Contested annually by the Gosport sailing clubs, the current holders Lee-on-the-Solent SC will defend the title at Stokes Bay SC on 6th June. The valuable trophy will be awarded at the Festival prize-giving on the 13th.
The Turk Trophy is a gold silver gilt chalice made in 1829 for the Portsmouth, Portsea and Gosport Regatta, at an original cost of £50.
Three yachts entered the first race from Southsea and the winner was a naval officer sailing a yacht named ‘The Turk’. The trophy then disappeared for many years and it is believed it was used for races between the wherrymen (rowers) who plied between Gosport and Portsmouth.
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It came to light again inscribed as the ‘Turk Trophy’ in 1914 and was placed in the town hall safe and forgotten once more until 1965. The mayor at that time, Councillor Cooley, decided it would be a good idea to allow the three sailing clubs of the town to compete for it under the title of ‘The Mayor’s Cup’. Over the years since then the title has reverted to the ‘Turk Trophy’, perhaps because of its long association with Turk Town or Gosport.
Sometime later the Royal Navy Sailing Association was also invited to compete, so the clubs involved were Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club, Stokes Bay Sailing Club, Hardway Sailing Club and the RNSA. In 2014 nearly 50 boats took part and the aim is to increase this entry for the prestigious event in 2015 when it will be incorporated into the Gosport Marine Festival as one of four sailing events under that banner.
The race will be held on 6th June with the prize-giving taking place at the Marine Festival on the 13th hosted by a well-known celebrity from the sailing world. The winning club will get its hands on the valuable trophy, but only for a minute, before it is whisked away again to the security of the town hall vaults. In its stead, a picture of the trophy will hang proudly in the winner’s clubhouse until the 2016 event.
10/2/2015 15:32
