BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)<br /> Pic: K1Britannia/BNPS<br /> <br /> ***Please Use Full Byline***<br /> <br /> The Britannia is dwarfed by the Victoria and Albert yatch. <br /> <br /> An 8 million pounds appeal has been launched to resurrect one of the most famous and best loved racing yachts of all time - the 'King's yacht' Britannia.<br /> <br /> The historic 177ft yacht was built for playboy prince Albert in 1893 and became an instant star of the sailing scene, winning 33 of 43 prestigious races  in her first year alone.<br /> <br /> The stunning Royal yacht became known the world over and enjoyed an illustrious racing career at the hands of Albert, who went on to become King Edward VII.<br /> <br /> Edward's son George V continued the love affair with Britannia, dubbed 'the King's yacht', so much so that on his death in 1936 she was deliberately sunk off the Isle of Wight.<br /> <br /> Now, 78 years on, campaigners are nearing the final stages of a project to complete an an inch-perfect replica of Britannia which has been 20 years in the making.<br /> <br /> The instantly recognisable hull is finished but around six million pounds is needed to transform it into a yacht worthy of Royalty. <br /> <br /> The yacht, which will cost an extra one million pounds a year to run, will then be taken all round the world so it can be enjoyed by charities and future generations.
{}