The Britannia Sailing Trust, is a Scottish registered charity founded in 2014, which is dedicated to advancing Britain’s maritime heritage, raising awareness of the fragility of our oceans and providing experience of traditional sailing and maintenance of a historic vessel through the restoration of the class 1 smack Britannia.

Britannia was one-hundred-years old in April 2015 and she is the last of her kind. She has had a varied and interesting life. You can read more about her by visiting our company page.  

Currently berthed in @Exeter Heritage Harbour following a Highly celebrated launch in September 2023, work is continuing  

The purpose of the Britannia Sailing Trust is to return this unique, beautiful boat to a working boat again and:

a) To advance Britain’s maritime heritage and culture for future generations, by the acquisition, restoration and maintenance of the 1915 Class 1 Smack “Britannia” ensuring that she will continue to sail the seas, the very best way of preserving a Historic vessel, and keeping alive the traditional sailing and maintenance skills required for a tall ship.

b) To raise awareness of the fragility of our oceans; of the global pollution of the seas through the dumping of waste, chemicals and plastics; of the rising sea temperature contributing to climate change and the imbalance of the eco system. By working Britannia as she was originally designed and built to sail, by wind power, with an auxiliary engine using an alternative to fossil fuels, we will publicise and promote the serious threat to our planet if the seas die.

c) To provide training and provide work experience for individuals, regardless of age or ability, to learn to sail and to work on an historic vessel at sea, absorbing their maritime heritage; and to promote education and training in all the ancillary shipwrighting skills required when Britannia is laid up for her annual winter maintenance.

We welcome any and all support in our endeavours to achieve our goals.

Britannia Sailing Trust

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