The famous Hampshire-built yacht Gipsy Moth IV has been saved for the nation by an anonymous donation of £250,000. The boat on which Sir Francis Chichester made the fastest single-handed circumnavigation of the world in 1967 was in danger of being sold abroad.

However two anonymous benefactors from East Anglia have stumped up the money to ensure the Gosport-built vessel stays in the country. Its owner, the charity United Kingdom Sailing Academy, was forced to offer it for sale because of crippling maintenance costs. Former Isle of Wight-based yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur said she was “thrilled” to hear that the vessel had been saved.

 

This story originally appeared on the Southern Evening Echo website

With acknowledgements to the Southern Evening Echo