14 September 2011 Last updated at 10:23 ET

Seaplane flypast marks 1931 Schneider Trophy victory

Seaplanes will retrace the event's route

The 80th anniversary of Britain's victory in the Schneider Trophy has been marked by a seaplane flypast.

A pair of seaplanes flew along the 1931 route, which covered a 50km triangular course along the Solent.

The contest was won in 1931 by a Supermarine S6B designed by RJ Mitchell, who went on to build the World War II Spitfire fighter.

A speed competition for seaplanes, the Schneider Trophy, was contested between 1913 and 1931.

It was set up by Jacques Schneider, initially to encourage technical advances in civil aviation.

It is estimated that some 500,000 people watched the 1931 event on the shores of Southampton Water.

The trophy was contested by pilots from countries including Britain, Italy, France, Germany and the US.

To take the trophy, a country had to win the competition three times in five meetings.

After the British team won the title in 1931, the event was discontinued and Britain was allowed to keep the trophy.