Sea View Yacht Club will host the 70th Prince Philip Cup this Sunday its 35th year running the event honouring a legacy of purposeful racing and cooperation between clubs.
Founded in 1956 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the Cup was born from frustration. At the time, Cowes Week was disjointed, with each Cowes-based club running its own day and rarely coordinating with others. Prince Philips answer was decisive: a trophy that required clubs to collaborate, followed by a meal where competitors were seated with those from outside their own club.
This year, teams from Royal Thames Yacht Club, Royal London Yacht Club, Bosham Sailing Club, Island Sailing Club, Imperial Poona Yacht Club, and Sea View Yacht Club, amongst others, will compete for the historic prize.
Initially rotated among Cowes clubs, the Cup was won outright in 1979 by Imperial Poona after three consecutive victories. Reinstated by Reggie Bennett and Noel Dobbs, it moved to Bembridge in 1980, and then to Sea View in 1990 after Bembridges club boats were sold.
Since then, it has been raced in Seaview Mermaids—except in 2020, when the event still went ahead in Picos.
What began as a call for unity has endured as a highlight of the Solent sailing calendar. The Prince Philip Cup remains true to its founding purpose: to bring clubs together—on the water, and around the table.
Sea View Yacht Club is proud to host this historic event. The Prince Philip Cup is a trophy we are determined to win this season and proudly put in the cabinet, said Sailing Director Jon Curtis.