Cowes Maritime Heritage trail leaflet & map

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Cowes Maritime Heritage Trail The Cowes Maritime Heritage Trail links sailing clubs, museums and heritage centres to reveal the history of maritime Cowes and its significance in British and International Yachting. It has been initiated by the Classic Boat Museum which, founded in 1996, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, achieving its long-term strategic goal of concentrating its activities on one site in the Medina Village by the Hammerhead Crane.

It recently formed a Partnership with the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust to promote the heritage of the of the Royal Yachts and the Racing Royals in Cowes.

1. Royal Yacht Squadron

Visitors are welcome to view artefacts from the Royal Thames Yacht Club in the Royal Yacht Squadron (please book a tour).

These include HMY Britannia’s cased boom cap with Prince of Wales insignia on loan from the RYA, an engraved brass bollard and an oak mainsheet block with inscribed brass plaque presented by Lord Powerscourt in 1947.

The Castle, Cowes, Isle of Wight, P031 7QT Founded in 1815, the Royal Yacht Squadron is considered the most prestigious yacht club in the world. Originally ‘The Yacht Club’, it gained ‘Royal’ status in 1820 from George IV and its current name from William IV in 4. Panels on the Parade 1833. The Squadron holds The Parade, Cowes PO31 7QS the unique privilege of Brought to you by the proud flying the White Ensign. Its partnership of the Royal Yacht collection includes regatta Britannia Trust and the Classic Boat cups, maritime paintings and Museum. artefacts from the famous Panels featuring the Royal Yachts HMY Britannia, a cutter and the Racing Royals. commissioned by Edward VII in 1893 that enjoyed a 5. Cowes Week Limited legendary racing career until Regatta House, 18 Bath Road, it was scuttled in 1936 on the Cowes, PO31 7QN command of George V. Cowes Week Limited was formed Open for guided tours of owes aritiMe eritage rail in 2007 and manages the regatta’s displays in the Pavilion & the Castle on1 ‘The Royal’ RoyalRacing Yacht Squadron operations. It evolved from the Cowes Combined Clubs, 2 Royal Ocean Racing Club (please book) Prince Philip suggested in 1964 to unify the 3 Royal Thames & Royal Londonwhich Yacht Club • June 22nd (10am - 11am) or (11am4- Panels 12noon) on the Parade disparate management of various racing days. It features Cowes Week Limited • July 13th (10am - 11am) or (11am - 512noon) a display about 200 years of Cowes Week at Regatta 6 Island Sailing Club • August 31st (10am - 11am) or (11am7 -Commodore’s 12noon) House House.

8 Medina Bookshop for Heritage Trail – Saturday 1st August to Friday 2. Royal Ocean Racing Club 9 Sir Max Aitken Museum Open 7th August from 9am to 5pm 10 K1 Britannia The Parade, Cowes PO31 7QU 11 Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club 12 Classic Boat Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC): Established in Museum 1925 to 6. Island Sailing Club Cowes Maritime Museum standardize offshore racing, the RORC13 manages the Rolex 70 High St, Cowes PO31 7RE 14 Cowes Library Fastnet Race. It recently celebrated its 15 centenary in 2025.

Beckford Centre – Cowes Heritage and Community Group Founded in March 1889 by General Charles Baring, The Club is open March 30th to 26th July: the Island Sailing Club was established to provide an Wednesday 11am – 3pm, Thursday to Saturday 11am – inclusive alternative to exclusive yacht clubs, welcoming 11pm, Sunday 12noon – 4pm all sailing abilities. Known as ‘The Friendly Club,’ it quickly gained popularity and established its permanent 3. Royal Thames & Royal London Yacht clubhouse on Cowes High Street in the late 19th century.

Clubs The Club is best known for founding the prestigious The Parade, Cowes PO31 7QS annual Round the Island Race in 1931, which began The Royal Thames Yacht Club was founded in 1775 by with 25 starters and has grown into one of the world’s the Duke of Cumberland. It is the oldest continuously largest yacht races, often featuring over 1,500 boats. operating yacht club in the world. It was formerly known The Club is open to visitors June 1st – September as the Cumberland Fleet, changing its name in 1830. The 30th. Please sign the Visitors Book in either the Office Royal London Yacht Club grew from the Arundel Yacht (ground floor) or Bar (first floor) noting you are on the Club and obtained its Royal title in 1849.

