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
Built by Camper and Nicholson in 1947, dragon class BLUEBOTTLE (GBR 192) was presented to the then Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present by members of the Island Sailing Club of Cowes, Isle of Wight. BLUEBOTTLE was the third and final Royal sailing yacht to join The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust's historic fleet and BLUEBOTTLE is kindly on loan from the Royal Collection Trust. Following a painstaking restoration by David Heritage Racing Yachts, International Dragon class yacht Bluebottle (GBR 192) has enjoyed a very successful return to competitive racing.
Read on for BLUEBOTTLE's story and success.
1948
1949
VIRGINIE HÉRIOT CUP WINNER
In 1949, BLUEBOTTLE won the prestigious Virginie Hériot Cup in Deauville, establishing BLUEBOTTLE as an internationally successful racing yacht.
1952
BLUEBOTTLE AT COWES
In 1952, a fleet of Dragon Class yachts 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 RENCH 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.
2026
FINNISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Another stunning win, Team BLUEBOTTLE's secured victory at the Finnish National Championship in Helsinki.
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
DRAGON CLASS INTERNATIONAL RANKING LIST
BLUEBOTTLE along with her world-class helm Graham Bailey, surged to the top of the Dragon Class 2026 International Ranking List, marking a stunning new chapter in BLUEBOTTLE's 79-year history. The breakthrough moment came with Team BLUEBOTTLE's recent victory at the Finnish National Championship in Helsinki, propelling Bailey and BLUEBOTTLE to number one in the international rankings. Supporting Graham was BLUEBOTTLE's outstanding race crew: Julia Bailey, Will Bedford and Killian Boag.
2026
MARBLEHEAD TROPHY
BLUEBOTTLE became the first British challenge ever to win the Marblehead Trophy, bringing the competition to the UK for the first time in its history.
