joining the royal yacht squadron

Yachting World

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Gallery: the rooms, art and antiques of the Royal Yacht Squadron

• Elaine Bunting
• May 20, 2015

This photo gallery shows what it's like behind the gates of the exclusive Royal Yacht Squadron, its dining and member's rooms, artefacts, paintings, even its wine cellar, with photos by Paul Wyeth

The RYS is also very active in racing circles, has a youth programme and is the challenging yacht club for Ben Ainslie Racing’s British America’s Cup challenge. So although it may be steeped in history, the club keenly looks forward as well.

You can read more about the club, its traditions and history here.

But its closed gates continue to intigue those on the outside. Here, we take you inside, with scores of photos by Cowes-based marine photographer Paul Wyeth, of what is is really like in ‘the Castle’.

See more photos inside the RYS, and its collection of memorabilia, on the next pages…

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Hints of the Modern Invade Royal Yacht Squadron

By Christopher Clarey

• Aug. 14, 2015

COWES, England — At the Royal Yacht Squadron, they still wear black tie and toast the queen every Saturday night. They still fire the cannons from their battlements to start the Rolex Fastnet Race and scores of other races throughout the year.

But as it celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2015, the Squadron — as it is known in Britain and in much of the sailing world — is not quite the same club of old.

It remains seriously exclusive and thickly populated by royals: from Prince Philip, the now 94-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, to Juan Carlos, the former king of Spain, to the Aga Khan.

Yet the Squadron elected its first three female full members this year, even if their names have yet to be released publicly. The club also has adopted a palpably more open approach to those who dwell outside Cowes Castle, the Squadron’s clubhouse on the Isle of Wight that was first used for defensive purposes when built by Henry VIII in 1539.

“I think we’re more relaxed about it all,” the club’s commodore, Christopher Sharples, said in a recent interview in the castle. “There used to be the feeling that you mustn’t put your head above the parapet or you’re certain to be shot. And I think they’ve got quite good parapets here.”

They do indeed, as well as a memorable, concentration-sharpening sign affixed to them: “Warning. Starting cannon may fire at any time.”

“I think there was a notion for quite a few years that the Squadron was a bunch of sort of pompous old guys together, very much the blue-blood, old-school type of thing,” said Mike Broughton, a British navigator and former British naval officer. “To be honest, I think over the last 10 years in particular, they’ve worked hard to modernize and also to modernize in terms of professional racing. They’ve modernized their racing management, which has been great to see actually, and they’ve worked hard to keep up with the times.”

That does not mean, however, that the time has come for an outsider with a profound love of the sea (and fancy dinners) to ring up the Squadron and ask to be emailed a membership application.

“The first thing to say about that is you get invited; you don’t apply,” Sharples said.

The club’s regular membership is now capped at 535, and there is a four-year waiting list. “There are also about 70 naval members who come in from a slightly different category,” Sharples said. “They come in through a side door and don’t have to queue up, and that’s because of our longstanding relationship with the Royal Navy.”

The club remains the only one whose member yachts are allowed to fly the white ensign of the Royal Navy.

The recent decision to add female members is part of a wave of similar moves by long-established British clubs: the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland elected its first female members in 2015 after 260 years of existence.

“I’m a firm believer that if a club wants to be a single-sex club only, it can be, but not if it’s connected to sport,” Sharples said. “I think if you have a social club in London, I liken it to bull elephants hanging around a watering hole. Well, nobody seems to mind about that do they? But if on the other hand you are connected to a sport where you have facilities that sportsmen use, it seems to me much better that you give equal opportunity to ladies to use and access those facilities.”

When the club was founded by 42 gentlemen in 1815 in a gathering at the Thatched House Tavern in London, prospective members were required to own a vessel of at least 10 tons.

Today, boat ownership — at any tonnage — is not a requirement. “You have to be somebody who is actively involved in sailing,” Sharples said. “If you have access to a boat or regularly sail on somebody’s boat, that’s fine.”

To become a candidate, one needs a proposer, a seconder and three other initial letters of support, plus eight additional letters: all of these from club members. Only then does one join the list with a chance to eventually face an election, which involves the full membership.

