Supermarine Powerboats consists of a team of adaptable, competent, committed and experienced employees. Introducing some of them to you:
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 !