THE ISLE of Wight connection to the Duke of Edinburgh's beloved keelboat Bluebottle is set to continue.
The Duke was gifted the boat by the Cowes-based Island Sailing Club, and it has now been added to the historic fleet of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Not only was it recently restored by Island boatbuilder David Heritage, of Cowes, but it is going to be sailed by Islanders in the Edinburgh Cup at the British Dragon Association’s UK championships in late August.
Husband and wife team Graham and Julia Bailey have each previously won the Edinburgh Cup, the national championship of the British Dragon Class.
The Baileys, who live in Cowes, race regularly both home and internationally and have won four Edinburgh Cups between them in recent years.
“We are all thrilled and honoured to be racing this most iconic of all Dragons in the Edinburgh Cup. At 74 years old, Bluebottle may be older than The Royal Yacht Britannia, but following the expert restoration with some modern upgrades from David Heritage, we are keen to see how she goes in competition and will give it our all in memory of the late Duke of Edinburgh.”
David Heritage with Bluebottle. Inset, Julia and Graham Bailey with Will Heritage, David's son, second from right.
David, of David Heritage Racing Yachts, said: “It was a great honour to undertake the challenge of re-building such an iconic and famous racing yacht, and with the use of modern boat building techniques, bring her back to full racing condition.
"It was also an honour to know that The Duke of Edinburgh was able to see photographs as the re-build progressed, but equally sad he was unable to see the finished boat.”
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