Royal Naval Academy Academy was reconstituted as the "Royal Navy College" and in 1816 was amalgamated with the "School of Naval Architecture". The college closed as a young officer training establishment on 30 March 1837, meaning that from that date all youngsters setting out on a naval career proceeded directly to sea. The closure of the college created a gap in officer training, and in 1857 the two-decker "Illustrious" undertook the role of cadet training ship at Portsmouth. In 1859 she was replaced by the three-decker "Britannia", which was removed to Portland in 1862 and to Dartmouth in 1863. A distinguished Academy graduate
HMY Britannia (Royal Cutter Yacht) 1879, and the 216-ton schooner "Aline" (Benjamin Nicholson, 1860) in 1881. "Britannia" faced many opponents in her 43-year career. The most notable were: HMY Britannia (Royal Cutter Yacht) His Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" was a gaff-rigged cutter built in 1893 for RYS Commodore Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. She served both himself and his son King George V, with a long racing career. "Britannia" was ordered in 1892 by Edward, Prince of Wales and designed by George Lennox Watson. She was a near sister ship to the Watson-designed which challenged for the 1893 America's Cup.