A Royal Visitor at Torquay Marina with Wetwheels Torbay
On Wednesday 15th October, Torquay Marina welcomed a very special visitor: Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal came to see Wetwheels Torbay, a charity close to our hearts.
MDL proudly sponsors Wetwheels Torbay and Wetwheels Hamble by providing complimentary berthing at Torquay Marina and Mercury Yacht Harbour. So when we heard that HRH, Patron of the charity, wanted to see their new boat, it was a privilege to help make it happen.
Around three months ago, Michelle Brown, Director of Wetwheels Torbay, contacted the Torquay team with the exciting news. From that moment, it was all systems go. The team worked closely with Michelle and royal security teams, including several site visits, to ensure everything would run smoothly.
On the day itself, Torquay Marina looked fantastic. HRH arrived by helicopter at nearby Daddyhole Plain before travelling by car to the marina, where our public car park was temporarily closed. She was accompanied by her security team, police officers, and lady-in-waiting – quite a sight for a Wednesday afternoon!
A reception line was ready outside the marina office to greet her, including representatives from Torbay Council, the Mayor of Torbay, the Wetwheels Foundation, and MDL’s own James Barnes (Managing Director), Daniel Chown (Finance Director), and Martyn Sherratt (Torquay Marina Manager).
The team received a royal protocol briefing beforehand (yes, bowing of the head was involved!). HRH was warm and engaging, shaking hands and taking time to chat with each person. When Martyn was introduced, she smiled and said, “So, this is your patch then, is it?” A lovely moment and a relaxed start to the afternoon.
Michelle then escorted HRH down to the Wetwheels boat, berthed at Torquay Marina. She spent time onboard meeting volunteers, supporters, and participants.
For anyone not familiar, Wetwheels offers fully accessible powerboating experiences for people with disabilities – and not just as passengers. Guests are actively encouraged to take the helm and drive the boat themselves. It’s confidence-building, life-changing, and brilliantly inclusive. After the tour, the visit continued at Otto Torquay, the marina's waterfront restaurant, which closed especially for the event. More guests had the chance to speak with HRH during a relaxed reception.
Before departure, three short speeches were given – by Michelle Brown, Geoff Holt MBE (Founder of Wetwheels), and HRH herself. In her speech, Michelle personally thanked Martyn and the MDL team for their ongoing support, noting that sustaining Wetwheels Torbay would be a challenge without it. A proud moment for everyone involved.
After HRH left for her next engagement, guests stayed at Ottto to enjoy tea, coffee, and a buffet. It was a fantastic showcase for Wetwheels and for Torquay Marina, highlighting what we can achieve when we partner with organisations that share our values – making life on the water accessible, enjoyable, and open to everyone.
