HMY BRITANNIA
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The Clyde was not only famous for producing the greatest and largest vessels afloat, it was also one of the top yacht-building centres.
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Take me back to the CLYDE BUILT page please.
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One of the most famous yachts ever built on the river was
HMY Britannia.
She was the creation of yacht designers G.L.Watson, still producing world-class vessels, and she was built at Henderson's yard in Partick.
The cutter was commissioned for The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, who had a passion for sailing.
She was launched in 1893 and was the last of the great royal sailing yachts.
Britannia weighed more than 200 tonnes and was just under 125ft long.
For most of her 40-year career, Britannia was the world's fastest yacht and managed to win more than half the number of competitions she entered.
One of the most important and famous victories of her career was winning the America's Cup the year after her launch.
When Edward VII died in 1910, the yacht was passed on to his son, George V - who was also a keen yachtsman - and Britannia continued her illustrious career.
However, the King's sons did not share his passion for sailing, so he willed that on his death the yacht should be scuttled.
He died in January 1936 and after her gear had been sold she made her final voyage in the summer to the southern tip of the Isle of Wight.
Explosives were fired into her hull and the famous world-class yacht sank.
HMY BRITANNIA