Avoid too many blackballs and you will join a club with a uniquely rich maritime history whose members and their boats played a role in both World Wars. The membership roll has included the Arctic polar explorers Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, a Russian czar, British kings, the round-the-world solo-sailing pioneers Francis Chichester and Robin Knox-Johnston, as well as Ben Ainslie, Britain’s biggest sailing star of the moment, who the club hopes can finally bring the America’s Cup back to the Squadron.

It left here in 1851 when the yacht America — owned by a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members — defeated a fleet of yachts representing the Squadron in a race around the Isle of Wight.

The Cup, a silver ewer, had been purchased for the competition by a Squadron member, Henry William Paget, First Marquess of Anglesey, who had had his right leg amputated after being wounded by one of the last cannon shots of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Cowes Castle was Paget’s summer home, and it became the Squadron clubhouse after his death in 1854.

The cup purchased by Paget was eventually renamed the America’s Cup. Though the Australians at last managed to wrest it away from the New York Yacht Club in 1983 and yacht clubs from New Zealand and Switzerland have since won it, the British have yet to reclaim possession.

Ainslie, an honorary Squadron member and four-time Olympic gold medalist, helped Larry Ellison’s Oracle Team USA retain the trophy in 2013 by playing a major role in the epic comeback in San Francisco against Emirates Team New Zealand. But he is now head of his own team, Ben Ainslie Racing, which will represent the competitive arm of the Royal Yacht Squadron in the 2017 America’s Cup competition in Bermuda.

That will come in the final year of Sharples’s four-year term, which has already included the bicentennial celebration.

“I suppose my ultimate aim, if you like, is to help Ben bring the Cup back to this club before I step down,” Sharples said.

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History of The America’s Cup

The America’s Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy in the world. It predates the FA Cup, the Ryder Cup and even the modern Olympic Games by 45 years. The first America’s Cup took place in 1851, 35 years before the car and 52 years before the inaugural flight of the Wright Brothers. Though it started in Britain, a British team has never won it. “50 years of hurt” – how about 171?

The lack of success for Britain is, however, not for a lack of trying. Over the past 171 years there have been many British challenges for the Cup, some more successful than others, but they all have one thing in common. Not one of them has ever brought the famous “Auld Mug” back home.

When It All Began

1851 – 1895.

The first edition of the America’s Cup took place in 1851. It began when during that year’s Great Exhibition the Earl of Wilton, the Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS), sent an invitation to members of the recently-formed New York Yacht Club (NYYC), suggesting that they might like to enjoy the club’s facilities in Cowes. The New York Yacht Club’s 30 metre schooner ‘America’ won the trophy, an ornate sterling silver bottomless ewer crafted in 1848 by Garrard & Co, and the ‘America’s Cup’ was born.

In 1885 the New York Yacht Club would face their first challenge to win back the Cup from the Royal Yacht Squadron, it was the fifth challenge they faced to date and came from Sir Richard Sutton’s Genesta. He lost 2-0. The RYS would not give up, however, and challenged the NYYC both in 1893 and 1895 again, this time through the Earl of Dunraven. He too, was defeated each time, and accused the Americans of cheating for which he was pilloried at the time.

1899 – 1930, The Lipton Era

From the turn of the century through to 1930, the British challenge for the America’s Cup was dominated by one man, Sir Thomas Lipton.   Lipton would challenge five time in thirty years for the America’s Cup, all unsuccessfully. His fourth campaign is the closest Britain has come to bringing the Cup home.  

Perhaps ironically, however, in the first three Cups he contested, Lipton was beaten by a boat skippered by another Brit, Charlie Barr. Barr is Britain’s most successful America’s Cup skipper and the only Briton to have been onboard an America’s Cup winning boat until INEOS BRITTAINIA Skipper Ben Ainslie won the Cup with Oracle Team USA in 2013.

1934 – 1937, Sir T.O.M Sopwith

The final pre-Second World War British challenges were led by Sir T.O.M. Sopwith, who bought Shamrock V from Sir Thomas Lipton. Sopwith was a sportsman in all senses; he raced cars and motorcycles, and he held the world waterspeed record in a powerboat.   Sopwith brought that sporting desire and scientific, innovative approach to yacht racing.  

