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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.

Choose a picture from our The Great Days of Yachting Collection for your Wall Art and Photo Gifts

105 items

We are proud to offer this selection in partnership with Heritage Images

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Cremona crashes through wave, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Cremona crashes through wave, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 6-metre Cremona crashes through wave, 1913

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Americas Cup challenger Shamrock IV sailing without topsail, 1914. Creator

Americas Cup challenger Shamrock IV sailing without topsail, 1914. Creator
Americas Cup challenger Shamrock IV sailing without topsail, 1914. Shamrock IV was a yacht owned by Sir Thomas Lipton and designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson. She was launched in June 1914

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 1894 built schooner Xarifa under sail, 1899. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 76 ton schooner Lisette under sail. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 76 ton schooner Lisette under sail. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 76 ton schooner Lisette under sail. Lisette was built at Cowes in 1873

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: HMY Britannia before being sunk, July 1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

HMY Britannia before being sunk, July 1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
HMY Britannia before being sunk, July 1936. After Britannia had been stripped of her spars and fittings, her hull was towed out to St Catherines Deep near the Isle of Wight

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 6 Metre Stella, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 96 ft ketch Julnar, 1911. Julnar was designed by William Fife and built at Southampton by Summers & Payne to the order of Sir Maurice FitzGerald, the Knight of Kerry, in 1909

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The studio of Kirk & Sons of Cowes, Isle of Wight, August 1935

The studio of Kirk & Sons of Cowes, Isle of Wight, August 1935. Kirk & Sons of Cowes were Photographers by Royal Appointment to King George V

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent, 1911

Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent, 1911
Hole torn in the hull of RMS Olympic after the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent, 20th September 1911. The collision took place as Olympic

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Claude Grahame-White hydroplane, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Claude Grahame-White hydroplane, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Claude Grahame-White Hydroplane, 1912. The early aviation pioneer, Claude Grahame-White flew his hydroplane at Cowes over the assembled yachts which included the Royal Yacht which had King George V

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The hydroplane Brunhilde. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The hydroplane Brunhilde. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The hydroplane Brunhilde. Brunhilde was built by S. E. Saunders on the Isle of Wight for the Duke of Westminster as a successor to the record breaking Ursula

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: A group onboard sea sled Miss England, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

A group onboard sea sled Miss England, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Claude Grahame-White in his experimental 45-foot power sledge, Miss England, 3 Sept 1922. Miss England was built of wood by the Cowes firm of S.E. Saunders in 1921

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Sailing yachts cross start line. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Izmes two 150 hp engines, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Izmes two 150 hp engines, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Izmes two 150 hp engines, 1913. Izme was built for Albert Vickers to take part in the British International Trophy (Harmsworth Trophy) event held at Osborne Bay in September 1913

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The cutter Shamrock beating to windward. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The cutter Shamrock beating to windward. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Shamrock beating to windward. Shamrock, designed by William Fife, was Sir Thomas Liptons first (1899) challenger to the Americas Cup

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Studio portrait of George V taken aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, c1935. Creator

Studio portrait of George V taken aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, c1935. Creator
Studio portrait of George V taken aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, c1935. King George V (1865-1936) in naval uniform, sitting against a curtain to have his photograph taken on board the royal yacht

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 147 ton ketch Thendara sailing upwind. 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The 147 ton ketch Thendara sailing upwind. 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 147 ton ketch Thendara sailing upwind. 1939. Thendara was designed by Alfred Mylne for the Scottish yachtsman Sir Arthur Young. She was launched in 1937 and is still racing today

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: 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, c1908. Group portrait of the Prince of Wales (1865-1936, later King George V) and Princess of Wales (1867-1963)

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Christening Group for the Yugoslavian Bakar, J Samuel White and Co, Cowes, Isle of Wight, 1931

Christening Group for the Yugoslavian Bakar, J Samuel White and Co, Cowes, Isle of Wight, 1931
Christening Group for the Yugoslavian Bakar, J Samuel White and Co shipyard, Cowes, Isle of Wight, 10 Jan 1931

