on the water
Island Life - June/July 2010
Photo: from left, Hugo Montgomery-Swan pictured with daughter Polly and wife Michaela. Right: The Swans on stage
Hugo serves up a feast of ribs
Hugo Montgomery Swan was finally
up the idea of Ribex, and when we
to run a show from. We tried Ocean
able to sit back and reflect on another
launched it in Weymouth everyone got
Village, Southampton, but they priced
job well done, despite a few inevitable
behind it. There was a lot of good will,
us out.
problems.
excitement and input from the industry.
Hugo had just completed another
“Now it’s a different market place,
“We opted for Cowes because it has a
unique marina with no long-stay berth
highly successful Ribex Power Boat
and much more a serious business
holders. The perfect setting, a beautiful
Exhibition at Cowes Yacht Haven, as
approach. On the first show we had
town, and Cowes Yacht Haven are easy
well as introducing what proved to
a boat from Holland. It was 5 metres
to work with. We pay good money, but
be the popular added attraction of
long that did 80mph, and we had it
they don’t try to stitch us up.
RIBFEST.
racing through Weymouth Harbour. The
The Devonian brought Ribex to the
“It's a lovely site, but we didn’t realise
Harbour Master cleared the harbour for
coming here would involve a complete
Island because he realised it was simply
us, and the boat raced through with
re-launch, like starting from scratch
the best venue to hold such a show. He
everyone out of the way. Health and
only worse. We needed to convince
started it back in 1988 in Weymouth
Safety? You would never get that now,
people this was the place to come.
Bay, and knew he would be taking a bit
but it was great fun at the time.
It took us four years to convince the
of a gamble by switching it to Cowes
“Things have changed, but there is
industry.”
where accessibility was inevitably going
no other boat show like it. We came
to be more difficult.
to the Island because we couldn’t find
Hugo continued: “Ribs are generally
The event is now regarded as the
Enthusiasts are out in all weathers.
anywhere suitable to stage it on the
used by people who love the sea and
‘Motor Show’ of RIBS, and Hugo
mainland. Apart from Cowes the south
have a spirit of adventure. They view
explained: “My wife Michaela thought
coast has no decent landsite or marina
inclement weather as a challenge. For
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