There is widespread agreement that Sopwith’s first Endeavour, the 1934 J-Class Challenger ‘Endeavour’, it was the fastest and best prepared boat ever to leave Britain. She went to meet a weak American fleet, with the NYYC elite still struggling with the impact of the Great Depression. After initlal wins in the first races, it was not to be and the team were outsailed to a 4-2 loss.  

1958 – 1964, Post World War 2

Due to the austerity after the war, the size of the boats competing was greatly reduced.   The 12 metre class led the way and in 1958 Britain’s Sceptre, steered by Graham Mann, lost by significant margins and a 4-0 scoreline to the American entry, Columbia.

British losses continued in 1964 as Tony Boyden’s Sovereign did not win a single race to the American challenger.   The post war depression had a significant impact on the British challenges, with America outdoing them on multiple fronts from number of entries to resources and the technology available.

1980 – 2003, New Winners

It would be over 15 years before a British challenger would come forward, in that period both the French and Australians has begun their own challenges and made significant progress in developing their boats.   In 1983 for the first time in its 132 year history, America lost the Cup to the boat Australia II, and Australia became the new defenders. A decade after losing the Cup for the first time in history it returned to American waters in as America 3 took victory.

It was during this period that the International America’s Cup Class of yachts is introduced. These boats are longer, quicker and much more powerful than before. From 1995 to 2003 the Cup changed hands multiple times with new winners in the form of Team New Zealand winning twice consecutively. In 2003, after a 16 year break a British entry backed by Peter Harrison and skippered Ian Walker, were ultimately beaten in the semifinal and the Swiss entry went on to win the Cup for the first time, returning it to Europe more than 150 years after the first race on British waters.

2010 – 2013, The Greatest Comeback

Oracle Team USA claim the Cup and returned to America ushering in a new era of highly technical yacht design with their lightweight catamaran.

In 2013 the world witnessed the greatest comeback in sporting history as Oracle Team USA overcame Team New Zealand in one of sports most incredible wins recording a 9-8 victory on the waters of San Francisco Bay. Onboard was tactician Sir Ben Ainslie, the first British sailor to win the Cup since Charlie Barr over 80 years ago.

2013 onwards, The British Challenge returns

Sir Ben Ainslie Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor of all time alongside the Royal Yacht Squadron announced the formation of a British team to challenge for the America’s Cup. Ben led the British challenge into the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017. Despite some successes including victory in the America’s Cup World Series, it was not to be for the first-time British challenger as they exited the Cup at the semi-final stage against Emirates Team New Zealand.

In 2018, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe came onboard to back Ben Ainslie’s British Challenge in the 36th America’s Cup. A change in some key personnel followed, including four times America’s Cup winner Grant Simmer joining the team as CEO and Nick Holroyd, who was previously Technical Director for the Kiwi team that revolutionised the America’s Cup by introducing foiling, joining the team as Chief Designer.

INEOS TEAM UK challenged for the 36th America’s Cup in their bold and innovative new AC75 raceboat, BRITANNIA, in Auckland in 2021. Despite a remarkable late turnaround in performance which culminated in the team winning the PRADA Cup Round Robin Series with a clean sweep to qualify for the Challenger Series Final, the British team was ultimately beaten in the final by the Italian Challenger.

Together with the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, the renamed INEOS Britannia (formerly INEOS TEAM UK) will also become the first British Challenger of Record to compete in the America’s Cup since Boyden’s Sovereign in 1964. The Challenge letter was signed on 17th March 2021 onboard the yacht IMAGINE, by Bertie Bicket, Chairman of Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd and accepted by Aaron Young, Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron as Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the finish line to win the America’s Cup for the fourth time.

“Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves”

Present day.

