yacht Britannia (1893), painted by Gordon Frickers and reproduced here by permission of the artist from a print owned by Peter Green of Wivenhoe. Note: This image is available as a fine art print, a limited signed & numbered edition, direct from the artist or from the publisher, Solomon & Whitehead. Click here to view a larger version of this picture and here for more information about the artist and the picture.
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