Our team

Simon Wood Power

Managing Director

Simon was born into powerboats, his family having raced them since the very first Cowes Torquay powerboat race in 1961.

Simon’s Uncle, Don Shead, was instrumental in the early designs of offshore powerboats and notably Sunseeker, having been approached by the company due to his powerboat racing successes.

Some of Simon’s more notable achievements:

1979                Started Powerboat racing, aged 16.

1980                3 A Levels: Downside School, Bath.

1981                Apprenticeship in Turbocharging for Allard Turbochargers.

1983-1987     Cougar Marine Hamble, worked on Virgin Atlantic Challenger.

                        Engineered many Cougar race and pleasure boats.

                        Engineered Toleman Group Paris- Dakar Range Rover.

1984               Navigator in Round Britain Powerboat race: John Phillip Tubas.

1986               Raced with Countess of Arran and broke class speed record on Windermere

1987-1989     Professional powerboat racer living in Monaco racing in Class 1 Offshore

                        Team Babycresci with ex F1 driver Fulvio Ballabio.

1989               Shore based controller: Gentry Eagle, Blue Riband Atlantic Challenger

1990               Brought and ran a chain of Independent Travel agents, sold in 1995

1991               Drove Princess Anne in his boat for record attempt on Lake Windermere.

1996               Started roadshow and events company to promote Diabetes awareness

                        Created bespoke experiences in mobile simulators

                        Ran roadshows for: Pepsi, Bayer Pharma, Walkers Crisps, Kelloggs.

1998               Won Cowes Torquay Powerboat Race with Hannes Bohinc.

1999               Brought hydraulic hose franchise.

2001               Logistics Director; Sunseeker XS Racing, Round Britain Record holder.

2004               Purchased large marine fabrications business in Poole supplied Sunseeker.

2005               Expert on Channel 4’s Scrapheap Challenge: Drag Boats, Series 8 Episode 5.

2008               Chairman of Offshore Racing Committee at Royal Yachting Association.

2010               Won Cowes Torquay Powerboat Race and Harmsworth Trophy.

2011               Acquired Grange International Brokerage, specialising in used Sunseekers.

                        Awarded K7 Gold Star for speed record on Lake Coniston; 103.4 MPH.

2012               Sold fabrications business.

2013               Owner’s Build Manager for new 55 ft Marathon raceboat at Ross-Smith Marine

2015               Bought into Ross Smith Marine          

2016             Took over Ross-Smith Marine, renamed it and retired from active Powerboat Racing.

Simon is married to Suzy; with two, almost adult, children and lives in Christchurch, Dorset.

Clint Freeman

Chief Engineer

Trained as a car painter and bodywork repairer at Maranello Concessionaires Ferrari.

Since then he has many years of powerboat engineering and manufacture. 

Factory trained on Evinrude and Mercury Outboards

Jon Ridd

Engineer

Trained as hydraulic engineer and ran a hydraulic hose franchise with Simon. 

Worked for Sunseeker XS Racing for two years as Chief Engineer. 

7 years of engineering the multi Championship winning Microlink Class 1 Offshore powerboat team.

Milly

Security

Born a few years ago, can be bribed with anything edible.

Loves to chase tennis balls !