The Bloodhound is a wooden yacht built in 1936 by Camper and Nicholson for an Amercan named Ike Bell, who won many ocean races in her, including the 'Fastnet' in 1939. She went though varous owners until the Queen and Prince Philip bought her for £12 000 in 1962, for cruising as well as sailing.
She is a yacht famous and outstanding in her class for the many races she has won. Being wooden, she is fantasticly easy to sail, and it is said she virtually sails herself. With sleek lines, the yacht was Prince Philip's favourite - he sailed her for nine years and both Prince Charles and Princess Anne learned to sail in her.
Now the 63 foot Bloodhound has been restored to her full glory as a labour of love costing £1 000 000 by the current owner, Tony McGrail of Christchurch.
Mr McGrail managed to buy some Hondorus mohognany which was imported in the 1960's and never been used. He has remortgaged his home and had numerous bank loans to finance his project. He would like the yacht to be be bought back by the nation, but fears that a private invidual will end owning it. McGrail no longer has the means to keep it.
Meanwhile, it is moored more or less outside my home! read more