Rainbow is relaunched after a magnificent restoration by her owners and partners. © John Bertenshaw

One would almost think Watson deliberately chose to shock, for his innovations were the precise opposite of what was then thought to be desirable in a hull form. Deep forefoots were the fashion. Watson abolished them. Where bows had been allowed to curve, the curve was inwards, clipper style. Watson reversed the line, inventing the spoon bow. Bilges had been slack. Watson made them full-bodied.

English yachting men were appalled. They had nothing against experimentation as such, but were indignant that Watson should have introduced his radical ideas in a craft commissioned by Royalty.

Controversy raged as Britannia was launched, in 1 893, but fell away quickly as it became apparent the Prince of Wales’ yacht was an outstanding success. The critics suddenly forgot their objections. Britain had shown the world a thing or two.

Ripples of interest spread around the globe. The ripples reached Auckland. The canny Logan brothers noted the new ideas and itched for a chance to put them to trial. Their opportunity came when the ubiquitous A. T. Pittar asked the brothers to build him a fast fifty-foot cruiser. This was the big moment. The Watson principles were applied at a drawing board in Auckland, The lines of the ‘fast cruiser’, a modest description if ever there was one, were lofted.

And Rainbow was born.

Jenny Glenn, who grew up sailing on Rainbow, rededicating the boat with a bottle of the good stuff. Jenny is Dave Glenns mother, one of the partners in the boat.

© John Bertenshaw