The results have not gone quite as planned, not only was the expected winner of the Queen’s Cup, Bear for Britain ousted at the last minute, but provisional results have changing by the minute, and still final results are eagerly awaited.

In 1897, eleven boats entered the Queen’s Cup, and was won by the 165-ton yawl, Latana. The Cup was subsequently raced for on the opening day of Cowes Week, however, shortly after the turn of the last century, the Cup mysteriously vanished. Rediscovered in a second-hand shop in Cardiff in 1937, the Cup was bought back for £35. The Cup today is up for grabs to the winner of the combined Class 0 and 1. The favourite for this title was undoubtedly Bear for Britain, but none were more surprised to hear the result than the winners themselves, GBR1102L, On a High. A Ker design built this year, she’s already had much success in Cork and Antigua. Skipper Michael White, although aiming for the title, admits to having doubts at times, “the racing was very close at times, but we kept pushing and made it in the end.” Their win didn’t come without cost, “we blew out one kite, which just goes to show that it was a case of make or break!” When asked how they can better themselves, having won one of the most prestigious titles on the first day, Michael smiled and said, “you’ll soon find out!”

Finally, to add to the dramas of the day, a Red Funnel Catamaran which reportedly suffered engine failure in the entrance to Cowes drifted into the Trots and dismasted a Class six IRC rated yacht that ended up stuck between the two hulls and later sank. Fortunately nobody was injured, though it put an end to the owner’s Cowes Week.