With King George V himself at the helm, BRITANNIA lost to VELSHEDA in a close finish. When the King appeared to be less than delighted, Boy OConnor ventured to ask an equerry if there was any he could make amends. The swift reply was returned … You could always emigrate. This was taken in good part.
BRITANNIA was then 41 years old, and like many of his generation the sailor King had a deep affection for this boat. When a group of yachtsmen asked whether they could present him with a new boat on his Silver Jubilee in 1935, the King refused. As long as I live he replied, I will never own any yacht other than BRITANNIA. Within a year he was dead, and afterwards BRITANNIA was towed into deep water south of the Isle of Wight and sunk according to the Kings instructions.