Royal Thames 250th Anniversary

by Ben Cooper, Berthon International
Photography © Paul Wyeth

Founded in 1775 as the Cumberland Fleet—spurred by a silver cup donated by the Duke of Cumberland—the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) stands as the world’s oldest continuously operating yacht club.

2025 therefore is a big year for the Club, and as part of celebrations that run throughout this landmark year was the 250th Anniversary Regatta, held from 11th to 15th June 2025 in Cowes and across the Solent. This event marked an historic celebration of heritage, community, and sport, and one which is unlikely to be seen again for another 250 years.

With over two hundred yachts and around a thousand sailors, the Regatta brought together an unparalleled range of competitions. These included the RORC IRC Nationals (Classes 0–4). Many of the entries were also contenders for the upcoming Admiral’s Cup, now reinstated as the premier team handicap Regatta and the second most prestigious trophy in yachting history, after the America’s Cup of course.

^ IRC Championship

Running alongside these were the One Design championships for the J/70, Etchells, RS Elite, Sonar, Dragon and Daring (Cory Cup), as well as fleet races for Mermaid, Classic, and Cruiser divisions.

^ Fleet of competing Etchells

I was lucky enough to be competing in the J/70 with old friends, which was exactly the right temperament for the Regatta – youngsters refer to it as ‘the vibe’. We sailed well and badly, and saw both ends of the fleet, but sailed well to win Race 2, which was a good way to start Friday evening.

Some of the fleet will have seen our 10 metre long pennant flown from our masthead on the way back in from racing. This is a replica of the Winners’ Pennant flown from the masthead of the winning yacht in 1775 on her way back into port. It would have looked more at home on a hundred foot yacht though! We intended to give it to the winning yacht that day – and we certainly didn’t expect it to be us!

^ Ben and crew proudly fly the striking 10-metre pennant from their RTYC J/70 | Photo taken by Ben

The racing was expertly run by Principal Race Officer Tim Hancock, who skilfully coordinated five Committee Boats across shared courses, crafting fair yet vibrant racing conditions, with very little overlap between fleets.

The weather could certainly be described as ‘varied’ – flat calm one day, and then howling winds the next.

^ JPK yacht ‘YES’

Ashore, the Cowes Yacht Haven was transformed into a bustling Regatta Village, complete with daily live music, bars, and a spirited atmosphere. There were many food stalls and comfortable places to lounge and socialise whilst waiting for wind, as well as in the evening.

The climax of the social programme was on the Saturday evening, when the Yacht Haven event centre opened its doors to four hundred members for a sit down dinner, which was combined with a crew party outside. After dinner the tables were cleared and the famous DJ Mark Covell (also a Silver medallist) brought the place alive with an incredible light show and great music to wobble around to.

This was all topped off by a superb firework display to remember for a long time. Reminiscent of Cowes Weeks many years ago.

Achieving a successful Regatta of this magnitude demanded coordination among over a hundred volunteers as well as partnerships with prestigious organisations, such as the Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Southern Yacht Club, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Cowes Harbour Commission, Cowes Yacht Haven, and Shepards Wharf Marina.

^ RS – ELITES

Vice Commodore Richard Powell thanked all the collaborators, emphasising the monumental planning, shared passion, and seamless execution required.

The 250th Regatta beautifully honoured RTYC’s centuries-long legacy by combining competitive racing elite athletes’ dream with rich sailing traditions. It served both as a testament to past achievements—dating back to the Duke’s silver-trophy race in 1775—as well as a vibrant springboard into the Club’s future expression of yacht racing.

It showcased how the Royal Thames balances heritage, sporting excellence, and community, allowing it to chart a course for another century of innovation out on the water.

In summary, the 250th Anniversary Regatta was more than a sporting milestone, it was a dynamic celebration of sailing culture, competitive spirit, and community solidarity. As the Solent’s waters settle, the echoes of quarter-millennium will surely inspire RTYC’s next 250 years.

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