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Lot Essay
H.R.H. Prince Philip's love of the sea was instilled at an early age. He was an active sailor whilst at Gordonstoun School, and upon leaving there in 1939, joined the Royal Navy as an officer cadet. He saw active service in World War II and continued to serve in the Navy until 1952 when his career came to an end on the untimely death of his father-in-law, King George VI. Elected as a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes in 1948, the Queen and Prince Philip regularly attended Cowes Week on board H.M.Y. Britannia (seen in the work offered above). H.R.H. Prince Philip served as the club's Commodore between 1962 and 1968 and currently holds the position of Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron, as well as Patron of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, London. The Duke also served as President of the Royal Yachting Association (1956-1970) and (1975-1980).
Designed by the legendary Uffa Fox of Cowes in 1948, Coweslip was a Flying Fifteen (sail no. 192) - a one-design two person keel boat - measuring 20 feet in length. In the summer of 1949, Uffa met the Duke of Edinburgh, at a yacht club dinner, whilst they were both competing in the Dragon class at Cowes. Uffa invited the Duke to visit his yard the next day to see his latest creation 'The Flying Fifteen'. Their friendship flourished when, later that year, the people of Cowes presented Coweslip, to the then Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip was a keen yachtsman and his racing honours in Coweslip included: The Britannia Cup, Cowes Week, 1952, second place; Cowes Week, 1953, second place; Cowes Week, 1963, one second and one third place.
According to Uffa, Prince Philip was a first rate helmsman and had he devoted more time to sailing, instead of being an all-round sportsman, he could have become one of Britain's finest. In Uffa Fox's Handling Sailing Boats, published 1950, he wrote, "Prince Philip is a great seaman, and in one race, when our next mark was so far away that it was under our horizon, he continually looked back at the mark we had rounded and by keeping this steady on the land steered such a straight and steady course that we gained four places and never had to alter the trim of our spinnaker or mainsail".
Uffa crewed regularly with the Duke at Cowes and on one occasion, in 1962, Coweslip nearly sank when she was hit by a gust of wind and capsized, and both Uffa and the Duke were thrown into the water. He also taught the royal children to sail. Coweslip was kept and maintained on Uffa's quay at Commodore House, Cowes and was once transported by him upside down on the top of his car, with her unbolted keel on the back seat, from the south coast to Scotland.
The Duke also owned several other yachts including the ocean racing yacht Bloodhound, designed by Charles E. Nicholson and the Dragon class yacht Bluebottle.
Christie's are grateful to Emily Naish, archivist for The Royal Yacht Squadron, for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.
Designed by the legendary Uffa Fox of Cowes in 1948, Coweslip was a Flying Fifteen (sail no. 192) - a one-design two person keel boat - measuring 20 feet in length. In the summer of 1949, Uffa met the Duke of Edinburgh, at a yacht club dinner, whilst they were both competing in the Dragon class at Cowes. Uffa invited the Duke to visit his yard the next day to see his latest creation 'The Flying Fifteen'. Their friendship flourished when, later that year, the people of Cowes presented Coweslip, to the then Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip was a keen yachtsman and his racing honours in Coweslip included: The Britannia Cup, Cowes Week, 1952, second place; Cowes Week, 1953, second place; Cowes Week, 1963, one second and one third place.
According to Uffa, Prince Philip was a first rate helmsman and had he devoted more time to sailing, instead of being an all-round sportsman, he could have become one of Britain's finest. In Uffa Fox's Handling Sailing Boats, published 1950, he wrote, "Prince Philip is a great seaman, and in one race, when our next mark was so far away that it was under our horizon, he continually looked back at the mark we had rounded and by keeping this steady on the land steered such a straight and steady course that we gained four places and never had to alter the trim of our spinnaker or mainsail".
Uffa crewed regularly with the Duke at Cowes and on one occasion, in 1962, Coweslip nearly sank when she was hit by a gust of wind and capsized, and both Uffa and the Duke were thrown into the water. He also taught the royal children to sail. Coweslip was kept and maintained on Uffa's quay at Commodore House, Cowes and was once transported by him upside down on the top of his car, with her unbolted keel on the back seat, from the south coast to Scotland.
The Duke also owned several other yachts including the ocean racing yacht Bloodhound, designed by Charles E. Nicholson and the Dragon class yacht Bluebottle.
Christie's are grateful to Emily Naish, archivist for The Royal Yacht Squadron, for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.