Suzuki UK Marine

Bear Grylls to Open Suzuki Sponsored RIBEX

Apr 2010

TV adventurer Bear Grylls will descend upon Portsmouth on Friday, May 7 as he uses the city as the starting point for an adrenaline-pumping race across the Solent.

The survival star and chief scout will set course for Gunwharf Quay as he races the organiser of RIBEX, Hugo Montgomery-Swan, from there to the showground at Cowes Yacht Haven on the Isle of Wight.

The two man duel will mark the start of the Suzuki sponsored RIBEX, Europe’s number one adventure powerboat show, at which Bear Grylls will be the celebrity guest. The on-the-water battle was organised as a fitting way for the adventurous adrenaline seeker to open the show.

He will race RIBEX’s organiser, Hugo Montomery Swan, from Portsmouth to Cowes Yacht Haven, where he will run up the pontoon to the Suzuki Marine stand and officially open the show. The pair will both drive identical seven metre, Suzuki powered Coastline RIBs, which have been donated by sponsors Suzuki and Coastline.

Hugo said: “It was obvious we had to do something adrenaline-filled to introduce Bear as the star guest. He’s been training for an extremely difficult RIB voyage through the icy North West Passage and as I’m a devoted RIB rider, I came up with the idea of challenging him to ride alongside me to Cowes to launch RIBEX 2010. I’m starting to regret it now though - I think he might beat me there!”
 
Bear Grylls added: “I’m really excited about racing Hugo across the Solent, which is where my love of RIBs began. I grew up on the Isle of Wight, sailing and boating, and as soon as RIBs became generally available I was hooked. They are the 4x4s of the sea – so exciting to learn to ride and master in a big sea. RIBs open up a world of possibilities for great adventures worldwide.”

Bear Grylls’ next major expedition will be a RIB voyage through the icy waters of the North West Passage. The expedition is due to take place in the autumn of 2010 and it is hoped that the vessel will feature as a prime display within the Tented Village zone of RIBEX.

Around 80 RIBS are set to be on show at the Yacht Haven and a further 100 visiting RIBs will be moored up. Among the activities on offer are family RIB rides by the RYA and the adrenaline-pumping chance to sit in the navigator seat of a championship RIB and be driven around the Solent by a championship RIB racer. This year’s show will also feature its own music festival, RIBFEST, headlined by folk rock superstar, Seth Lakeman.

Entry to RIBEX, sponsored by Suzuki, costs £4.50 for the whole weekend and tickets can be bought at the gates or in advance through www.ribexhibitions.co.uk . Tickets to RIBFEST, sponsored by Coastline RIBS, which also include free entry to RIBEX for the weekend cost £19.50. Red Funnel is offering discounted travel for anyone visiting RIBEX or RIBFEST.