The world’s largest Union Jack, which is painted on the hangar doors at Venture Quays, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, has now been fully restored, iwradio.co.uk reports.
The painting was restored to its former glory to mark a historic British year which included the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics.
Local residents, sailing celebrities, British Vendee Globe skippers, school children, original painters and dignitaries were all invited along to help with the re-painting, commissioned by the Artemis Offshore Academy.
Past and present Vendee Globe skippers unveiled a commemorative plaque to celebrate the completion of the painting, which is popular with holidaymakers on Isle of Wight breaks.
World record-breaking sailor Brian Thompson said of the restoration:
“It’s a real landmark, and it’s a real privilege to be part of the process to repaint the flag and I hope it remains for decades to come.”
Mr Thompson helped kick off the re-painting, which may inspire more UK residents with fellow record-breaking sailor Dee Caffari MBE, Ease Cowes Mayor Jane Rann, local artist Lynn Toung and children from the Holy Cross primary School.
John Thorn, Artemis Offshore Academy Performance Director, said he was ‘delighted’ that the flag can now welcome home the short-handed Artemis Offshore Academy sailors after many offshore races in the coming years.
The flag was first originally painted in 1977 to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, according to bbc.co.uk .