At the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) we’re a community united by a love of sailing and being on and around the water, situated in one of Auckland’s best locations overlooking the Waitematā Harbour and Westhaven Marina. We are the home of the: America’s Cup, Lighthouse Café, Mastercard Youth Training Programme, RNZYS Women’s Day Out, Barfoot & Thompson Learn to Sail, Bumbu Rum Race Series, RNZYS Performance Programme, 36ᵒ Brokers Commodore’s Cup, social events and so much more. While club racing and cruising is what drives us, we know that ‘getting on the water’ is only one part of what makes being a member of this club great. After all, we are a member club and exist for the sake of your leisure time and recreation. Wherever your passions lie, we encourage you to join our community and enjoy all the member benefits and events on offer. Whether it’s learning to sail, going cruising, competitive racing, attending social events, visiting reciprocal clubs, or simply meeting family, friends or colleagues in the Members Bar for a waterside drink or dinner, we welcome you to join our club. Your club membership provides you with access to a wide range of benefits including offers from our valued sponsors, with several membership categories available and the ability for your spouse, partner, and children to become members and join our welcoming community too. The current membership subscriptions for the year are below and the member benefits are listed HERE. The membership year runs from May 1 st – April 30 th and you are welcome to pay your subscription annually or monthly. If you would like to discuss the options further or what you can expect from a club membership, please contact our membership team on 09 360 6804, or [email protected] . We also welcome corporate members to the club, if you would like to discuss the options available, please email [email protected]

Join our community.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is New Zealand’s leading yacht club, with an illustrious history dating back to our formation in 1871. The RNZYS is still the official home of the America’s Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the RNZYS, defended the oldest sporting trophy in the world at the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland in 2021. The RNZYS has a wide range of events taking place to mark this momentous occasion. With thousands of races per calendar year, many social events and a Members Bar open seven days a week, we invite you to join us and enjoy what we have to offer.

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Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Inc 181 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven Marina, Auckland 1011, New Zealand (09) 360-6800

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Luxury rules at the moscow yacht show.

by Maria Sapozhnikova

The windy Russian autumn weather might be a little bit tricky for sailing, but it doesn’t stop brave yachtsmen from all over the world from flocking to Russian capital in the beginning of September when the Moscow Yacht Show commences. The main Russian Yacht exhibition gathers professional and amateur yacht lovers together under the wing of The Royal Yacht Club.

This year it took place for a fourth time already. The exhibition is considered the principal event on the sporting and social calendar. The Moscow Yacht Show 2010 united in one area three of the largest Russian yachts distributors: Ultramarine, Nordmarine and Premium Yachts.

A wide range of yachts were on display for a week. An exhibition showcased yachts both from Russian manufacturers and world famous brands: Azimut, Princess, Ferretti, Pershing, Riviera, Doral, Linssen, etc.

It was a real feast for seafarers as visitors of the show had a unique chance not only to take a look at the newest superyachts before they hit the market, but also to evaluate their driving advantages during the test drive. The show provided an excellent opportunity for yacht enthusiasts to choose and buy a new boat for the next season.

The event started with the grandiose gala evening. It included grand dinner, the concert and professional awards ceremony for achievements in Russian yachting industry. The guests also enjoyed the annual regatta.

Special guest Paolo Vitelli, Azimut Benetti Group president, opened the evening.

Next year organizers assured guests they would bring more yachts, the scale of which will even make oligarch Roman Abramovich envious. Sounds very promising indeed.

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Inside the Royal Yacht Squadron – we get a rare view of this most exclusive club

• Belinda Bird
• May 18, 2015

Sarah Norbury jumps at a rare chance to see inside the Royal Yacht Squadron, that unique and intriguing yacht club at the centre of Cowes, in its 200th anniversary year

Photo: Paul Wyeth

The Royal Yacht Squadron’s Castle clubhouse is best known to most sailors as the centre of the action at Cowes Week. Puffs of smoke in the aftermath of the bangs waft across the water towards the fleets of yachts, their crews’ faces pinched with concentration as they plan their beat up the rocky Island shore.

No first-timer to Cowes Week can fail to be awestruck by the Castle. Competitors mill around before their starts, staring at the flags and course-boards, getting a sight down the startline straight into the windows.

