Supply officer (Royal Navy) scheme (entering Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, Devon, as a Cadet or Midshipman, under terms similar to those direct from civilian life) was open to those supply branch ratings under the age of about 25. Such ratings were called CW candidates, and they were specially reported on for selection to attend the Admiralty Interview Board before final selection for promotion and entry to BRNC. The second avenue of promotion from rating to commissioned officer was to the Special Duties (SD) List. Petty officers and chief petty officers could, with the approval of their commanding officer, become a CW candidate
HMY Britannia (Royal Cutter Yacht) cost was £8,300 and like "Valkyrie II", "Britannia" was built at the D&W Henderson shipyard in Patrick on the River Clyde. With two such highly important commissions underway in the same yard, Watson delegated his protégé James Rennie Barnett to oversee both yachts. "Britannia" was launched on 20 April 1893, a week ahead of "Valkyrie II" and joined a fleet of first class cutters that was growing fast as others followed the royal lead. In a highly competitive fleet, "Britannia" soon set about achieving the race results which would eventually establish her as the most successful racing yacht of all