Her Majesty will be sorely missed

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, 96, on September 8, 2022, here is the following tribute from the United Kingdom’s national governing body for boating:

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is deeply saddened by the loss of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen. Our thoughts and condolences are with The Princess Royal, RYA President, and the entire Royal Family.

Known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, Her Majesty The Queen has been an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth. She has ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history, becoming a much loved and respected figure across the globe.

The Royal Family has a long history of seafaring. Over the centuries the Monarchy has sailed aboard 83 royal yachts, including the most recent, HMY Britannia, which often hosted the RYA Council meetings during Cowes Week.

With so many fond memories around the yacht, Her Majesty The Queen officially took her leave of it in 1997 and the vessel was placed in the port of Leith in Scotland, where it serves as a floating museum and events venue. All of the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01, the exact time that Her Majesty disembarked for the last time.

In 1948, Bluebottle was presented to Her Majesty The Queen (then HRH Princess Elizabeth) and HRH Prince Philip as a wedding present from the Island Sailing Club of Cowes, Isle of Wight. Bluebottle is the only British Dragon to have won an Olympic medal, picking up a bronze at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

“Like so many around the world, we are deeply saddened at the loss of Her Majesty The Queen,” said Chris Preston, Chair of the Royal Yachting Association.

“Having Her Majesty as Royal Patron, alongside the support of her husband HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as former RYA President and her daughter The Princess Royal as our current President, has undoubtedly helped us to raise awareness of our aims to increase participation in boating, to promote safety afloat and to raise sailing standards.

“Her Majesty will be sorely missed and we offer our deepest condolences to our President, The Princess Royal, and her family.”