The Royal Thames Yacht Club’s 2016 edition of the RYTC Cumberland Cup – the Club’s premier international sailing race team event which was held 4th - 7th May.

The biennial Cumberland Cup, first held in 2008, is the only major international yacht racing event held in the UK capital and involves two-boat team racing in the club’s fleet of J/80s at Queen Mary reservoir. An exciting race was pre-empted with a social evening at Hampton Court Palace attended by Barton Marine’s CEO, Suzanne Blaustone – who met crew members and race officials prior to the event.

The impressive trophy itself dates from 1912 and is a replica of an earlier cup of the same name dating from 1781 in the Club's possession. It is one of a series of such cups donated by the Duke of Cumberland, the Club's Royal Patron (the first-ever Cumberland Cup race was held in 1775, the year the club was first formed). The replica was commissioned in 1912 by members as a gift for the German Kaiser who had admired the original.

We are delighted to report a record number of international entries competed, and huge congratulations to winners, Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans) and second place, race hosts – Royal Thames Yacht Club (London), followed by the New York Yacht Club in third.