Sail Number: GBR192
Type: Dragon Class Sloop
LOA: 29′2” / 8.89m – LOD: 29′2” / 8.89m – LWL: 18’6” / 5.70m – Beam: 6’5″ / 1.96m – Draft: 3’11” / 1.20m – Designer: Johan Anker – Original Owner: Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip “Duke of Edinburgh” – Current Owner: The Royal Yacht Britannia’s Charitable Trust – Year Launched: July 10, 1948 – Built by: Camper and Nicholson – Hull material: Carvel planking on steamed timbers – Upwind Sail Area: 300ft2 / 27.7m2 – Spinnaker: 254ft2 / 23.6m2 – Displacement: 3,750lb / 1,700kg – Ballast: 2,200lb / 1,000kg
Historical:
Bluebottle was built in 1948 by Camper & Nicholsons in Gosport commissioned by the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, Isle of Wight. In 1948 Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip “Duke of Edinburgh” were presented “Bluebottle” as a Wedding present by the members, and at the same time The Duke and Princess became honorary members of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
After receiving her in 1948 the Duke raced her with family, including Prince Charles and Princess Anne, as well as with esteemed local designer Uffa Fox.
Prince Philip loaned the boat to a number of sailors, including to the British sailing team for the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, where she won a bronze medal, sailed by Graham Mann, Ronald Backus and Jonathan Janson. Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) presented the Edinburgh Cup in 1949 to the British Dragon Class for the winner of the annual National Championship. Indeed “Bluebottle” was to play a part in this competition under various sailing masters. In 1954 Lt. Commander Hewitt finished 2nd, Graham Mann finished 2nd again in 1956 and in 1960 “Bluebottle” finished 3rd this time with Ross Coles as skipper.
“Bluebottle” then spent 40 years as a sail training vessel at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon, until she was permanently loaned to the Maritime Museum Cornwall (NMMC), by HRH Prince Philip when he laid the foundation stone of the NMMC in July 1999.
Then recently restored under custody of Royal Yacht Britannia Trust by David Heritage in Cowes and re-launched in 2020.
Race results: 2021 Cowes Week #1 Scottish Championships #2 Edinburgh Cup, Edinburgh #3 2022 Dragon World Championships, Germany #5 South Western Champs #2 Edinburgh Cup, Falmouth #2.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
- Owner/Guardian: (1948) Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip “Duke of Edinburgh”
- Owner/Guardian: Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon.
- Owner/Guardian: (1999) Maritime Museum Cornwall (NMMC)
- Owner/Guardian: The Royal Yacht Britannia’s Charitable Trust
Resources
The International Dragon Association
Yachting World
Prince Philip: A Critical Biography, by John Parker
The International Society of Olympic Historians
The Royal Collection Trust
Cowes Week