Not forgetting our roots
Our event was started back in 2011 by Robin Coomer and John Shepherd, as the South West Fletcher Boat Rally. They both had Fletcher boats at the time, looked around for a club, and to our dismay there were none, so we started one - simples!
We started with a small group of friends, did some local postering, had some support from Fletcher Boats and many local chandlers too, and then wow, we had about twenty boats arrive for the rally. We weren't the most organised, but we managed to pull off our first event and it was a great success.
We learnt a huge amount from our first rally and decided to 'up our game' for 2012. We managed to secure some sponsorship to hire the local events pontoon at MDL in Brixahm and this had a massive effect. We went from a bunch of boats floating around the bay to and proper event with a base of operations for everyone to meet and we created a real club feel for the whole event.
Over the next couple of years we continued as the South West Fletcher Boat Rally until 2014 when we stared to have a small identity crisis. Many owners had changed their boats to different brands but still wanted to join the rally. Obviously this made little difference to us, and we didn't want to lose any of our new friends, so they still joined in.
We started with a small group of friends, did some local postering, had some support from Fletcher Boats and many local chandlers too, and then wow, we had about twenty boats arrive for the rally. We weren't the most organised, but we managed to pull off our first event and it was a great success.
We learnt a huge amount from our first rally and decided to 'up our game' for 2012. We managed to secure some sponsorship to hire the local events pontoon at MDL in Brixahm and this had a massive effect. We went from a bunch of boats floating around the bay to and proper event with a base of operations for everyone to meet and we created a real club feel for the whole event.
Over the next couple of years we continued as the South West Fletcher Boat Rally until 2014 when we stared to have a small identity crisis. Many owners had changed their boats to different brands but still wanted to join the rally. Obviously this made little difference to us, and we didn't want to lose any of our new friends, so they still joined in.
Last year we decided to re-branded as the Torbay Rally Group but in hindsight felt this created some confusion, so this year we have re-branded as the South West Sports Boat Rally, hoping to offer a clearer definition of who we are and what we are about. That said, we still have many die-hard Fletcher owners, so a club within a club so to speak, although that was never the idea.
So in effect we have grown from the South West Fletcher Boat Rally or you could say we now incorporate the South West Fletcher Boat Rally. Either way, we now welcome all makes of sports boats and enjoy a wide and varied range which adds to the clubs appeal.
So in effect we have grown from the South West Fletcher Boat Rally or you could say we now incorporate the South West Fletcher Boat Rally. Either way, we now welcome all makes of sports boats and enjoy a wide and varied range which adds to the clubs appeal.
