Two retiring Leicester businessmen have set sail on their latest voyage – an 18-month round-the-world sailing trip.
Experienced sailors Simon Tysoe and Dave Percival leave UK shores this week on the first leg to cross the Atlantic before joining a flotilla of some 200 boats in the World ARC adventure race for 2025-26.
The pair will be the ever-presents in a crew of four who will guide a 60ft Oyster sailing yacht named Distraction 3 – Mr Tysoe’s retirement gift to himself – through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific and Indian Oceans before rounding Africa and reaching finish line in the Caribbean Sea.
In the process they hope to raise over £200,000 for a select group of good causes – The Lord’s Taverners cricket charity and conservation programmes Mareco and Project Seagrass.
Mr Tysoe left school at 16 and learned his trade as an electrician and panel fitter before founding several successful companies around his home city of Leicester, including S Tysoe Installations, Midlands Access Platforms, TPS Hire and a substantial property portfolio.
Now living near Markfield, his main company S Tysoe Installations was bought in March 2021 by The P & M Group, the parent company of Gloucester-based coldstore construction and maintenance specialists ISD Solutions. Three years later and he has the opportunity to retire.
“I’ve sailed the Atlantic before,” he said, “and covered some 40,000 nautical miles in trips over the years. But this is going to be my biggest challenge.
“I’m an adventurer – I always have been, whether it’s mountaineering, helicopter flying, or rally car driving. Now I’m retired I’m lucky enough to be able to take on this journey and raise some funds for charities, doing valuable work tied in with The P & M Group’s environmental and social values.
“I’m excited about the trip and we’re well prepared. It’s going to be quite a journey.
“In the meantime my people at S Tysoe Installations are in good hands – it was the best thing for the business and the staff to hand it over to another good company with a great reputation.
“The boat has Starlink satellite internet so if anyone’s desperate to get hold of me they’ll be able to find me – or at least they can find the boat!”
Mr Tysoe and Mr Percival met 35 years ago and have sailed together on many trips. Mr Percival, who lives in Leicester Forest East, has recently retired as a director of Percival Hosiery – the ladies’ underwear manufacturer originally set up by his father in 1977.
“We’ve spoken about doing the ARC event for many years,” he said, “before Covid got in the way of our plans. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and now that we’re both retired it’s the right time.
“I’m grateful to Simon for investing in this stunning boat and I consider myself very lucky to have the chance to take part in such a voyage.
“It can be dangerous of course, particularly around the western Atlantic at this time of year, but once we pick up the trade winds from Gran Canaria we should be fine.
“Overall, it’s a challenge but one I’m looking forward to – we can’t wait to get started.”
Tony Wall, managing director of The P & M Group, said: “We’re really excited for Simon and wish him all the best for the next 18 months. What an incredible opportunity for him and something which is richly deserved after a fabulous career in business.
“Mareco and Project Seagrass are both marine focused charities and reflect our commitment to the environment whilst, from a personal note, Lord’s Taverners helps to give young people life changing opportunities and very much supports our wish to invest in future generations. We are grateful to Simon for his fundraising efforts.”
Corporate sponsors are already on board with the fundraising efforts – committed funds already include £60k from headline sponsors Winvic and Kingspan alongside contributions from Simon Tysoe and The P & M Group itself.
