The Royal Yacht Squadron is one of the most exclusive yacht clubs in the world. Don’t ask to join; you have to be invited. It doesn’t have a clubhouse; it has a castle in Cowes. Its garden is known as the ‘deer park’, and it is rich with tradition.

The RYS is also very active in racing circles, has a youth programme and is the challenging yacht club for Ben Ainslie Racing’s British America’s Cup challenge. So although it may be steeped in history, the club keenly looks forward as well.

You can read more about the club, its traditions and history here.

But its closed gates continue to intigue those on the outside. Here, we take you inside, with scores of photos by Cowes-based marine photographer Paul Wyeth, of what is is really like in ‘the Castle’.

See more photos inside the RYS, and its collection of memorabilia, on the next pages…