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11:59 Thursday 9 Aug 2018 Sue Pelling/LCWGlittering prizes at Lendy Cowes Week

Two of the Triple Crown Race Trophies – King George V International Cup (left), and The Royal Yacht Squadron's King's Cup 1920

As one of the oldest events in sporting history there are a wealth of historic and absolutely stunning pieces of silverware on offer at Lendy Cowes Week that date back to Queen Victoria’s era in the 1800s.

Among the most significant trophies is the Britannia Cup, presented by King George VI in 1950 and this year it will be awarded to the overall winner of Class 1 in today’s race, which started at 1100.

Also, for the first time, 2018 White Group and Black Group winners will be awarded two of the most prestigious trophies in the Lendy Cowes Week trophy collection including The Queen Victoria Jubilee Cup and the Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club Trophy.

The Queen Victoria Jubilee Cup, which was given to the Royal London Yacht Club by Queen Victoria in 1886 was first sailed for in a race around the island. In the Queen’s Jubilee year in 1887 it was raced for in a regatta held on the first Monday in August, which remains the Royal London Day at Lendy Cowes Week. This year this magnificent, ornate trophy will be presented to the overall winner of White Group.

The overall winner of Black Group will receive the Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club Trophy. Dating back to 1919 when it was made, and with links to King George V makes it an extremely desirable piece of silverware to win. It was formerly awarded to the winner of the Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race), so it is befitting it should go to the overall winner of the big boat racing classes in Black Group here at Lendy Cowes Week.

Today marks the second day of racing in the three-race Triple Crown Series for IRC 0 and Fast 40+ yachts and for the winners of this, there is no shortage of amazing prizes on offer. Three of the most historic and prestigious trophies (King George V International Cup, Queens Cup, and the Royal Yacht Squadron’s King’s Cup 1920), will be awarded to the class winners, and the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Cup – presented to the overall winner of the Triple Crown.

Tony Langley and team on Gladiator (TP52) won the opening day of racing in the Triple Crown Series for the Queen’s Cup yesterday. This stunning crown-topped, lidded trophy was presented to the Royal Southampton Yacht Club by Queen Victoria in 1897 and was first won by Latana, a 165 ton yawl. In 1960 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth gave her gracious consent for the Queen’s Cup Race to be reinstituted as part of Cowes Week and has continued to be raced for here ever since.

Today’s Triple Crown Race winner will be awarded the King George V International Cup. This huge flagon is half a metre tall and weighs in a 267 Troy oz (over 8 kilos). It was made by Elkington in 1911 and awarded for the 23 metre class in 1911 and won by Heather II.

The Royal Yacht Squadron’s King’s Cup 1920 is tomorrow’s Triple Crown big prize. This magnificent solid silver trophy, presented by King George V in 1920, was originally awarded to the winner of a race for yachts exceeding 100 tons.

Finally, the overall winner of the three-race Triple Crown Series that concludes on Friday, will win the Duke of Edinburgh Triple Crown Trophy, which has been kindly loaned from the Royal Collection.