MDL Marinas has raised an amazing £51,180 during a special charity auction, taking place at the 2013 PSP Southampton Boat Show. The auction represented the culmination of a year of celebration, as MDL marks 40 successful years since the inauguration of its first luxury yacht marina.

Nick Bonham, auctioneer at the event, in action

MDL is a huge supporter of the Ocean Youth Trust South’s work and had originally pledged to raise £40,000. The money raised will go towards a new boat, providing adventure under sail to young people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. The 40th anniversary charity auction was presided over by Nick Bonham, former chairman of Bonham’s and one of the most experienced auctioneers in the Country, as well as a well-known yachtsman.

Lots on offer included a half-day Land Rover experience for three people, a skiing holiday in the Alps, a luxury hotel stay in Devon and a five-night sail training voyage.

Dean Smith, Marketing Director at MDL Marinas, commented: “We are very pleased and proud to be celebrating 40 brilliant years at MDL Marinas and we’re delighted with the success of the auction. We have worked with the Ocean Youth Trust South charity for over half of our 40 year history, and so it seemed only natural to further this relationship with our anniversary charity auction. We’d like to say a big thank you to our very generous berth holders and visitors for their much appreciated bids on our lots. We’d also like to thank all those who donated products or experiences to help us meet our fundraising target. It was a very special afternoon that meant a lot to us.”

Purchased in 1973, Penton Hook Marina in Surrey has since been joined by 18 marinas and boatyards in prime locations across the UK, as well as two first-class marinas in its MDL Mediterranean network. A third Mediterranean site, Marina del Gargano in Italy, opened this summer.