As days go it’s a pretty dreich one and the cold wet drizzle falling on the Port of Leith does nothing to alleviate the feeling that the long slow march to winter is gathering pace. But though the weather outside is pretty hopeless, I’m cheered by the fact that I’m about to climb aboard a royal racing yacht, once skippered by Prince Philip in his sea-faring pomp.
The 63-ft Bloodhound, moored alongside the Royal Yacht Britannia, is unarguably the lesser known of the two vessels. Frankly, until about a week ago, I’d never heard of it.
But I’m met on the quayside by Emily Shields and Emma Aitken, Senior Event Sales Manager and Marketing Manager for the Britannia, and my chaperones for the morning.
A chap in a boiler suit and axle grease hands also homes into view; Ian, who served for 34 years in the Royal Navy – including a “pretty hairy” stint on board a minesweeper in the Gulf War – is the engineer responsible for keeping the graceful-looking boat in good working order.
He ushers us all aboard – Emily, in heels, is perhaps sensibly reluctant to take her chances on the rain-soaked deck – and we’re quickly into the living quarters of the vessel, which is a treasure trove of Royal history. In the galley, a framed newspaper cartoon on the wall immediately catches my eye; it’s taken from the Daily Express and is dated February 1st, 1962, just a month after it was sold to the Royal Family. It shows an irritated Duke of Edinburgh – standing on the quay – watching Bloodhound in the distance – with the caption, ‘The Duke says will it be alright if he borrows it next Thursday?’ Clearly, the yacht must have been made available for hires even under royal ownership.
Fast forward half a century and the Bloodhound is once again up for charter, and next year for the entire month of August, it’s available to the corporate market for incentive trips on the west coast of Scotland, catering for groups of up to eight, and crewed by sailors who once worked aboard Britannia, including ‘Tiny the chef’ who used to whip up lunch for the royal party on Bloodhound itself. It’s fair to say, groups who take up the offer will depart the shores of Oban for a rather unique sailing experience.
“I really don’t think you’re going to get this kind of thing anywhere else in the world, especially with the crew all having that connection to the Royal Family,” says Emily. “They’re all retired now, but they’re real characters and they’ve shared all this intimate history on board. They have a real camaraderie and passion for coming back, and that really comes across to guests.”
No doubt, they’re also happy in the knowledge that a crate of ‘Bloodhound beer’ – a specially-commissioned ale in their honour – will also be brought on board to forestall any mutinies at sea.
“Oh, yes, the beer; it’s such a lovely touch,” adds Emily, arranging for a bottle for me to take away, clearly sensing my own enthusiasm for the grog.
The boat itself has also been undergoing something of an overhaul; it was only in royal ownership for seven years in the 60s and ever since has had successive private owners, until it was brought back into possession of the Britannia, a charity, some five years ago. It fell into serious disrepair until it was bought in 2004 by Tony and Cindy McGrail, who oversaw a four-year restoration project.
These days, engineer Ian tinkers with the engine (I’m surprised to hear the latest is provided by JCB, the maritime, not diggers part of the company), and oversees any work carried out to maintain the vessel, including a recent touch up to some of the gold leaf paintwork.
It’s all part of the long lead-in to next year, preparing the decks for visitor groups who will take her on a spin around the Western Isles, following routes once taken by Prince Philip, a young Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Princess Anne, who is fittingly patron of the Lighthouse Association, has even popped back to take her out in Oban. Presumably not through the usual booking line, I enquire?
“Well, I think we probably look after her pretty well,” adds Emily. “But that’s the thing about Bloodhound and Britannia, the connections they have to the Royal Family are still very much there.” She reminisces briefly about the occasion when the Britannia was the venue for Zara Phillips (Princess Anne’s daughter) pre-wedding drinks in Edinburgh in 2011. The princes (William and Harry) also apparently visited when they were younger, darting around the boat to find their old bedrooms.
Britannia has now been in dock for 17 years and had its busiest year in 2015 for visitors. For corporate functions, the vessel can be an extension for a conference as it can comfortably cater for 450 on board for receptions; smaller VIP dinners can also be accommodated. As Emma points out, whilst we’re having elevenses, naturally, that you’re not likely to turn down an embossed royal invitation.
“I think most people would clear their diaries for that. The yacht’s got that pull factor, it works really well for events to enhance their brand.”
The Bloodhound, too, is bound to have the same effect.
