Diametric’s Epic Day Out on the Dorset Queen

A fantastic day out was had by all, as the Diametric team and their guests sailed around scenic Poole Harbour and its surrounding areas.

‘Won’ at a charity auction, the cruise aboard the ‘Dorset Queen’ gave everyone the opportunity to escape for the day to relax and enjoy the sights. “We love being able to get the whole Diametric team together and this provided the perfect setting,” explained our Chairman, Gray. “So, we were thrilled when we cast the winning bid at the SPACE Ball last November. The night also raised a significant amount of money for MND research.”

We were welcomed aboard with Prosecco (and beer!) and made ourselves comfortable as Dorset Cruises’ captain, Jon Morgan, prepped the boat for departure. It didn’t take long for us to start enjoying the scenery as we passed some of the islands in Poole Harbour, with a sweep around Brownsea Island which is owned by the National Trust. The much-anticipated onboard BBQ was served while we were treated to some commentary from Jon about the Dorset Queen and her Poole Harbour home. 

The boat itself, which was built in 1938, has a rich history, with the most notable being her use in the Dunkirk rescue missions when she was requisitioned by the Navy in WWII. After the war, she spent many years in Scotland as a pleasure cruiser, before returning to Naval duty in the 1960s at the US base in Holy Loch. Dorset Queen made her journey down south in the 1980s and is now the only vintage motor yacht operating on the South Coast of England.

After lunch, with the beverages and conversation still flowing, we were able to observe Millionaire’s Row at Sandbanks, Swanage Bay, and Bournemouth Bay as we looped around and made our way back. It was wonderful to see colleagues from both sites, Swanmore near Southampton and Newport on the Isle of Wight, enjoying some downtime together. The sun may not have shone for us on the day, but the smiles and laughter from everyone definitely made it a day to remember.