Yard number 438 Construction started 1936 Length 19 m | Laid down 1936 Launched 1936 Tons burthen 30,840 kg | |
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Owner Ike Bell (1936–1939)Hans Hamilton and Patrick Egan (1939–1947)Miles Wyatt (1947–1962)Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (1962–1969)Robert Cook (1969–2002)Richard Carr (2002–2003)Tony and Cindy McGrail (2003–2010)Royal Yacht Britannia Trust (since 2010) | ||
Bloodhound is a 19.2-metre (63 ft) ocean racing yacht. She was designed by Charles E. Nicholson and built by Camper and Nicholsons in 1936. From 1962 to 1969 she was owned by the British Royal Family and in January 2010 she was purchased by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust.
Royal ownership
In 1962 Bloodhound was purchased for the Royal Family at the request of Prince Philip. In February she was sailed from Plymouth to Gosport to be refitted by Camper and Nicholsons and the work was finished by June. Prince Philip sailed Bloodhound with Uffa Fox at Cowes Week in August of that year.
During Royal ownership Bloodhound would accompany The Royal Yacht Britannia in the Western Isles when the Royal Family had their one true family holiday every year. She had a permanent crew of three and one Skipper was a descendent of Sir Francis Drake. It was during these times that the young Royals learned to sail on Bloodhound. When not in Royal use, Bloodhound and her crew were made available to yacht clubs across the country, used to teach thousands of young people how to sail.
In 1969 Bloodhound was sold and not replaced by the Royal Family. Bloodhound then effectively retired from racing. Over time she gradually fell into considerable disrepair and very nearly became beyond salvage. However, in 2002 she was bought by Richard Carr before being purchased by Tony McGrail, a yacht surveyor and classic yacht restorer, in 2003. Over the next 3½ years she underwent a major internal and external refit to bring her back to her original pristine condition.
In January 2010 Bloodhound was purchased by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and is now berthed alongside The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith where she can be viewed from the pontoon.
During July and August, the fully restored, 63 foot Royal Racing Yacht Bloodhound is available from Oban Marina for private day sailing around Scotland's West Coast for up to eight guests.