If you’re up early on a cruise ship in the English Channel on the morning of Thursday 25 June and the weather is fine make sure you’ve got your binoculars handy.
Two powerboat veterans will be re-enacting the very first powerboat race from London to Calais, 47 years after the original event.
Internationally-renowned boating journalist, Ray Bulman, 79, and his old friend, Geoff Tobert, 80, plan to set off around 5am, weather permitting, on a 260 mile return crossing between London’s Putney and France via Ramsgate.
This is the course that launched Class III offshore powerboat racing in 1962. Britain’s offshore powerboat racing continued until the early 1990s before legislation restricted such competition on the Thames tideway.
The boat the veterans will be powering to France and back is a completely restored Sovereign, the first boat built by the British firm which later became Poole Powerboats before it transformed into one of Britain’s most successful boat builders: Sunseeker.
Fans of the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, should note that the the boat Ray and Geoff will be driving is the one that transported actor Daniel Craig on yet another 007 adventure.
Bulman and Tobert visited four countries in three days aboard a 12ft Yarecraft runabout in 1958 and drove 1000 miles in an open runabout to Sweden in 1964. They took part in several Putney-Calais powerboat races in the 1960s and re-enacted this event using one of the latest Honda Formula 4-Stroke racers in 2001.
So they should know the way by now, even without GPS or a map.
Ray is an old friend of mine who has successfully juggled two lengthy careers: PR and industrial journalism (including a stint as Chief Press Officer for the Royal Mail) while in his spare time he has been the Daily Telegraph’s powerboat correspondent since 1970, a columnist for Motor Boat & Yachting since 1969, as well as writing for many international boating and yachting publications.
If you’re booked on Thompson’s Spirit for 23 to 30 October 2009, and love a good sea yarn or two, look out for Ray, his wife, Brenda, and their grandchildren, who will be fellow passengers. Ray’s a great raconteur who remembers every detail of his long, eventful life. Ask him how the American Mafia used powerboats to transport drugs, or the time he met Paul Newman. Then sit back in a deckchair and pin your ears back, for once he starts he’ll never stop – and you won’t want him to for he has made history, several times.
Unfortunately, Geoff Tobert and his wife won’t be joining them – although Ray and Geoff make an excellent double act, not just while driving a boat. Geoff’s career is also extensive – but you see can all this for yourself by visiting their website. And Geoff, like Ray, loves cruises so you may bump into him one day.
Nobody lives for ever, but you can’t blame Ray or Geoff for trying. The good thing is that they’ve now reached the age where they don’t have to worry about peer pressure.
I wish them both the best of luck, and hope they don’t accept too much of the Port of Calais’s bountiful hospitality – otherwise they may never come back.
Geoff and Ray plan to leave Putney at 5am on Thursday, June 25th dependant on favourable weather conditions. For more info visit runabout2superyacht.co.uk
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21 Comments
Jun 19 2009
14:28
Great item. Many thanks for the good wishes and just pray the wind drops. Don’t mind rain, don’t mind cold but the wind creates waves and at our age they’re getting bigger!
Will let everyone know on our return, that’s we can still stand.
Ray Bulman - co-driver/navigator
Sunseeker Sovereign runabout
Jun 19 2009
14:54
Ray’s not the only one who’s had dealings with celebrities. I’m always putting that Paul Newman salad dressing and Loyd Grossman wholegrain mustard sauce on my Linda McCartney veggie burgers.
Jun 19 2009
19:00
wow that sounds wonderful -I hope they have kept fit -they’re be exhausted -can i come? trudy
Jun 20 2009
6:22
I’m sitting at my desk in my office at the top of the house and young Lottie Leavey (the cat) is in front of me staring out of the window and trying to encourage the seagulls to land on her mouth…which is a bit difficult when the window’s not open.
In a short while my wife and I will be heading to my sister and brother-in-law’s chalet by the sea (with a great view of the Needles in West Wight) to watch the 1800 boats taking part in today’s Round the Island Race. It’s Britain’s largest boating race.
They set off from Cowes at 7.30am and the leaders will probably arrive off the Needles in an hour or so - where my wife and I will be enjoying a lovely family breakfast - for today is also my wife’s birthday.
If I don’t tell my wife I love her on a regular basis there is chaos in my house and the cat goes into a decline.
So, as the actor Richard Briers once said in an episode of the BBC TV sitcom, The Good Life, replying to his TV wife, who asked him if he really loved her (and the comedy was based on them living off the land - hand-to-mouth - in their house): “Of course I do, you silly bitch!”
By the way, I’d like Ray to report on what happens next Thursday - perhaps he’ll send us some photos if he finds time to take any. I know a lot of people are wishing him and Geoff the best of luck.
Jun 20 2009
20:35
As always James, a great article !
Jun 21 2009
13:16
Lets hope we all live to be Rays age, if you speak or talk to him wish him good luck from us all, and love to Brenda.
See you soon, and Happy Birthday to Gwenda for yesterday.
Linda.
Jun 25 2009
7:47
BREAKING NEWS!