Looking is as near as most sailors ever get to this most aristocratic of clubs. Members will repair to the Squadron after racing, taking tea on the lawn, before entering the Castle for cocktails before a party or the fabulous Squadron Ball, but for the rest, the Castle itself, built by Henry VIII to repel the French, is a visual symbol of the club’s exclusivity.

The Platform, from where Cowes Week starts are signalled. Photo: YPS/Boat Exclusive

The most prestigious club in Britain, possibly the world, is wreathed in mystique. The only way to join this club of Kings, Lords, Hons and Sirs is to be invited by a member and be subject to a secret ballot. The fact that the membership list reads like Debretts is an indication of most sailors’ chances of being invited.

It’s said that wealthy tea merchant Sir Thomas Lipton was blackballed for being ‘in trade’, which is why his 1898 bid for the America’s Cup was sponsored by the Royal Ulster YC. He was allowed in eventually, but died just two years later so scarcely had time to enjoy the Castle’s delights.

Some accept a blackballing with grace, others kick up a stink, like the owner of a 150-ton schooner who, the story goes, sent a message to the club that he was anchored within close range and would commence shelling unless he received a personal apology from Percy Shelley, son of the famous poet, who had blackballed him.

Flying the white ensign

The appeal of being a member is obvious. Who wouldn’t want to fly the white ensign from their stern? The Squadron is the only yacht club with a Royal Navy warrant to do so, granted in 1829. And who wouldn’t want to walk boldly in to meet and drink with the great and the good?

I asked the current commodore, the Hon Christopher Sharples why, when a number of royal clubs are struggling to find new members, the Squadron has a healthy waiting list. “It’s a very fine club,” he responded. “People enjoy the standards and the tremendous history. Members treat the Castle as a much-loved country home.”

RYS commodore, the Hon Christopher Sharples

Originally named The Yacht Club, it was founded on 1 June 1815 by a group of 42 gentleman yachting enthusiasts. Five years later, member King George IV conferred the Royal in the club’s title and in 1833 King William IV renamed the club the Royal Yacht Squadron. Members met in the Thatched House Tavern in St James’s, London, and in Cowes twice a year for dinner.

Today there are 535 members and dinner is served in the magnificent Members’ Dining Room, under the painted gaze of illustrious past admirals and commodores. The room is adorned with silver trophies and scenes of the high seas, and waiters bring course after course from the kitchens and wine cellars below. There are bedrooms for overnight stays, a room for members to keep their ‘mess kit’ or black tie, which is required dress on Saturday nights, and even gun lockers for shooting parties.

But sailing is the club’s raision d’être and neither a title nor a fortune are a guarantee of entry. The club professes that “any gentleman or lady actively interested in yachting” is eligible for nomination.

The Library, a peaceful sanctuary as well as an important archive. Photo: YPS/Boat Exclusive

The Squadron was where yacht racing was born. In the early 1800s the aristocracy came to Cowes to socialise and cruise in their boats. The first races were duels between the yachts of the day, then rules for fleet racing were drawn up. The first club regatta, later to become Cowes Week, was in 1826. For more than a century the reigning monarch would be there to present the King’s or Queen’s trophy.

Some of history’s greatest yachtsmen are on the Squadron’s membership roll: Sir Thomas Sopwith, John Illingworth, Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Alec Rose, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Ties with the Navy are strong and some of British maritime history’s most famous names have been Squadron members, not least Nelson’s vice-admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy who commanded HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Lord Cochrane who was the inspriation for C.S. Forester’s Hornblower novels and Admiral Sir Jeremy Black, captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible during the Falklands War.

The public’s more usual view

Perhaps the club is still best known around the world for hosting the race around the Isle of Wight in 1851 won by the schooner America , which took home what became known as the America’s Cup. The Squadron donated the Cup itself in 1851 and mounted a number of challenges to win it back.

More than 160 years later the America’s Cup has still never been won by a British challenger, but now the commodore believes the Royal Yacht Squadron has “the best chance we have ever had” with its sponsorship of Ben Ainslie Racing as official British challenger for the 2017 Cup.

