Platinum Jubilee Fleet Review

A Solent Fleet Review by the Princess Royal is planned for Saturday 6th August in Cowes, as a celebration of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. 

Sea View Yacht Club members and their guests who want to participate need to sign up now, and book-in if you want to attend the pre-Review breakfast at the Royal Yacht Squadron. The rest of this description contains details of the event and how to book. 

This event will be a showcase of the Solent's boating community and historic ships. It will feature around 600 boats from sailing clubs and organisations in the Solent region, including four Dunkirk Little Ships (Tahilla, Papillon, Maimonide and Naiad Errant), two historic round-the-world yachts (Gipsy Moth and Suhaili) and the Dragon, Bluebottle, which was presented to The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present by The Island Sailing Club. There might even be a warship.

Sea View Yacht Club members can participate on a Mermaid, RIB, or other sailing or motor yacht. Those boats without engines will be reviewed while on their moorings in Cowes. Subsequently, boats with engines will motor past a ship with the Princess Royal for their review.  

If members want to participate in the event they need to register here. There is no entry fee but participants are encouraged to donate to the disabled boating charity, Wetwheels, who are helping to organise the event, via their just giving page. Members should also use the links below, if required, to book in for the breakfast at the RYS (or click here), the lunch at the Yacht Haven or to order a flag.

SCHEDULE

The schedule is still under development but here is the current version:

07:30 to 08:00: those wanting to attend the breakfast at the RYS leave Seaview by boat or car.

08:00: Single gun fired from RYS. All vessels moored in Cowes dressed overall. The Mermaids will be on their Cowes Week dayboat moorings and so crews will need to arrange to dress their boats, possibly on their way to the breakfast at the RYS. The SVYC will organise the flags for the Club owned Mermaids.

08:30 to 10:30: Breakfast at the Royal Yacht Squadron (this is open to all SVYC members but needs to be booked here ASAP as places will be limited).

11:00 onwards:  RIBs, racing, cruising and motor vessels assemble in Osborne Bay in readiness for the "Motor Past" part of the Fleet Review. Those on RIBs can also look at the various historic yachts off Cowes and hang out with those on the Mermaids and other day boats. But will need to clear the area by 12:30.

11:00 to 12:30: Those boats wanting to only participate in the "motor-past" review depart from Seaview. Lunch in Osborne Bay if desired.

Noon: The Princess Royal and guests arrive in Cowes.

12:45: The Princess Royal commences the Fleet Review (onboard Wetwheels vessels) in the following order:

• Dayclass boats on moorings outside the Breakwater (this includes the Mermaids)
• Dinghies, Scows, Sea Cadets and Youth sailing in the Shrape Area
• Dayclass Boats inside the Breakwater
• Dunkirk vessel and Youth training ships off The Green

13:40: First Passage Race start sequence on RYS line for all day-boats heading to their respective home ports in the Eastern Solent (this includes the Mermaids). Depending on numbers, there may be 2 starts.  It's going to be quite a sight seeing a combined start of Mermaids, Swallows, Redwings, Squibs, etc., all starting down tide.  The organising committee is still considering my suggestion that we use of live shot to discourage premature starters.

13:45: "Motor Past" Review commences:

• RIBS led by Wetwheel's vessels
• Motor Vessels
• Yachts (under power, not sail)

14:00: "City of Exeter" Spitfire Air Display over the Solent just north of Cowes

14:30: Boats not in the passage race make their way back to Seaview or stay in Cowes for ongoing social events including Live Music at the Cowes Yacht Haven or a lunch at the Yacht Haven (details of this can be booked here). Plan for a short nap before the SST drinks party back at Seaview - details on these to follow. 

USEFUL LINKS

The following links could be helpful as members plan the day:    

Click here to register your vessel's details (the Club Mermaids have already been registered)   

Click here to access the link for ordering Jubilee flags, dressed-overall flags or bunting. Or there is quite a good range on Amazon. As a reminder, boats only need to be dressed-overall when moored or at anchor these flags need to be taken down when underway. We have ordered flags for the Club owned Mermaids.    

Click here to book in for the pre-event breakfast at the Squadron (priority will be given to those participating in the fleet review and motor past)

The RYS website has more details of the event in its calendar here

The SVYC Commodore is on the organising group for this event, so email him if you have any questions.