Celebrations for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee are still drawing communities together, as a showcase of the Solent’s boating community and historic ships will set sail on the waters off the Isle of Wight on 6 August.
The Royal Jubilee event will feature more than 400 boats from sailing clubs and organisations in the Solent region which will be reviewed by VIPs in a motor-past, before racing off Bramble Bank.
The line-up of historic ships will include four Dunkirk Little Ships – Tahilla, Papillon, Maimonide and Naiad Errant; two historic yachts – Gipsy Moth IV and Suhaili, and two sail training vessels – Scaramouche and Challenger 72. The boats will be moored off The Green at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Among the highlights, the historic Dragon ‘Bluebottle’ will be racing throughout Cowes Week. The yacht, presented to The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present by The Island Sailing Club in 1948, has been restored for the special event.

In addition to the Solent racing programme, the skies will host a Silver Spitfire air display performed by the Spitfire Academy at Goodwood.
“The Solent Platinum Jubilee event is shaping up to be a memorable ‘once in a lifetime’ celebration, bringing the Solent’s sailing and yachting community together to celebrate our Queen’s 70 years on the throne,” said Hampshire yachtsman Geoff Holt MBE, founder of the Wetwheels charity and a member of the organising committee.
“Members of the Royal Family continue to give wonderful support to many local yacht clubs and charities in the Solent and they have been a common sight at yachting events for decades, so we are delighted to hold this event in honour of Her Majesty The Queen.”
The Solent Platinum Jubilee event will support Wetwheels as its chosen charity.
Proceeds will provide opportunities for disabled people to access the sea in a safe, stimulating, and rewarding way on board the charity’s fully accessible powerboats.
Commonwealth Business Communications is pleased to present our latest publication in recognition of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and her role as Head of the Commonwealth over the last 70 years.
Download the publication for free here: Queen & Commonwealth: Celebrating Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.