Bloodhound, Queen Elizabeth's yacht, heading for Scotland

5:58 AM Sat 9 Jan 2010 GMT

'Carved mahogany and teak on elm - 7 cabins below' . Click Here to view large photo

One of the most famous classic yachts of all time has been purchased by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. Queen Elizabeth's former yacht, the 19.2m (63ft) Bloodhound, on which Princess Anne and Prince Charles learned to sail, is to be displayed in Scotland.

The teak and mahogany constructed Bloodhound, which has won scores of races in the south of England and crossed the Atlantic to compete in Bermuda - is now being moved to go on show in Edinburgh beside the Royal Yacht Britannia.

The vessel has a swept laid teak decks and varnished teak covering boards. The teak deck furniture has been restored and refitted with 2 newly crafted main skylights and 2 wing skylights fitted over the saloon and master cabin. - .. .

The classic yawl, which is more than 70 years old and was designed by famed yacht designer Charles E Nicholson at the height of his powers, is, however, perhaps best known as the yacht that Prince Charles and Princess Anne learned to sail on, rather than her earlier racing record which culminated in her winning of the 1939 Fastnet race.

Bloodhound had been successfully brought back to life after an impressive 3 year re-build, her structure arguably stronger than the day she was first launched, and was purchased by the Trust yesterday when it went on sale. They will move it to Scotland and unveil it to the public in April.

One of the most successful racing boats of its time, it was purchased by the Royal Family in 1962.

She was then purchased in 1969 by Mr Bernard Cook and he sailed her into his home port of Poole. Here she remained part of the Poole and Solent yachting scene, only to lapse into neglect when her owner died. The yacht however remained in the family and was later re-commissioned by his son Robert who during the nineties actively campaigned her in both UK and more recently Mediterranean waters before settling in Guernsey following her appearance in the 2000 Americas Cup series held in the Solent.

Bloodhound then has in many ways been fortunate to have three long term owners throughout her life

Chairman of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, Rear Admiral Neil Rankin, told the British newspapers he was delighted to have acquired such an important piece of British yachting history.

He said: 'We look forward to having Bloodhound alongside Britannia once more, for the public to see what a wonderful ocean-racing yacht she is and why she was so fondly regarded by all associated with her illustrious past.'

Sounds like she won't sail much any more though...

by Nancy Knudsen