• 1. Flying the white ensign
• 2. Bicentenary celebrations
• 3. Inside the Castle

The RYS & Yachting

The Yacht Club, as it was first known, was founded 1 June 1815 at the Thatched House Tavern in London. The club was for gentlemen interested in salt-water yachting and the 42 original members agreed to meet for dinner twice a year, in London and in Cowes, to discuss their mutual interest. Most were regular visitors to Cowes, then a fashionable watering place, or had houses nearby and Cowes Regatta, which was based on the annual licensing of the local pilot vessels and races between them, was a popular spectator sport for the visitors. In 1814 it is recorded that the yachts also took part in the parade of sail, perhaps providing the impetus for the founding of The Yacht Club the next year. The club became The Royal Yacht Club in 1820 after the accession of George IV, who had joined in 1817, and it was created The Royal Yacht Squadron by William IV in 1833.

The new club rapidly proved a focal point for yachtsmen already sailing in the Solent and elsewhere and members cruised in company to regattas along the coast and even across the Channel led by the first Commodore the Earl of Yarborough. Lord Yarborough was also a prodigious host giving magnificent parties aboard his yacht Falcon, at his home at Appuldurcombe or at his ‘cottage’ in the Undercliff – the social side of the Regatta has been an important feature since its earliest days.

The early emphasis was on sailing together (i.e. the yachts manoeuvring together as a squadron) led by a commodore elected for the day. Club members were thus very interested in signalling and the club’s first Book of Signals was arranged by the Admiralty Librarian John Finlaison in 1815. The assistance of Sir Home Popham, an early Honorary Naval Member of the club who was responsible for the naval code of signals, was solicited to improve these and they were revised several times before the club adopted the mercantile code in 1896. As well as the more usual signal communications between vessels the RYS Signals included such phrases to other yachts as ‘Can you lend me your band?’ and ‘Have you any ladies aboard?’ and to shore ‘Send me 300 oysters’.

Individual races between members’ yachts led, in 1826, to the start of racing between several yachts for gold cups. George IV began the annual tradition, continued until World War II, of the reigning monarch presenting a cup; the King’s or Queen’s Cup was the most prestigious race in the Squadron Regatta. The 1830’s saw the first ocean race, the 1840’s the first American member and 1851 a race Round the Island for a 100 sovereign (£100) cup open to foreign yachts and won by America which had crossed the Atlantic to challenge the best British yachts. One Squadron member who raced America in his yacht Titania was Robert Stephenson, the famous locomotive and civil engineer, and Squadron members have several times been among those trying to win back the cup.

Early yachts were similar to (or had been) Royal Navy cutters, smuggling and pilot vessels. Keen competition between racing members led to rapid improvements in yacht design, then to the development of handicapping and rules for racing. The Squadron was the arbiter of the sport for most of the 19th century, before the advent of the various national and international bodies, and both the club itself and individual members have continued to be at the forefront of yachting developments and eminent in the sport. There is also a strong tradition of cruising far afield – one founder member missed the inaugural meeting as he was cruising to St Petersburg, another is believed to have returned from a cruise which included a visit to Napoleon on Elba. Members have published accounts of voyages made for exploration, for natural history research or just for pleasure. Lord Brassey’s Sunbeam logged 37,000 miles and another wide-ranging member, Ben Boyd, was captured and eaten by natives of the Solomon Islands in 1851. More recent members have included famous Round the World yachtsmen Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Alec Rose and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

The Squadron has always had a close association with the Royal Navy and its yachts fly the White Ensign. The first Commodore, Lord Yarborough, assured the King in 1833 that ‘it will ever be our most earnest wish and desire to promote, in every way in our power, naval science and architecture’. Early members, such as Lord Belfast with his famous brig Waterwitch, built experimental vessels which did much to advance naval ship design. Members’ yachts went to the Crimea and took part in both World Wars. In the Second World War the Squadron offered its clubhouse to the Admiralty and the castle became HMS Vectis, suffering damage in the air raids on Cowes which was targeted because of its important shipbuilding industry.