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The cutter Shamrock sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The cutter Shamrock sailing close-hauled, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The cutter Shamrock sailing close-hauled, 1912. Shamrock, designed by William Fife, was Sir Thomas Liptons first (1899) challenger to the Americas Cup

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The Prince of Wales and Prince Edward at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, 1908

The Prince of Wales and Prince Edward at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, 1908. The Prince of Wales (1865-1936, later King George V) with his son Prince Edward (1894-1972)

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Prince Arthur on board HMY Victoria and Albert, c1925. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Prince Arthur on board HMY Victoria and Albert, c1925. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Prince Arthur on board HMY Victoria and Albert, c1925. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850-1942), was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The yawl Joyce sailing in good wind, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The owners cabin on steam yacht Venetia, 1920. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The launch of Shamrock IV with H. M. S. Victory in the background, May 1914. Creator

The launch of Shamrock IV with H. M. S. Victory in the background, May 1914. Creator
The launch of Shamrock IV at Gosport with H.M.S. Victory in the background, May 1914. Shamrock IV was a yacht owned by Sir Thomas Lipton and designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The yawl Wendur sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The yawl Wendur sailing close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The yawl Wendur sailing close-hauled, 1913. Wendur was built by D & W Henderson & Co. Glasgow in 1883

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The schooner Pampa. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The schooner Pampa. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The schooner Pampa

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The magnificent schooners Germania and Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The magnificent schooners Germania and Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The magnificent schooners Germania and Waterwitch, 1911. The 250 ton schooner Germania was designed by Max Oertz and owned by the German industrialist Count Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: PS Princess Mary, July 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

PS Princess Mary, July 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
PS Princess Mary, July 1911. The Princess Mary paddle steamer was built in 1911 as a general purpose ship for excursion, ferry and tender work

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The steam yacht Westoe, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: White Heather, Meteor III and Brynhild racing in the Solent, 1905. Creator

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The Russian Imperial Yacht Standart at Cowes, 1909. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Russian Imperial Yacht Standart at Cowes, 1909. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The Russian Imperial Yacht Standart at Cowes, 1909. Standart was built by order of Emperor Alexander III of Russia, and constructed at the Danish shipyard of Burmeister & Wain

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 3 masted auxiliary schooner St George, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Queen Mary aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1931. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

Queen Mary aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1931. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Queen Mary aboard HMY Victoria and Albert, 1931. Queen Mary (1867-1953) on board the royal yacht. HMY Victoria and Albert, launched in 1899, was a steamship used by the royal family

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The yawl Meander sailing in close-hauled, 1913. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The handsome racing schooner Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The handsome racing schooner Waterwitch, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The handsome racing schooner Waterwitch, 1911. Designed by William Fife, Waterwitch was not successful in competition and was later redesigned by Charles Nicholson

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 7 Metre class Anitra (K4) and Ginevra (K7) race downwind, 1912. Creator

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The 7 Metre class Endrick, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The Royal Thames Yacht Clubs motor launch Salee Rover, 1912

The Royal Thames Yacht Clubs motor launch Salee Rover, 1912

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Bonas motor launch under way, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Sioma and Ejnar race downwind, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The schooner Astria sailing close-hauled. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Egyptian motor launch in shed, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The sailing yacht Saevuna, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The sailing yacht Saevuna, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The sailing yacht Saevuna, 1911. This steel screw steamer was built by Scott & Co. at Greenock and launched in 1901

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Queen Mary and King George V on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1930. Creator

Queen Mary and King George V on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1930. Creator
Queen Mary and King George V on board HMY Victoria and Albert, 1930. Group portrait of King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary (1867-1953) with the crew of the royal yacht Victoria and Albert

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: The three-mast auxiliary schooner Invincible, 1911. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Hamble River Class dinghies racing close-hauled, 1921. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

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

Background imageThe Great Days of Yachting Collection: Le Jade (H21), the Norwegian Antwerpia IV (H1) and Ventana (H11) start

Le Jade (H21), the Norwegian Antwerpia IV (H1) and Ventana (H11) start the 8 Metre class race



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