Anyone transported forward in time from the 1970s to 2017 to watch the Americas Cup would not believe their eyes, as the dynamic catamarans sailing at great speed up on their foils are a world away from the elegant yachting of Sir Charles Blyth and the vessel he sailed around the world in, the Great Britain II, writes Vivienne Milburn.
IN THE SEVENTIES, the Derbyshire marine engineer John Wright helped with the preparation and the planning of the designs for the Great Britain II and following the success of the voyage, he was awarded a fine silver model of the yacht GBII. The only other example of this model was awarded to Princess Anne. The model yacht and group of related items, including letters, photographs and signed books, are to be sold in a specialist auction this month and are expected to make £1,200 to £1,800…