INEOS BRITANNIA donate America's Cup race boat 'Britannia II' to the Classic Boat Museum
by The Classic Boat Museum Cowes 6 May 2022 00:04 NZST
BRITANNIA sailing on the Hauraki Gulf during the 36th America's Cup © C Gregory for INEOS Britannia
The Classic Boat Museum is celebrating a fantastic new edition as the AC75 foiling monohull 'BRITANNIA II', Britain's race boat skippered by Sir Ben Ainslie during the 36th America's Cup held in Auckland in 2021, has arrived at her new home in Cowes, Isle of Wight.
The 75ft yacht, with a top speed of over 50 knots, will join the museums eclectic mix of 89 boats which also includes the original BAR T1 (Ben Ainslie Racing) America's Cup foiling catamaran, used as a test bed for the 2017 Americas Cup in Bermuda, again gifted by Sir Ben and team to the museum in 2018.
Mark Mc Neil, Chairman of the Classic Boat Museum said, "It is a huge privilege for the museum to display this important yacht this summer which performed exceptionally well in the early rounds of the Prada Cup in February 2021. Britannia II joins our wide range of historical break through yachting exhibits and will be as significant addition to the Boat Shed allowing the museum to showcase the history of the exciting development of foiling boats and the British America's Cup story. I would like to thank the team at INEOS BRITANNIA for this amazing donation."
Sir Ben Ainslie, Team principal, and Skipper of INEOS BRITANNIA added, "Showcasing the historical legacy of the America's Cup is one of the goals of the Classic Boat Museum and we are delighted to again support them by donating BRITANNIA II, helping bring the America's Cup story to life and leaving a legacy for the generations to come."