Isle of Wight Classic Boat Museum

02/06/2026

21/05/2026

Olympic sailing legend Shirley Robertson has helped launch the Classic Boat Museum’s 30th season as ambitious plans emerge to transform the Cowes attraction...

29/04/2026

A very special arrival at the Classic Boat Museum today ✨

COWESLIP, the beautiful Flying Fifteen once owned by Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, has returned home to Cowes. Designed by the legendary Uffa Fox, she was gifted to the Royal couple by the Cowes community in 1947 as a wedding present — and was regularly sailed by Prince Philip and Uffa.

COWESLIP has been kindly loaned to us by the The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Trust and will be on display at the Classic Boat Museum until July prior to being part of the their pop-up exhibition at Commodores House in Cowes.

A huge thank you to David Heritage Racing Yachts for delivering her safely ⛵

11/04/2026

Get up close with the £110 million British entry in the 2021 America’s Cup at the Cowes Classic Boat Museum from Tuesday April 14 2026. Details here www.classicboatmuseum.com

02/04/2026

As part of the Cowes Bicentenary Maritime Heritage Trail, The Royal Yacht Squadron welcomes visitors to join its special exhibition on ‘Racing Royals’ and a guided tour of the Castle (subject to availability).

Donations in aid of the Classic Boat Museum welcomed.

Please book your place(s) here - https://form.rys.org.uk/f/cowes-bicentenary-heritage-trail

01/04/2026

Calling all challengers - Royal Racing Yacht Bluebottle brings Marblehead Trophy to the UK for the first time

The Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes is calling for Dragon class challengers for The Marblehead Trophy 2026. The event will be held in Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK at the Royal Yacht Squadron. The Royal Racing Yacht Bluebottle (GBR 192) won the 2025 event in St. Tropez, marking the first-ever British victory and bringing the trophy to the UK for the first time.

The regatta will follow the British Dragon Association Edinburgh Cup (18th–21st August), and a bumper month of sailing, as well as marking the 75th year of the trophy being vested in the International Dragon Class. The Marblehead Trophy is the Dragon class’s premier inter-club competition, and Bluebottle’s defence of the 2026 edition is being organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron and supported by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust.

Commissioned in 1948 and built by renowned British shipbuilders Camper & Nicholsons, Bluebottle was originally presented as a wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth (as she then was) and Prince Philip. She is the only British Dragon to have won an Olympic medal, achieving bronze at the 1956 Melbourne Games, a testament to her timeless design and competitive pedigree.

Now meticulously restored and maintained by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, Bluebottle remains an active competitor on the international regatta circuit. Far from a museum piece, she embodies the living legacy of classic yacht design and continues to inspire sailors of all ages.

Skippered by Graham Bailey, with Bluebottle crew Julia Bailey, Will Bedford and Killian Boag, after five close races the team delivered a superb performance in 2025 and against a top international fleet securing the Marblehead Trophy, one of the most coveted trophies in sailing.

The Marblehead Trophy is a prestigious international sailing prize linked to the Dragon class. Established in 1929 by the residents of Marblehead in Massachusetts, it commemorated the town’s 300th anniversary and celebrated its heritage as a renowned centre of sailing.

Franck Bruyere, Chief Executive of The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA and Fingal Hotel said: “We are delighted that Bluebottle now joins the very select circle of winners of this prestigious trophy, and we hope that this marks the beginning of a new ‘British era’ of champions. It is with great pride that we bring the trophy to Cowes and look forward to the 2026 challenger event”

Commodore Bertie Bicket of The Royal Yacht Squadron commented “We are very proud to welcome challengers of the Marblehead Trophy to Cowes and to host this prestigious event in this very important year for Cowes as it is the 200th anniversary of Cowes Week.”

30/03/2026

Someone has found our secret stash of eggs for our Easter Egg trail over the weekend! Ahead of our main season, we are holding an Easter Egg-stravaganza with a free Lifeboat Trail Easter Egg Hunt, with a free egg for every child.
The event is on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday, from 11am to 3pm. Admission and parking is free to all and there is also a half-price maritime books sale. Click here to find out more http://bit.ly/4v0BW2O

25/03/2026

Come aboard this historic Island lifeboat at our very special Easter event. We have a free lifeboat trail for the kids with an Easter egg for all participants, a half price book sale and free entry for everyone (donations welcome). We are open 11am until 3pm on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. Full details here www.classicboatmuseum.com

14/01/2026

If you would like to find out more about volunteering at the Class Boat Museum in Cowes come and meet us at the Volunteer Fair this Saturday 17th January at the Riverside Centre, Newport, PO30 2QR
More info here https://ow.ly/NIg750XWAUI.

11/01/2026

Our volunteers are working hard installing the displays and artefacts from the Gallery into the Boat Shed ready for the spring. Can you identify this print?