Cowes for the use of Queen Elizabeth I sowed the seed for Cowes to grow into a world-renowned centre of boat-building. However, seafaring for recreation and sport remained the exception rather than the rule until much later. It was not until the reign of keen sailor George IV that the stage was set for the heyday of Cowes as 'The Yachting Capital of the World.' In 1826 the Royal Yacht Squadron organised a three-day regatta for the first time and the next year the king signified his approval of the event by presenting a cup to mark the occasion. This became
East Cowes Castle a prospect that the castle could be inhabited again. The following week it was announced that a company was being formed to manage the estate and that the secretary was a Mr R G Burke, with the registered office being 6 Birmingham Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight. In 1934, the castle was bought by Cowes Estates LTD, a development company. From that time until the start of the Second World War, the estate was only inhabited by caretakers and its only actual use was for a short time as summer tea gardens for island visitors. In 1940, during the Second