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Two hundred years of sailing

For the past several days, His Majesty The King has participated in the celebration of the bicentenary of the Royal Yacht Squadron yacht club in Cowes on the Isle of Wight in southern England.

June 6, 2015


On Friday, King Harald attended a large Review of the Fleet together with His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Illustrious history

The Royal Yacht Squadron is one of the world’s most prestigious yacht clubs, and was founded on 1 June 1815 in London as the Yacht Club. Each year the club organises the internationally renowned Cowes Week regatta. In 1851 it was the first organiser of a gruelling sailing race which came to be known as the America’s Cup. The cup is considered the world’s oldest active trophy in international sport.

King Harald will conclude his visit to the Royal Yacht Squadron this evening by attending the Bicentenary Ball in the clubhouse in Cowes Castle. The King has been using the Royal Yacht Norge during his visit.

Comittment to sports

King Harald is the patron of Norwegian sports and an enthusiastic spectator, as well as an active sportsman himself for many years. It is particularly in sailing that the King has distinguished himself.

King Harald and the crew on board "Sira" competing at Hankø outside Oslo. Photo: James Robinson Taylor/KNS/Hankø Yacht Club
King Harald following the relay. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
King Harald in Fram XVII during the Norwegian Championships in Express 2014. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
King Harald in Fram XVII during the Norwegian Championships in Express 2014. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten/ NTB
King Harald in Fram XVII during the Norwegian Championships in Express 2014. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten/ NTB
The King and his team sailed in the annual regatta Færderseilasen many times. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB scanpix
In 2011 King Harald was presented with the Honorary Award during the Norwegian Sports Gala due to his comittment to sports on all levels, both as a spectator and supporter, and as an athlete in his own right. Photo: Aleksander Andersen / NTB

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