The Duke of Edinburgh On Board The "Bluebottle" -- Trimming the spinnaker while running before the wind The Duke of Edinburgh with Lt.-Commander Michael Crochton, the helmsman of the yacht. The "Bluebottle", a yacht of the Dragon glass (app. l8ft. long) was presented to Their Royal Highnesses Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh by the Island Sailing Club. The Duke contested his first race on the yacht when he entered the 'Bluebottle' at a recent yachting event at Cowes. In the yacht's crew of three, the Duke acted as third hand. On the first day, "Bluebottle" came in third but disqualified itself through grazing a buoy; on the second she finished 7th. September 29, 1948. (Photo by Baron, Camera Press).