MDL to host captains’ dinner and charity auction ahead of Ocean Globe Race

Marina operator MDL Marinas is hosting a black-tie captains’ dinner ahead of the Ocean Globe Race (OGR) 2023, offering guests the chance to dine with the intrepid skippers and crews taking part in the retro round-the-world race before they set sail.

The event, which celebrates the joint 50th anniversaries of MDL Marinas and the Whitbread Round the World Race, takes place at the Harbour Hotel in Ocean Village, Southampton, on Friday, 1 September 2023. This evening of entertainment will include a charity auction to raise money for the Ocean Youth Trust (South), Blue Marine Foundation and The Maiden Factor Foundation.

“What better way to get into the spirit of this epic sailing challenge than to enjoy a delicious meal with the remarkable sailors who’ll be setting sail from Ocean Village, where so many ocean races have started from before,” says Tim Mayer, MDL’s sales and marketing director.

“Absolutely everyone’s welcome, and with skippers past and present joining in the celebrations, this is a real must for sailing aficionados.”

Among the 40 renowned sailors attending will be sailing legend Tracy Edwards MBE. Onboard Maiden in the 1989/1990 Whitbread, Edwards sailed the first ever all-female Whitbread crew home to Ocean Village Marina. As the after-dinner speaker, Edwards will be regaling the audience with tales of her on-water adventures, and highlighting the valuable work of her charity, The Maiden Factor Foundation, towards the empowerment of girls through education.

MDL Marinas previously hosted the Whitbread in 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2001, and this year it will host the Race Village and the start of the Ocean Globe Race, bringing this iconic race back to Southampton as it turns 50.

Tickets for the Captains’ Dinner at the Southampton Harbour Hotel at Ocean Village Marina £100 each or £900 for a table of ten. Tickets include drinks on arrival, a three-course meal with wine, and the chance to take part in the auction and meet the race teams face-to-face.

Tickets are available online now via Eventbrite.

Charity Auction

There are 10 lots currently available to bid on at the Captains’ Dinner charity auction, with all proceeds from the auction split between the three charities: Ocean Youth Trust (South), Blue Marine Foundation and The Maiden Factor Foundation. Bids can also be made in advance online on the charity auction website.

The lots up for grabs include the chance to have the name of a loved one added to the hull of Maiden; an overnight stay at Southampton Harbour Hotel; a Thames champagne lunch cruise; and a pair of tickets to watch the start of the Ocean Globe Race on SS Shieldhall. More lots will be added in the run-up to the black-tie dinner.