The Rally invited owners of Duchy Motor Launches and Hardy Motor Yachts to join and cruise from Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River to Itchenor and finally to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight across the course of the weekend.

The fleet included four Duchy 35s, six Duchy 27s and eight Hardy Motor Yachts ranging from 25ft to 62ft – including the Hardy 42 Hybrid and the all-new Hardy 50DS, both built by Cockwells. The fleet was also joined by Raymariner, the Hardy 42 that Raymarine UK deploys for testing and demonstrating its range of marine equipment.

As always, the Rally was a delightful weekend with a fun, relaxed atmosphere in which all our guests enjoyed great company, delicious food, and took pleasure in the joy of being out on the water.

The Owners’ Rally commenced at the historic Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, where guests enjoyed a sunny champagne reception on the pontoons. A delicious three-course meal followed at the Master Builder’s House, supported by our key event sponsor, Haven Knox Johnston Specialist.

Each guest was presented with a Cockwells tote bag that was filled to the brim with gifts, including a commemorative plaque, matching Duchy or Hardy sailing caps and a bottle of Tarquin’s Cornish Gin, just to name a few.

Following that, we were delighted to present the Children’s Sailing Trust with a cheque for £1575 donated by Cockwells and all who participated in the Rally. Including generous additional donations made by Rally guests on the night, this totalled £2300. This is the second year the company has supported this local charity, who provide support to young people in Cornwall by offering accessible sailing and water sports opportunities.

After a relaxing sunny start the next morning, the fleet cruised down the Beaulieu River and out into the Solent, where their formation was captured via drone.

Dave Cockwell cruised with the fleet on Duchy 35 ‘Orinoco’ – a beautiful, highly specified custom model that is currently for sale through our brokerage. She is fitted with luxurious wooden finishings, the smooth-running, powerful twin Nanni T8V350 engines for effortless cruising performance, and packs a comprehensive Raymarine electronics and navigational package. Find out more about Orinoco and enquire here.

During their journey, the boats displayed the exceptional seaworthiness and relaxed handling that they are renowned for, and they arrived in Chichester Harbour in the early afternoon.

Guests were greeted with a waterside drinks reception, sponsored by Nanni: Energy in Blue, and enjoyed their beautiful and tranquil surroundings with a two-course dinner at the Itchenor Sailing Club.

The fine weather continued into the final day of the Rally as the fleet set sail to the Isle of Wight, with some vessels taking a detour for a swim in Newtown Creek, and others taking a trip past the Needles, which was a sight to behold!

They then sailed into Yarmouth for the final evening reception of this year’s Rally, supported by Raymarine UK. As well as being treated to some Raymarine pale ale, guests enjoyed a gin reception with Tarquin’s Cornish Gin – bringing a slice of Cornish sunshine to the Isle of Wight.

Finishing the Rally on a high, our guests celebrated the highlights of the weekend with a delicious two-course dinner at the Royal Solent Yacht Club, enjoying panoramic views across the water. After dinner, the awards ceremony ensued, supported by Yanmar Marine. Awards ranged from the Concours d’Elegance and the Best Dressed Boat Overall to the Best Mascot Award and the prize for the Furthest Travelled – just to name a few.

Owner and Founder, Dave Cockwell, said: “It was our pleasure to welcome so many clients and guests, old and new, on this year’s Owners’ Rally. We all had a fantastic weekend cruising between iconic locations on the Solent, all the while enjoying sailing with the fleet of numerous Duchy and Hardy vessels.

“I would like to express my thanks to everyone who helped to make this Rally one of the best so far – from all our guests who sailed with us to the hospitality and harbour teams at Buckler’s Hard, Itchenor and Yarmouth, to our skilled event photographer, Richard Langdon of Ocean Images Photography, and of course, the dedicated team at Cockwells for organising this wonderful event. A huge thank you must also go to our sponsors Haven Knox Johnston Specialist,Raymarine UK, Nanni: Energy in Blue (AR Peachment), Tarquin’s Cornish Gin and Yanmar Marine, without whom the Rally would not be possible.

“With our strong forward order book and ambitious plans for expansion, we look forward to building more bespoke leisure  craft for many years to come, and to welcoming even more owners to the Cockwells family.”