Visitors at The Royal Yacht Britannia will have a bonus this week as they will also be able to see His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh’s Flying Fifteen keelboat, Coweslip.
The 20-foot, two-person keelboat is on loan to The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and went on display this week.
The Flying Fifteen was designed and built by legendary sailor Uffa Fox and launched in June 1949. Uffa said it was a “a sensible, safe boat, that was fun to sail as well, for the rough and tumble of tidal waters around the UK”.
Coweslip is the most famous of the Flying Fifteens keelboats, having been presented to Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip as a wedding present in 1949.
Prince Philip frequently sailed on Coweslip with Uffa Fox and, together, they had great success sailing competitively, including winning the Britannia Cup in 1952. In 1962 at Cowes, Coweslip nearly sank when she was hit by a gust of wind and capsized, throwing both Uffa and The Duke into the water.
Chief Executive of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, Bob Downie said, “We are delighted to have Coweslip on display, particularly in the 70th Anniversary year of the Flying Fifteens. We are grateful for the opportunity for this famous yacht to be viewed alongsideBritannia.”
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