The club’s present home, Cowes Castle, was built in 1539 as part of Henry VIII’s chain of coastal defences, protecting the Island from invasion and the naval dockyard at Portsmouth from attack. Its defensive importance lessened after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 and it was later suitably refurbished to become the maritime residence of the Captain of Cowes Castle, Lord Anglesey, who was also a member of the club. The death of the last Captain in 1855 led to a review of the castle’s future and its decommissioning. The Squadron leased it a couple of years later and employed the architect Anthony Salvin to turn it into a fitting home from home for the members; they moved in, from their previous clubhouse on Cowes Parade, in 1858. (see Leaflet No2 for the castle’s history)

When Queen Victoria’s court was at Osborne the eyes of the world were on Cowes. Many of her family were active members of the Squadron, including her grandson the Kaiser with his several yachts named Meteor. The Squadron Regatta became a dazzling yachting and social event under the aegis of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, who became Commodore of the Club in 1882 following the death of Lord Wilton. The Prince’s most famous yacht Britannia was sailed to even greater effect by his son King George V and ‘the King’s Sailing Master’ Sir Philip Hunloke, one of the century’s greatest helmsmen, who was to be Commodore of the club 1943-47.

The unbroken royal association with the Squadron, begun by George IV and continued to this day, has ensured that the club has remained a centre of attention, particularly in Cowes Week. Despite the decommissioning of the royal yacht Britannia which had been a focal point of Cowes Week for many years, the Late HRH Prince Philip, a former Commodore and a keen yachtsman, would remain an active participant whenever possible. Today the view of the castle, with its red and white striped Platform roof, is known throughout the world and the club’s start line has seen the beginning and end of many of the world’s greatest yacht and power boat races. Squadron members have taken part in many of these for an active interest in yachting or yacht racing is still a prime requirement in those invited to become members.

There are two important books that are recommended for those wishing to learn more about the Royal Yacht Squadron and its place in the history of yachting: the first is "Royal Yacht Squadron 1815-1985" by Ian Dear (pub. Stanley Paul 1985) and, more recently "Making Waves" by Alex Martin (pub. Unicorn 2017). Also, "Sacred Cowes" by Anthony Heckstall-Smith (reprinted edition pub. Anthony Blond 1965) contains many interesting and amusing anecdotes of the Cowes social and yachting scene in its glittering heyday – but those at Cowes for the 2001 America’s Cup Jubilee Regatta, hosted by the RYS and the New York Yacht Club, and the RYS's Bicentenary regattas in 2015 show that Members race as hard and glittered as brightly as their predecessors did.

Royal Yacht Squadron

The Castle, Cowes, Isle of Wight, P031 7QT

Tel: +44 (0) 1983 292 191

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We did a lunch cruise, boarding at 1230hrs and returning to the dock promptly at... read more

river cruise !!!!!

a very wonderful river cruise where you get to see the beauty of Moscow along the Moscow river within 2.5hours. I also enjoyed the fine dining experiences and the open air relaxaction area where you can take awesome pictures of Moscow environment. you need to make a reservation to ensure you get a place on this 4-star flotilla. don't just barge there and expect to get a seat.

Dear Jeffrey O, thank you for the feedback about your cruise on the yacht "Radisson Royal". On our 2,5-3 hours cruise passengers will enjoy the most remarkable sights of Moscow: Kremlin, Novodevichy Convent, monument to Peter I, St. Basil's Cathedral, University and other symbolic monuments. Flotilla "Radisson Royal, Moscow" combines picturesque views of Moscow sights with excellent catering service. Gourmet cuisine served on board “Radisson Royal” yachts is presented by 2 masterchefs: International cuisine from our Brand chef – Sergey Maslov and urban cuisine with a personal author's touch from the chief Nikolay Bakunov. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday cruises from pier "Radisson Royal hotel" with live musical accompaniment in the Royal class. We hope to see You again. With best wishes, flotilla "Radisson Royal".

