RACE REVIVAL
Motor Boat & Yachting UK|December 2023
Can this once derelict speedboat, which has been lovingly restored by a group of power racing enthusiasts, re-live her glory days? Phil Sampson finds out
Phil Sampson
RACE REVIVAL

The first commandment of the high energy Celtic band The Vatersay Boys is “Get ready to project yourselves into insanity.” They could have written those words for the subjects of this article, Shaun and Dan Bentley, who, together with family and friends, are busy recreating the halcyon days of one of Britain’s most successful historic race boats. After all, you’d have to be crazy to spend every spare penny restoring a derelict 50-year-old Class 1 powerboat you spotted languishing in a Southampton boatyard, wouldn’t you?

The vessel in question is the rather wackily named Double 2 Shirts, the moniker being that of a previous sponsor, whose name Shaun and Dan have emblazoned along both sides of their 1973 40-feet Planatec deep-vee hull in reverence to its heritage. Although it sported a variety of other quirky names during its early years – Radio Rentals, Macho and Ballerina among them – before being dressed up as Double 2 Shirts. The latter was the name under which she competed in numerous events, including the legendary 1984 Round Britain Race.

SHARED PASSION

Shaun and Dan share a long-held passion for powerboat racing. “Ever since we’ve had boats we used to watch powerboat racing – Dan was probably 12 years old then,” says Shaun. “We always wanted to do it but never had the opportunities. When Dan set up his own business, Bentley Marine, things changed and we ended up buying Double 2 Shirts.”

Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Motor Boat & Yachting UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Motor Boat & Yachting UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA MOTOR BOAT & YACHTING UKSe alt
Lofoten or Bust- Part 4- Grandezza owner Per Harrtoft heads back to Sweden after an epic 3500nm adventure deep into the Arctic Circle to visit the mythical Lofoten islands
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

Lofoten or Bust- Part 4- Grandezza owner Per Harrtoft heads back to Sweden after an epic 3500nm adventure deep into the Arctic Circle to visit the mythical Lofoten islands

After ten memorable days in the Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway, we are on our way back south towards Sweden. We have already made it as far as Trondheim, a charming place even if it was raining so hard we had to cycle round the city centre clutching umbrellas. But now we are back on board Deamare, our Grandezza 40 Fly, eating up the miles at a steady 31 knots.

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YACHT TRANSPORT
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YACHT TRANSPORT

As the name suggests it's a means of having your boat moved professionally from one location to another. It might be as simple as hiring someone to tow your RIB a few miles down the road or as complex as shipping a superyacht halfway around the world.

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024
HANDLE A SINGLE SHAFTDRIVE BOAT PART 1
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

HANDLE A SINGLE SHAFTDRIVE BOAT PART 1

Single shaftdrive boats are relatively rare these days but the reduced costs of buying, servicing and fuelling such a simple but reliable drivetrain does mean they are making a bit of a comeback.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
COCKWELLS MOTOR LAUNCH
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

COCKWELLS MOTOR LAUNCH

There can be very few boats that have appeared three times at the Southampton Boat Show and been sold off the stand each time.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
INSTALLING AN AUTOPILOT
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

INSTALLING AN AUTOPILOT

Rick Channon makes solo boating simple with a Raymarine Evolution Autopilot

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
GOOD AS NEW
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

GOOD AS NEW

Why fit a brand new engine when Volvo Penta's remanufacturing service can rebuild you an old one to the same standard for a fraction of the price?

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 54
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 54

Alex Smith heads to France's Beneteau HQ for a UK exclusive on what might just be the best Swift Trawler yet

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024
ΧΟ EXPLR 44
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

ΧΟ EXPLR 44

Can XO's all-new aluminium flagship really make it big in the Med?

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
BUYING OUR FIRST CLASSIC
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

BUYING OUR FIRST CLASSIC

Instead of whiling away their retirement playing bowls, Rob and Shona Adams decided to invest their time and money in a classic Silver gentleman's yacht. Would the gamble pay off?

time-read
9 mins  |
October 2024
PRINCESS S65
Motor Boat & Yachting UK

PRINCESS S65

Torn between the V and F Class flagships? The new S65 might be the boat you've been waiting for...

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024