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classicboatmuseum.com/maritime-heritage-trail

7. Britannia Exhibition – Commodore’s House

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74 High St, Cowes PO31 7AJ (next to Rosalie’s – the green-painted fruit & veg delicatessen) Sailing through Royal History – The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust is presenting a special exhibition on Royal Racing Yachts and the Uffa Fox story. For more information, please visit:– www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/cowes Open to visitors 31st July to 29th August

8. Medina Bookshop

50 High St, Cowes PO31 7RR Open daily 9am to 5pm (Sunday till 4pm) Selling a superlative collection of antiquarian maritime books as well as new titles, small display of maritime art and in the evenings hosting a number of sailing related talks.

9. Sir Max Aitken Museum

83 High St, Cowes PO31 7AJ Sir Max Aitken (1910–1985) was a distinguished British Battle of Britain fighter ace, media proprietor, and renowned yachtsman. As the son of Lord Beaverbrook, he flew with 601 Squadron, earning the DSO and DFC. Post-war, he chaired Beaverbrook Newspapers, founded the London International Boat Show, and co-founded the Cowes-Torquay powerboat race. In 1947, he acquired The Prospect in Cowes, an 18thcentury sailmaker’s loft, which now houses the Sir Max Aitken Museum. The museum presents a guided tour of artefacts relating to the ‘Racing Royals’, including: the tillers from HMY Britannia and the Kaiser’s yacht Meteor and the gaff from the HMY Britannia.

Open April 28th to September 30th.

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Free entry Guides available to take you round the exhibits.

10. K1 Britannia

16 High St, Cowes PO31 7RZ K1 Britannia on the High Street named after the Flag of HMY Britannia, ‘K1’, has a shop selling maritime memorabilia and a museum displaying fascinating artefacts from the yacht.

Open 10am to 5pm (Sundays 11am to 4pm)

11. Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club

39 Birmingham Rd, Cowes PO31 7BH The Club has long been the meeting point enthusiastic sailors and describes itself as “not posh”. It was founded in 1952 to promote amateur (“Corinthian”) sailing in the Solent. The Club celebrates the legacy of the late Paralympic champion Andy Cassell, who was the Club’s Honorary Admiral and a champion of inclusive sailing.

The Andy Cassell Foundation promotes sailing for people with disabilities. The Club also houses the Cowes

Sailability Club, promoting disability sailing.

Open to visitors Tuesday to Thursday 5pm to 10.30pm, Friday to Saturday 12 noon to 11pm and Sunday 12noon to 10pm

12. Classic Boat Museum

Medina Village, Cowes, PO31 7LP (use entrance on Thetis Road) Open Tuesday to Friday 11am to 3pm Cowes Week – open every day 11am to 3pm Entry £10 for adults, free for accompanied children under 17 The Classic Boat Museum, founded in 1996, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, achieving its longterm strategic goal of concentrating its activities on one site in the Medina Village by the Hammerhead Crane.

It recently formed a Partnership with the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust to promote the heritage of the of the Royal Yachts and the Racing Royals in Cowes.

Its exhibits include Bloodhound’s tender and Coweslip (May – July), a large half model of HMY Britannia donated by the family of John and Jack Carter, Captains on HMY Britannia and models of Bluebottle and Coweslip built by local model-maker, Bill Austin.

13. Cowes Maritime Museum

12-14 Beckford Rd, Cowes PO31 7SG Open Monday, Tuesday, Friday 10am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 5pm. Saturday 10am to 4.30pm Free entry as part of the Library

14. Cowes Library

12-14 Beckford Rd, Cowes PO31 7SG Open Monday, Tuesday, Friday 10am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 5pm. Saturday 10am to 4.30pm The Cowes Library houses an extensive maritime collection featuring books, journals, and local studies materials. Situated on the library balcony, it provides a dedicated, quiet area for researching sailing history, yachting, and marine activities from the earliest days of yachting to the present.

15. Beckford Centre

Cowes Heritage and Community Group 5 Beckford Rd, Cowes PO31 7SE Visitors are welcome to view displays about the yachts that have raced in Cowes.

Open Wednesdays and Saturday mornings, 10am12noon. Cowes Week open from Tuesday 4th to Saturday 8th Aug, 10am -1pm. Free entry

Scan this QR code for more details

https://www.classicboatmuseum.com/maritime-heritage-trail

C owes M aritime H eritage T rail 1 Royal Yacht Squadron 2 Royal Ocean Racing Club 3 Royal Thames & Royal London Yacht Club 4 Panels on the Parade 5 Cowes Week Limited 6 Island Sailing Club 7 Britannia Exhibition – Commodore’s House 8 Medina Bookshop 9 Sir Max Aitken Museum 10 K1 Britannia 11 Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club 12 Classic Boat Museum 13 Cowes Maritime Museum 14 Cowes Library 15 Beckford Centre – Cowes Heritage and Community Group

classicboatmuseum.com/maritime-heritage-trail