After reading the reviews we weren't sure what to expect. But no worries it was great. First class was booked but it didn't matter as we had comfortable seats with great views. The waiter we had was very helpful and we received good service. Food was good and nicely presented. It was a great way to end our day sailing down the river sipping cocktails

Dear Donna K, thank you for the feedback about your cruise on the yacht "Radisson Royal". We pay special attention to the comments and remarks of our Guests, and, of course, about the employees of the company. Flotilla “Radisson Royal” has 10 perfectly equipped yachts designed for year-round entertaining excursion cruises on the Moscow River with restaurant service aboard. Our company organizes cruises 365 days a year. On our 2,5-3 hours cruise passengers will enjoy the most remarkable sights of Moscow: Kremlin, Novodevichy Convent, monument to Peter I, St. Basil's Cathedral, University and other symbolic monuments. Also on Board the yacht presented the guides with excursion material in 6 languages - Russian, English, Chinese, German, Spanish, French. We will be glad to see you again on Board our yachts! Best regards, administration of Flotilla “Radisson Royal” .

Really enjoyed the cruise - it's a leasurely 2 1/2 hours enjoying the sights of Moscow of which the riverside views of the Kremlin are a highlight. Read some disparaging comments about the food - we only had a cheese board and desert but they were both very good and reasonably priced. The service was fine. The boat itself is first class, very comfortable with great panoramic windows. For me this is a must do in Moscow.

Dear Kiwitraveler59, thank you for the feedback about your cruise on the yacht "Radisson Royal". On our 2,5-3 hours cruise passengers will enjoy the most remarkable sights of Moscow: Kremlin, Novodevichy Convent, monument to Peter I, St. Basil's Cathedral, University and other symbolic monuments. Flotilla "Radisson Royal, Moscow" combines picturesque views of Moscow sights with excellent catering service. Gourmet cuisine served on board “Radisson Royal” yachts is presented by 2 masterchefs: International cuisine from our Brand chef – Sergey Maslov and urban cuisine with a personal author's touch from the chief Nikolay Bakunov. We will be glad to see you again on Board our yachts! Best regards, administration of Flotilla “Radisson Royal” .

We called two days ahead to make our reservation and the agents barely spoke English. They were unable to explain which side of the river the ship would be on our the best way to arrive there. When we arrived at the river embankment we were on the wrong side of the river. Immediately I called them and they would not delay the launch by 5 minutes. With 20 minutes before launch we still had to cross a bridge and with an elderly family member. Three of the members in our group ran across the bridge and to the dock to ask if they could delay and still they would not. The elderly portion of our group was within 200 yards of the dock when the ship launched. We went to the office to ask for a new reservation and they claimed that they were fully booked for days to come. Then the proceeded to admonish us for not being there 30 minutes in advanced. I explained that with their lack of directions we got lost getting off the metro THEY had suggested and then went to the wrong side of the river because of THEIR lack of directions. Extremely disappointed in their overall rudeness and lack of cooperation.

Hello, Dear K6987ESlindar! Please accept our sincere apologies for spoiled the impression resulting from the lack of attention from the staff. Departure of the yacht is strictly on schedule, similar to the flight schedule. Unfortunately, according to the rules of inland water transport, we can not delay the departure of yachts, even for 5 minutes. Best regards.

awful staff, are they even trained? dont expect any professionalism from this bunch. dire atmosphere.

Good day, terrance511! Please accept our sincere apologies for spoiled the impression resulting from the lack of attention from the staff. Our company organizes cruises 365 days a year. On our 2,5-3 hours cruise passengers will enjoy the most remarkable sights of Moscow: Kremlin, Novodevichy Convent, monument to Peter I, St. Basil's Cathedral, University and other symbolic monuments. We will be glad to see you again on Board our yachts! Best regards.

We were so excited to go on this well reputed cruise.. our guide reassured us about its hospitality... but we were disappointed at their services and cold behaviour.. we paid whooping price for this five star cruise but its not worth it... the waitress didn’t even come to us for order... must change their rude and racist staff...

Dear Yaju007! On behalf of the flotilla "Radisson Royal" thank You for taking the time to share your impressions about the last walk, leaving a detailed review! Please accept our sincere apologies for spoiled the impression resulting from the lack of attention from the staff. We will bring this information to the head of Department! Our company organizes cruises 365 days a year. Come on our thematic cruises and food festivals, you will discover still a lot. We will be glad to see you again on Board our yachts! Best regards.