The Island’s Classic Boat Museum’s 30th season has officially been launched by local yachting royalty, Shirley Robertson DL OBE and Harold Cudmore.
2026 is set to be a big year for the museum, which is now on one site in Medina Village, having previously been in Cowes and East Cowes.
Double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson DL OBE and former America’s Cup training skipper Harold Cudmore were the guests of honour at the launch event, with around 150 people present.
The museum houses over one hundred boats and other maritime artefacts and archives, ranging from dinghies, lifeboats, powerboats and Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup AC75 racer.
As well as marking its 30th year, guests at the launch event heard that plans are advancing to expand activities on the site, making it a top-class maritime visitor attraction.
Chairman Michael Loftus told the gathering of the trustees’ desire to increase awareness of the museum, including a partnership with the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, welcoming back the historic royal Flying Fifteen, Coweslip, and initiating the Maritime Heritage Trail, as an integral part of the Cowes 200 celebrations.
He said:
“We have just completed a grant-funded scoping study working with three top heritage consultants and a leading local surveyor to expand our activities on this site.
“The results of this study are overwhelmingly positive, and we will be working closely with local stakeholders and national funding bodies to achieve this.
“With its rich maritime heritage, the Island deserves a destination visitor attraction in Cowes, linking maritime heritage with maritime skills and jobs.”
He thanked volunteers for their efforts in making the museum what it is today.
In her speech, Shirley Robertson, who made history by becoming the first British woman to win Olympic Gold Medals at two consecutive Olympic Games stressed how important the museum was to her.
Shirley said:
“As a sailor, it has some fascinating exhibits and as a journalist I find its archive invaluable.”
Harold Cudmore, who represented Ireland at the 1972 Summer Olympics and was the training skipper for the winning America’s Cup campaign in 1992, said that the yachting heritage of Cowes was rich with stories but the danger was that people were beginning to forget those stories.
He said:
“This museum and its exhibits help us remember what a part the town has paid in the history of sailing”
The museum is now open for the season, with opening hours of 11:00 to 15:00.
