Marblehead Trophy 2026
Date: 23 August 2026 – 25 August 2026
Location: Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, United Kingdom
Organizer: British Dragon Association / Royal Yacht Squadron
The Marblehead Trophy is the premier inter-club competition in the International Dragon class, first awarded in 1929 and contested by single boats representing their yacht clubs. In 2026 it comes to the United Kingdom for the first time, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes in late August, directly after the Edinburgh Cup. The reason it is in Britain at all is Bluebottle, GBR192, which won the 2025 event in Saint-Tropez, the first British victory in the trophy's history, and now defends on home water. Bluebottle has a story of her own: built by Camper and Nicholsons in 1948, given as a wedding present to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and a bronze medallist at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. She is campaigned under Royal Yacht Squadron management with support from the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. Expect a small, serious fleet and a lot of history per boat.
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Sailing nearby
Planning to attend? These clubs, marinas, schools and other sailing places are close to Cowes and worth a visit while you are in the area:
- Cowes Yacht Haven — Marinas, Cowes, United Kingdom
- UKSA (UK Sailing Academy) — Sailing Schools, Cowes, United Kingdom
- 3rd Chalkwell Bay Sea Scouts — Sea Scout Groups, Leigh-on-Sea, United Kingdom
- 4th Thames Ditton (Ajax) Sea Scouts — Sea Scout Groups, Thames Ditton, United Kingdom
- Abbey Sailing Club — Yacht Clubs, Cardiff | Abingdon, United Kingdom
- Aberaeron Yacht And Watersports Club — Yacht Clubs, Cardiff | Aberaeron, United Kingdom
- Aberdeen And Stonehaven Yacht Club — Yacht Clubs, Stonehaven, United Kingdom
- Ahoy Club — Yacht Brokers, London, United Kingdom
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