Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visits Torquay Marina
On Wednesday 15th October, Torquay Marina had the honour of welcoming a very special visitor - Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who visited Wetwheels Torbay, a local charity providing accessible boating experiences for people with disabilities.
As proud sponsors of Wetwheels Torbay and Wetwheels Hamble, MDL Marinas supports the charity by providing complimentary berthing at Torquay Marina and Mercury Yacht Harbour. When we learned that HRH, Patron of the charity, wished to view the new Wetwheels Torbay vessel, it was a privilege to assist in making the visit possible.
Planning began several months in advance, with Michelle Brown, Director of Wetwheels Torbay, working closely with the Torquay Marina team and royal security representatives to ensure everything ran smoothly and safely.
The Royal Visit
HRH arrived by helicopter at Daddyhole Plain before travelling to the marina, where a formal reception party awaited her arrival. Guests included representatives from Torbay Council, the Mayor of Torbay, the Wetwheels Foundation, and MDL’s James Barnes (Managing Director), Daniel Chown (Finance Director), and Martyn Sherratt (Torquay Marina Manager).
Following royal protocol, the team greeted HRH before accompanying her to the Wetwheels Torbay vessel, berthed within the marina. During the visit, HRH met volunteers, supporters, and participants, and heard how the charity enables disabled people to enjoy hands-on boating experiences including taking the helm themselves. The programme is designed to build confidence, independence, and inclusion through life on the water.
The visit concluded with a private reception at Otto Torquay, the marina’s waterfront restaurant. Speeches were given by Michelle Brown, Geoff Holt MBE (Founder of Wetwheels), and Her Royal Highness, with heartfelt thanks expressed to MDL Marinas for its continued support, noting that sustaining Wetwheels Torbay would be far more challenging without it.
Celebrating Inclusive Boating
The event was a proud moment for everyone involved and a showcase of what can be achieved through partnership and shared commitment. At MDL Marinas, we are dedicated to supporting initiatives that make boating accessible, enjoyable, and open to all.
To find out more about Wetwheels or support their work, visit: www.wetwheelsfoundation.org.
