THE WEDDING GIFT
Built in 1948 by Camper and Nicholsons, BLUEBOTTLE was presented as a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip by the Island Sailing Club, Isle of Wight.
Bluebottle's Story
International Dragon class yacht BLUEBOTTLE (GBR 192) was presented to the then Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh by the members of the Island Sailing Club, Cowes, following an offer made by the Club's Commodore on 2 April 1948 to gift the Royal couple a Dragon as a wedding present. Construction by Camper & Nicholsons began with the keel being laid on 12 May 1948, and the yacht was launched in June 1948. BLUEBOTTLE raced for the first time on 10 July 1948, quickly becoming a familiar sight in Royal sailing campaigns.
BLUEBOTTLE was the third and final Royal sailing yacht to join The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust's historic fleet and is kindly on loan from the Royal Collection Trust. Following a painstaking restoration by David Heritage Racing Yachts, the yacht has enjoyed a highly successful return to competitive racing, preserving the legacy of one of the most significant Royal racing yachts of the post-war era.
Read on for BLUEBOTTLE's story and success.
1948
1949
VIRGINIE HÉRIOT CUP WINNER
In a remarkable feat for a keelboat, BLUEBOTTLE crossed the English Channel to race in Deauville, where she went on to win the prestigious Virginie Hériot Cup and gain international acclaim.
1952
BLUEBOTTLE AT COWES
In 1952, a fleet of Dragon Class keelboats assembled at the starting line in calm conditions as Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, took part aboard BLUEBOTTLE. The Duke was seen steering through the fleet while spectators gathered along the shore and at the Royal Yacht Squadron to watch the action unfold.
1956
MELBOURNE OLYMPIC GAMES
In 1956, the yacht was loaned to the British sailing team for the Melbourne Olympic Games, where, under Lt Cdr Graham Mann, it secured a bronze medal - the only Olympic medal ever won by a British Dragon.
2022
RESTORATION PROJECT
The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust commissioned a major restoration project to return the vessel to racing condition. The work was carried out by David Heritage Racing Yachts in Cowes, allowing Bluebottle to once again compete at the highest level of international sailing.
2024
LINKERS FRENCH DRAGON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
In 1949, BLUEBOTTLE famously sailed across the English Channel to Deauville and triumphed in the Virginie Heriot Cup. Seventy-five years later, she returned to French waters and emerged victorious, winning the 2024 Linkers French Dragon National Championship in Deauville. This was a memorable and historic victory for the iconic Royal yacht.
2025
FRENCH DRAGON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2025 French Dragon National Championship, held in Port Camargue, delivered four days of closely fought racing. Sixteen teams competed in challenging yet stunning conditions, with BLUEBOTTLE engaged in a thrilling battle throughout the event against Jan Eckert’s SUI 355 Ginkgo Racing. Demonstrating remarkable consistency and precision, BLUEBOTTLE secured victory and retained the French National Championship title for a second consecutive year.
2025
BRITISH DRAGON ASSOCIATION SOUTH COAST CHAMPIONSHIP
BLUEBOTTLE won the British Dragon Association South Coast Championship and was crowned Overall Champion at Cowes.
2025
COWES WEEK
BLUEBOTTLE wins 4 races, Dragon Class Oerall and Solent Team Trophy Winners.
2025
DRAGON GOLD CUP DOUARNENEZ, FRANCE
BLUEBOTTLE won 2 race wins, 5th overall and Nationals Cup Champions.
2025
MARBLEHEAD TROPHY
BLUEBOTTLE's win at the 2025 Marblehead Trophy in Saint Tropez marked one of the most significant achievements in her 78-year history. She is also the first British Dragon to secure this prestigious title on French waters.
2026
DRAGON GOLD CUP PUERTO PORTALS
BLUEBOTTLE wins 2nd overall and Nations Cup Champions.
2026
FINNISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Another stunning win, Team BLUEBOTTLE's secured victory at the Finnish National Championship in Helsinki. BLUEBOTTLE won three out of five races to take the National Championship title.
2026
DRAGON EUROPEANS HELSINKI
BLUEBOTTLE won three races and finished 4th overall
2026
BRITISH DRAGON ASSOCIATION SOUTH COAST CHAMPIONSHIP
BLUEBOTTLE won Cowes 4 race wins and overall 2026 Champions.
2026
COWES WEEK
At Cowes Week BLUEBOTTLE wins 3 races and back -to-back Dragon class overall winners.
2026
EDINBURGH CUP AND INTERNATIONAL DRAGON ASSOCIATION UK GRAND PRIX
The 2026 Edinburgh Cup, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, brought together a highly competitive international fleet for four days of racing on the Solent. BLUEBOTTLE established herself among the leaders from the outset and secured the championship with a race to spare. The victory marked Graham Bailey’s fourth Edinburgh Cup title and Julia Bailey’s fifth as a member of a winning team, but most significantly, it was a first Edinburgh Cup victory for BLUEBOTTLE herself.
2026
MARBLEHEAD TROPHY
Cowes as defending Champions, BLUEBOTTLE, representing the Royal yacht Squadron, secured third overall wins.
2026
DRAGON CLASS INTERNATIONAL RANKING LIST
BLUEBOTTLE (GBR 192) has brought an exceptional 2026 racing season to a fitting conclusion by winning the International Dragon Class European Grade 1 Series and the prestigious Standfast Trophy. The result crowns a season in which the historic wooden Dragon has continued to compete successfully against the very best modern boats and crews on the international circuit.
2027
UPCOMING EVENT: Dragon World Championship in Hong Kong
BLUEBOTTLE will be competing in the Dragon World Championship in Hong Kong 24-30 November 2027.
