Mantua Sergal 1/60 733 HMY Britannia 1893 Americas Cup Yacht Kit

Mantua/Sergal 1/60 HMY Britannia 1893 Americas Cup Yacht Kit 733
After the Prince of Wales' nephew Kaiser Wilhelm II acquired the racing cutter Thistle in 1891, her Scottish designer George Lennox Watson received a commission from Edward VII for a sailing yacht in 1892. He designed the Britannia to the "Length And Sail Area Rule" as a First Class cutter and had her built alongside his America's Cup challenger Valkyrie II at the D&W Henderson Yard on the River Clyde. She was launched on April 20th, 1893, a week ahead of Valkyrie II. By the end of her first year's racing, the Britannia had scored thirty-three wins from forty-three starts. In her second season, she won all seven races for the big class yachts on the French Riviera, and then beat the 1893 America's Cup defender Vigilant in home waters. Despite a lull in big yacht racing after 1897, the Britannia served as a trial horse for Sir Thomas Lipton's challenger Shamrock I, and later passed on to several owners in a cruising trim with raised bulwarks. A new replica of the Britannia is currently awaiting trial in Arkhangelsk, Russia, after her shipyard has arrogated her from her legal owner.

The kit includes laser cut frames for keel & bulkheads, and exotic wood strip for hull planking. Also included is the wooden deck planking, masts and spars,ï¿½metalï¿½and wooden fittings, laser etched detailing, and silkï¿½flag. The instruction booklet is very detailed, taking you through every step of construction.

Scale 1:60, Length: 830mm.
Skill Level 2

£156.95

MRP £174.00

Must be ordered - delivery as soon as possible.

(Product Ref 26312)

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In 1920, King George V triggered the revival of the "Big Class" by announcing that he would refit the Britannia for racing. Although the Britannia was the oldest yacht in the circuit, yacht designer Alfred Mylne's regular updates to her rig kept her a most successful racer throughout the 1920s. In 1931, she was converted to the J-Class with a bermuda rig, but despite the improvements, her performance to windward slopped dramatically. Her last race was at Cowes in 1935. During her racing career she had won 231 races and took another 129 flags. King George V's dying wish was for his beloved yacht to follow him to the grave. On 10 July 1936, after the Britannia had been stripped of her spars and fittings, her hull was towed out to St Catherines Deep near the Isle of Wight, and she was sunk by HMS Winchester (L55), commanded by Captain W.N.T. Beckett RN. This fate marked the end of big yacht racing in Europe, with the smaller and more affordable International Rule 12-Metre Class gaining popularity.

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