July 24, 2015 in the lovely Solent yacht holiday location, was marked by the highly successful match race, attended by the 38-metre classic sailing yacht Mariquita and the 49,5m classic charter yacht Eleonora, the latter being available for rent in the popular Mediterranean yacht vacation locations. This amazing initiative has raised an incredible £67,000 for the disabled sailing charity Wetwheels.

Classic sailing yachts Mariquita v Eleonora match race – Image courtesy of Ben Wood – islandimages.co.uk

The amount raised was added to a fund totalling some £155,000, enough to start the building of a new Wetwheels powerboat for the Hamble-based charity. Championed by Disability Sports Ambassador and sailor Geoff Holt MBE, who uses a wheelchair himself, Wetwheels provides disabled and disadvantaged people with access to the sea through fully accessible powerboats.

Geoff Holt from Wetwheels – Image courtesy of Ben Wood – islandimages.co.uk

Geoff Holt said: “I was over the moon when John (Mariquita’s co-owner) suggested he could organise an event that could raise the funds to help us reach our fundraising target to order our third Wetwheels boat.  I had not realised he would do so in such dramatic style and to such great effect.  Match racing Eleonora and Mariquita was not only a wonderful event in its own right, raising so much money was a real bonus.  The boat has now been ordered and Wetwheels Hamble will be taking disabled people onto the Solent in the spring next year.”