Description
‡Stephen J. Renard (b.1947)
Britannia, Lulworth and Cambria off Royal Yacht Squadron, Isle of Wight, 1928
Signed, also titled verso
Oil on canvas
51 x 76cm; 20 x 30in
The Britannia, built in 1893 leads the two yachts Lulworth and Cambria built in 1920 and 1927 respectively which illustrates her dominance, even against more modern yachts in the 20's. Lulworth was built by White Brothers of Southampton for Richard H. Lee at a cost of £24,000. Initially called Terpsichore she had problems with her rigging and mast in her first few seasons and had little success. Lee died in 1923 and she was bought by Herbert Weld of Lulworth Castle who transformed her potential. She went on to record 59 first, 52 second and 26 third places out of 258 starts. She was discovered in 1990 anchored in the river Hamble where she had been since the late 1930's and has been totally restored. Re-launched in 2006 she is the only one of the big five to be in an almost original state and still competes in regattas. Cambria was a 23 metre class yacht, converted to be suitable for J Class racing. She was built in 1927 for Sir William Berry by William Fife at Fairlie in Scotland.