The story so far
47 years and counting.......
1976
Rockley Watersports Established
Rockley Watersports is founded by the Gordon family - Jim, Barbara and their children. With one caravan and 10 boats on the beach, Rockley Point Sailing School offers sailing courses to people of all ages.
1980
Open second activity centre in Poole
Treasure Island offers a real ‘Swallows and Amazons’ experience. A children’s camping holidays on one of Poole Harbour's islands with watersports and land-based activities. No running water or electricity is a shock for those who don't’t understand that no electricity also means no TV!
1989
Open first French activity centre & Cruising School
‘Rockley in the sun’ was suggested, and in 1989, we open our first activity centre in south west France - La Reserve. Originally known as 'Sail France,' the centre quickly expands to also accommodate family camping holidays.
We also open our Cruising School in Poole Harbour with three Sadler 34 yachts.
1990
New activity centre - La Rive
La Reserve was in such great demand after one season that we quickly had to find another centre to accommodate the growing number of schools wanting the ‘Rockley’ experience abroad. 1990 saw the opening of our second French centre, La Rive, situated on the edge of Lac Cazaux in the Landes region.
1997
Harbour Challenge Founded & Peter & Lis take the helm
Established to provide sailing experiences and opportunities to local children. Although we are not now directly involved, this charity is still operating in Poole Harbour.
Sell the Cruising School – big boats just aren’t our thing! Peter and Lis Gordon take on the running of the business.
2000
Move into new sailing school building at Rockley Point
A new sailing school building at Rockley Point and new residential accommodation - Rockley Lodge, to replace the ‘quaint’ old buildings we had been in for 20 years. This gives us more office and classroom space as well as a purpose built lodge for our residential students.
2003
Rockley Point appointed pilot centre for RYA’s OnBoard scheme & third French centre opens
With the aim of getting half a million youngsters on the water over a period of five years, Pip Woods, our current Managing Director, joins Rockley Watersports to coordinate this scheme.
AzuRivage, on Lac Soustons opens.
2006
Rockley Celebrates 30 years
Our 30 years is celebrated in style with a regatta and party for over 400 guests made up of current staff, ex staff, suppliers and customers who had been with us and supported us over the years. We look forward to the next big party!
Our fourth activity centre, Aravis, opens in the French Alps.
2007
Open new activity centres in Poole & France
Mayotte on Lac Cazaux opens and Poole Park Lake - the UK’s largest inland saltwater lagoon. Acquired to make watersports accessible and affordable to all, our Poole Park centre offers a wonderful opportunity for both groups and individuals to experience a variety of watersports.
2010
Rockley Point is host centre for ISAF’s Training Scholarship
Rockley Point is chosen as the host centre for ISAF’s Training Scholarship - an eight-week course welcoming candidates from South Africa, the Cook Islands, Peru, Iceland and Mozambique.
2011
Rockley College is born
In conjunction with LeAF, we introduce the BTEC Level 3 Sport (Outdoor Adventure) course. A unique, post-16 course providing training, equivalent to 3 A-Levels. It's the ultimate vocational course combining theory units, practical activities and employer valued, professional National Governing Body (NGB) qualifications.
2012
Beach Club & Cafe at Rockley Park
Following the success of hire and taster sessions at Poole Park Lake, we open a Beach Club at Rockley Park – a pay and play centre available to locals and visiting tourists.
2013
Goodbye to the old and hello to the new!
After 23 years and 24 seasons at La Reserve, it's time to find another centre which would best meet the needs of our pupils, teachers, parents and families. So, it was a fond farewell to La Reserve and an exciting hello to Le Lac Mimizan.
2014
Pip Woods becomes Managing Director
With new Managing Director - Pip Woods at the helm, and Owners Peter (now Owner/Finance Director) and Lis still very much a part of the Company, we continue to look forward to improving, developing and growing the business even further.
2016
Rockley Celebrates 40 years
From a caravan on the beach and a few boats: fast-forward 40 years and the business has grown and developed beyond expectations - both in size and quality. The celebrations are equally as big and fun! Dare we say it... bring on our 50th year!
2021
Open Buddens Activity Centre
We don't only survive Covid-19 as a business, but we acquire a brand new centre - Buddens Activity Centre. With an initial 25 year lease, which was subsequently extended to 40 years following a hugely successful first year, this 96 acre site is the home of Dorset Scouts and where we also offer school and group residential trips.
2023
3 centres close in France but a new opportunity arises
Rockley sadly closes AzuRivage, La Rive and Le Lac Mimizan.
However, out of sadness comes excitement as we establish a new partnership with French-based adventure sports and travel organisation, UCPA to offer school and group trips to France once again. Bombannes is our first destination.
2024 ...
Rockley Ski
Looking forward to winter 2024 where we will be offering school and group ski trips at two fantastic locations in the French Alps - Val Cenis and La Plagne 1800.
Now this, we are excited about!