We are truly privileged to have been trusted with transporting the iconic ‘Bluebottle, GBR 192’ - a Dragon class keelboat gifted to the then Princess Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh by the Island Sailing Club - to this years @intdragon European Championships in Pärnu, Estonia and her onward movements.
Arguably the most iconic of all Dragon class keelboats, ‘Bluebottle’ was built in 1947 by Camper and Nicholson and sailed by the Duke of Edinburgh with his family, including Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and the now King Charles. She competed in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, winning bronze, before being retired from racing and becoming a training boat at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Here, she provided an invaluable service to countless sailors.
Toward the end of his life, Prince Phillip commissioned her comprehensive 18-month restoration by David Heritage Racing Yachts. Although the Duke was tragically unable to see the project through to completion, under the Royal Britannia Trust’s watchful eye she was re-launched in 2020 and is racing once again.
Now seventy-six years old, she remains as fast as ever in the ultra-competitive @intdragon class where she has achieved a number of notable results: 1st 2023 Turkish Open Championships, 1st 2024 French Open Championships, 1st Cowes Week 2021, 3rd 2023 World Championships.
Having been safely delivered in Pärnu, Bluebottle continued her successful streak, placing 5th place at the European Championships.
Next up, she will be being transported - once again by us in one of our ultra-secure 'Monex Group' curtain sider trucks - straight to Kinsale, Ireland for the Gold Cup this September. This special competition, with one race per day across six days and no discards, promises excitement with more than 60 boats entered already.
A truly beautiful boat with an incredible history and pedigree that we are honored at Monex Marine to be trusted with transporting.
