As the Autumn settles in, we reflect on what was a busy summer for Wesley Offshore. From bunting to boat shows, here is a look at what the team got up to:
The Dartmouth Royal Regatta is the busiest week of the year for the town, drawing in visitors from near and far for the last 179 years. With sailing, market stalls and activities for the whole family, Wesley Offshore were delighted to get involved to celebrate the occasion, capping off the summer season in style.
On Regatta Saturday, the Crew decorated the Samuel Wesley with flags, banners and sported fun headgear to take part in the Royal Regatta River Parade. After joining the rest of the participating boats, the flotilla sailed down river, waving at the watchers on the embankment as they witnessed the colourful procession. The Crew were delighted to see a few familiar faces waving back at them. An official salute to the Judges at the end of the embankment marked the end of the parade and the Samuel Wesley made its way back to the Marina.
Later that afternoon the award ceremony was held in the VIP Marquee. Awards for ‘Best Dressed’, ‘Best Salute’ and the infamous ‘Grockel Cup’ were judged by Dartmouth Mayor, Councillors and guests, with Wesley Offshore as the official sponsor of the former two trophies. Our Business Manager, Helen, had the honour of presenting Dart Sailability with the ‘Best Dressed’ award, and sail boat Little Tern with the ‘Best Salute’. Despite the breezy conditions in the tent, all were overjoyed with their awards.
Participating in local events such as the Dartmouth Royal Regatta is at the heart of the Wesley Offshore ethos. Bringing loved ones together to honour all of life’s events. Celebrating the community whilst getting to fly the Wesley Offshore flag was an honour for our team and they look forward to going even bigger next year for the 180th anniversary of the event.
The Southampton International Boat Show is Britain’s largest boating exhibition, with exhibitors from all marine industries. Stretching over eleven days, the variety of products and services is enough to keep both boat enthusiasts and those new to the world of boating more than happy.
This year’s show was particularly special as it was the first exhibition attended by the Wesley Offshore team. It was also the debut of our new exhibition stand, show casing new footage of the Samuel Wesley taken over the early summer months. It was a true team effort, and the show was a great success. The team thoroughly enjoyed speaking with likeminded people about Wesley Offshore.
As well as being able to reach out to members of the public, the team were able to connect with other organisations, exploring how Wesley Offshore can make waves in the industry. Learning from the RNLI that they too see the need for and importance of giving their nearest and dearest a fitting tribute, reinforced the team’s passion for this service. This, however, is just the beginning, and the team thoroughly look forward to attending again next year where plans are already being put in place to expand our display and introduce more people to Wesley Offshore.
As we look to the winter ahead, organising boat maintenance and modifications, and getting prepared for 2025, the team at Wesley Offshore aren’t slowing down. Look out on our social media pages, as the team gets involved in a range of winter activities, appreciating the crisp, quieter days on the river Dart.