Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Secures ACE Deal

Organisers of a popular maritime festival have announced a significant financial sponsorship deal with local engineering firm ACE Winches, securing the immediate future of the Festival.

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, held annually in Portsoy, brings together in excess of 16,000 people over the weekend, with a steadily growing number of international visitors, generating £1 million for the local economy.  The Festival, now in its 23rd year, is considered to be one of the key events on the Scottish calendar.

Following the end of a generous five year title sponsorship deal with Aberdeen Asset Management, the Festival was on the lookout for new support, and is delighted that ACE Winches has come on-board as Gold Sponsor.   As main sponsor ACE Winches is working closely with Roger Goodyear, MBE and Keith Newton, two highly respected professional business leaders who head up the Festival’s group of volunteers.   ACE Winches’ background is in the marine and offshore industry and the company had no hesitation in becoming main sponsor of the boat festival.  Supporting local communities and young individuals has always been a mainstay for ACE Winches.   

Chief Compliance Officer at ACE Winches, Valerie Cheyne stated “ACE Winches has no hesitation in extending its support with the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival to become the main sponsor.  We welcome the opportunity to work even closer with the STBF Team to help strengthen their efforts to further promote the Portsoy Boat Festival.  Over the last two decades our company has been very proactive in providing backing for many local community and youth projects, whether it is with materials, labour, management or financial aid.   Success for all embodies our strong and vibrant CSR culture and on-going welfare of the company’s stakeholders.”  

Keith Newton, Festival Co-Chairman welcomed the deal, and said “I am delighted to welcome ACE Winches as the headline sponsor for the Festival. Their offer of sponsorship will help sustain the Festival as an important part of the Scottish event calendar. ACE Winches is a local company with an international reputation and standing. Rooted in the north east, the company has also developed a strong Norwegian presence, reflecting our developing links with Scandinavia. We are looking forward to a very positive and dynamic working relationship that will bring benefits to both the Festival and ACE Winches”.

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival takes place on 25 and 26 June, 2016, bringing together heritage vessels, a wide range of crafts, a popular food fayre with cookery demonstrations and traditional music performers from the international stage.

Photograph  Keith Newton, Roger Goodyear MBE, Valerie Cheyne