Ray and Geoff had to cancel their race early this morning due to poor weather conditions on the Thames and in the English Channel. The wind turned North-Easterly which meant they would have had to race down the Thames against the wind and against high tides - which would have worsened by the time they reached (if they ever got there) the Channel. Ray has just told me that it would have been foolhardy to make the attempt today because it would have put him and Geoff, their boat, and the rescue boat at risk. They plan to try again next week (possibly Wednesday) when the weather calms down.
I’ll keep you posted. Watch this space, or check out their website.
Jun 25 2009
12:10
Having read the update, Ray and Geoff must be so frustrated and disappointed. Let’s hope they will find more favourable conditions next week. Well done Ray and Geoff - keep the faith lads.
Jun 29 2009
14:53
Ray and Geoff update!
Spoke to Ray this morning and they are hoping to try again this Wednesday morning when the wind will have died down to Gale Force 2 or something relatively bearable. Ray reckons there may be a lot of sea fog but they’ve got GPS and a safety boat following behind…will let you all know first thing Wednesday if they manage to set off OK…Keep watching this space
Jun 30 2009
13:39
Ray and Geoff - on course for tomorrow morning!
The plucky pensioners are en route to Putney for an earlystart tomorrow morning. So far, the weather conditions seem right for the second attempt at repeating their first UK Offshore Power Boat Race to Calais and back.
Keep your fingers crossed that they set off on time and get there and back safely.
Whatever happens, Ray will be coming to Cowes on Thursday and will give a final update on how things went…
Good luck!
Jun 30 2009
16:12
Thanks James and many thanks to all those who wished Ray (my better half) and Geoff good luck on their second attempt at crossing the channel. The weather seems to be more favourable tomorrow so long as the wind doesn’t rear its ugly head again!! I look forward to them getting back to Putney safe and sound.
Jun 30 2009
17:35
Show us you’ve still got it! Good on you both and hold on tight (not to each other necessarily!). Bon voyage!
Jul 01 2009
9:34
RAY AND GEOFF HAVE REACHED RAMSGATE
Just spoke to Ray who said they were now off to Calais…he complained that although it’s one of the hottest days of the year in southern England, the Channel was very cold…
I don’t expect to hear anything until they arrive in Calais in several hours’ time.
Keep watching this space.
Jul 01 2009
15:05
I can now confirm that Ray and Geoff reached Calais and are now on their way back to Putney……..watch this space
Jul 01 2009
23:57
RAY AND GEOFF ARE SAFELY HOME
Ray is coming to Cowes later today and I will give a full update on what happened as soon as we’ve had a celebratory drink!
Well done lads!
Jul 02 2009
12:43
RAY AND GEOFF TURNED THE CLOCKS BACK
Our two intrepid octogenarian Sunseeker powerboat enthusiasts turned back the clock yesterday when they crossed the English Channel in a fully restored Sovereign ‘Hostess 17’, one of the very first models built by Sunseeker when it launched its building programme over 40 years ago.
The voyage of rediscovery was an opportunity for the pair, who began their sea-faring careers together, to celebrate the success of Sunseeker and the quality of the craft’s build, which has been in regular use during the 40 years since its production.
Now completely restored to its original condition, the Hostess was discovered over six years ago near the Sunseeker yard in Poole and has since been displayed by the company at various international boat shows and more recently in the latest James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.
Setting off yesterday morning (1st July 2009) from London’s Putney (Chelsea Harbour) at 05:45am the two men: Geoff Tobert, who is just months away from his 81st birthday, and boating journalist Ray Bulman, 79, travelled the 280 miles within 15 hours in triumphant style.
The journey began with a smooth run down The Thames, which was followed by more challenging conditions off North Foreland where the Thames Estuary meets the English Channel.
Refuelling at Ramsgate at 10.15am, the pair later stopped in Calais to toast the completion of half the journey at approximately 2.30pm yesterday with a glass of Sunseeker Champagne, before heading back to Chelsea, where they were greeted by Sunseeker staff, family and friends who were eagerly awaiting their arrival at 8.30pm.
By the way, Geoff Tobert sold the original production moulds to a young Robert Braithwaite CBE, Sunseeker founder and CEO, in the 1960s while Ray Bulman tested the boat for Motor Boat & Yachting in February 1970.
After the crossing, Ray said, “I suppose it was a long way for a couple of oldies like us but I must say both Geoff and I couldn’t get over how well the Hostess performed. We may be suffering a few aches and pains but the Hostess didn’t miss a beat, and a testimony to its builder is that the boat felt it could have gone on forever.”
Jul 03 2009
8:42
Congratulations to the both of you, what a fabulous achievement.
Jul 04 2009
12:18
Well done Ray. Great achievement. What are you going to do when your 90?
Jul 21 2009
10:35
Hi to all of you - I have only just had the opportunity to read all of your very kind messages regarding our pensioners day-out to Calais on July 1st - It was a truly remarkable day for as we had over 15 hours in which to relive and chat about our many past sea adventures since the middle of the last century - no man could wish for a greater pal, If he could only darn socks I would have snapped him up long ago - Once again many thanks to all of you for your interest in our little venture and if you should bump into us and want to hear more we would be delighted to bore the pants off you - Cheers Geoff Tobert
Jul 30 2009
8:41
Brilliant!
Aug 03 2009
11:04
I’ve updated the post to include the video of the race from London to Calais and back.