A historic ship recently got the royal seal of approval after being lovingly restored to its former glory. Almost 40 years after Francis Chichester sailed Gypsy Moth IV non-stop around the world, the vessel has been restored to repair the effect of decades of decay. And this week Princess Anne raised a glass to toast the ship's return to the waves.
Before the toast, the Princess Royal baptised the the famous craft by pouring champagne on its prow. Earlier, round-the-world yachtswoman Ellen Macarthur steered it into Greenwich, making the trip her own tribute to the ship's original captain, the first man to sail round the world single-handedly.
Sailing heroics will not have been the only sporting achievements on Princess Anne's mind at the boat's re-launch. She was undoubtedly praying her daughter Zara Phillips is successful as she rides in the European Championships in Oxfordshire this week. A good result in the three-day event could give the horsey royal the chance to follow in her mother's footsteps by competing for Britain in the Olympics.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
