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The Great Days of Yachting Collection

A selection of beautiful marine photographs by Kirk & Sons of Cowes charting the history of yachting from the late 19th century to the 1930s. Enjoying royal patronage, Kirk & Sons captured a bygone age of the sport; the sport of royalty, the rich and the privileged. Their maritime subjects included sailing yachts, steam yachts, early flying boats, power boats, warships and liners; as well as remarkable portraiture of the British Royal Family and other European royalty.

105 Items

The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Cremona crashes through wave, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 1894 built schooner Xarifa under sail, 1899. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Lady Anne spray over deck, sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The sailing yacht Sea Belle under way, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

1st Earl of Birkenhead with his daughter on board their yacht, (Isle of Wight?), c1925

Claude Grahame-White hydroplane, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The studio of Kirk & Sons of Cowes, Isle of Wight, August 1935

Americas Cup challenger Shamrock IV sailing without topsail, 1914. Creator

The magnificent schooners Germania and Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 76 ton schooner Lisette under sail. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The handsome racing schooner Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent

Sailing yachts cross start line. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The hydroplane Brunhilde. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

A group onboard sea sled Miss England, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The cutter Shamrock beating to windward. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 147 ton ketch Thendara sailing upwind. 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Christening Group for the Yugoslavian Bakar

The cutter Shamrock sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Prince of Wales and Prince Edward at the Royal Naval College

Prince Arthur on board HMY Victoria and Albert, c1925. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The launch of Shamrock IV with H. M. S. Victory in the background, May 1914. Creator

The 6 Metre Stella, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Queen Mary aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1931. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The schooner Astria sailing close-hauled. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Duke and Duchess of York aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1933

The 221 ton gaff-rigged cutter Britannia sailing under spinnaker, 1913. Creator

The ketch Cariad and schooner Irma racing downwind, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Izmes two 150 hp engines, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Studio portrait of George V taken aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, c1935. Creator

The Princess of Wales with Prince Edward and Prince Albert

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, c1908

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, 1908

The yawl Joyce sailing in good wind, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The owners cabin on steam yacht Venetia, 1920. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The yawl Wendur sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The schooner Pampa. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

PS Princess Mary, July 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The steam yacht Westoe, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

White Heather, Meteor III and Brynhild racing in the Solent, 1905. Creator

The Russian Imperial Yacht Standart at Cowes, 1909. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 3 masted auxiliary schooner St George, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The three-mast auxiliary schooner Invincible, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The yawl Meander sailing in close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 7 Metre class Anitra (K4) and Ginevra (K7) race downwind, 1912. Creator

The 7 Metre class Endrick, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Royal Thames Yacht Clubs motor launch Salee Rover, 1912

Bonas motor launch under way, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Sioma and Ejnar race downwind, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The handsome racing schooner Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Royal Thames Yacht Clubs motor launch Salee Rover, 1912

Bonas motor launch under way, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Egyptian motor launch in shed, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The sailing yacht Saevuna, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Queen Mary and King George V on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1930. Creator

The three-mast auxiliary schooner Invincible, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The three-mast auxiliary schooner Invincible, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Hamble River Class dinghies racing close-hauled, 1921. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Le Jade (H21), the Norwegian Antwerpia IV (H1) and Ventana (H11) start

The motor yacht Atair under way, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The steam yacht Jason, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 23 ton motor yacht Kiwi under way, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Duke and Duchess of York aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1935

Prince Edward at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, c1909. Creator

Libertys motor launch alongside Liberty, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 250 ton schooner Germania sails close reach, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Wolseley hydroplane, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Prince Albert, Barton Manor, Isle of Wight, 1909. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Libertys motor launch alongside Liberty, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Queen Mary and Prince Henry aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, c1933

Sailing yachts Yankee, Astra and Velsheda, 1935. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Princess of Wales with Prince Edward and Prince Albert

The cutter Sophie sailing upwind. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 7 Metre Anitra (foreground) and Nelta, on downwind leg, 1911. Creator

The ketch Palatina under way, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The beautiful schooner Meteor IV, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 221 ton gaff-rigged cutter Britannia sailing under spinnaker, 1913. Creator

Norada, Britannia & Maudrey sailing in gentle winds, 1913. Creator

The gaff rigged cutter Bloodhound sailing close-hauled, August 1911. Creator

The magnificent schooners Germania and Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The schooner Flying Foam sailing close-hauled in a good wind, 1910. Creator

The steam yacht Volage under way, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 19-metre Norada launch from the Camper & Nicholsons boat yard, Gosport, 1911



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