Once owned by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the 19.2-metre Camper & Nicholsons classic yacht Bloodhound hit the headlines this week after being rescued by a lifeboat crew off the Norfolk coast in the United Kingdom. The 1936 yawl with a regal past issued a distress call on 6 April 2025 after taking on water north-east of Bacton, prompting a swift response from Caister Lifeboat and other nearby vessels.
According to a statement from the Caister Lifeboat team, the crew was paged by Humber Coastguard and launched within 15 minutes aboard their all-weather lifeboat, CVLS 45-01. Offshore support vessel SeaCat Columbia was first on the scene and stood by until lifeboat crew arrived, transferring water pumps and crew on board the stricken yacht. Once the ingress was under control, Bloodhound was towed to Great Yarmouth Harbour, arriving safely later that evening.
As the incident brings renewed attention to the yacht, BOAT takes a closer look at the storied past of a royal sailing icon.
1. A royal wedding gift that sparked a love affair with sailing
While Bloodhound wasn't the inaugural yacht in the royal fleet – that distinction belongs to Bluebottle, gifted to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present in 1947 – the yacht holds a special place in royal maritime history. Purchased in 1962 at Prince Philip's request, she became an integral part of the family's sailing activities, often accompanying the Royal Yacht Britannia during summer cruises around the Western Isles.
2. She was the Duke of Edinburgh’s racing machine
Prince Philip, an avid sailor, found in Bloodhound a vessel that matched his passion for the sea. He frequently raced her, notably with the esteemed boat designer and sailor Uffa Fox during Cowes Week in August 1962. The yacht also served as a training vessel for the young royals, with Prince Charles and Princess Anne honing their sailing skills on board during family holidays.
Read More/Eye openers: The stories behind iconic images from the yachting archives3. Queen Elizabeth II technically owned her – but rarely sailed
The Queen was famously more at ease on the deck of Britannia and is said to have sailed on Bloodhound only once. It was the Duke who took the helm of the family’s sailing pursuits, but their ownership of Bloodhound symbolised the royal couple’s united support for the sport and the maritime heritage of the United Kingdom.
4. She’s a rare 1930s yawl with a glamorous racing pedigree
Bloodhound was built in 1936 by prestigious shipyard Camper & Nicholsons, with design by Charles E. Nicholson – the mind behind many J Class yachts. With her elegant yawl rig and sweeping lines, she quickly earned a name on the regatta circuit before being scooped up by the royals. After her time in royal hands, she was privately owned before being restored to her former glory.
5. Her legacy has been renewed in true British fashion
Bloodhound hit the headlines again in April 2025 after she began taking on water off the coast of Norfolk. True to her British roots, she was rescued by an independent lifeboat crew and safely towed to harbour. Thankfully, no one was hurt – though perhaps Prince Philip, ever the seaman, might have had a few salty words to say about the incident.
From her royal associations to her racing triumphs and recent rescue, Bloodhound's narrative continues to captivate sailing enthusiasts and historians alike, embodying the enduring allure of classic yachts and the stories they carry.
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