Bentley’s stunning craftsmanship hits the waves.
Bentley boasts a stunning 106 years of history, and throughout that time, the brand has represented automotive excellence on various fronts: in the racing world on stages like Le Mans, in ultra-luxury with its current lineup, and in modern innovation with its 771-horsepower Ultra Performance Hybrid Powertrain. However, one of the highlights of any Bentley is the wooden veneers that adorn the interiors of its cars, showing off incredible luxury, natural beauty, and admirable craftsmanship.
In a new collaboration, Bentley’s excellence in woodworking served as a thread to connect the historic luxury automotive marque to the world of surfing, where a beautifully crafted wooden surfboard carves its way through the water. The collaboration is between Bentley, Marnie Rays, a VIP surf retreat that combines the thrill of surfing with idyllic serenity, and Otter Surfboards, a manufacturer of stunning wooden surfboards.
The custom surfboard that resulted from the collaboration was made from Bentley’s Koa Veneer, a mid-tone, straight-grained wood that was sourced from Hawaii, and the wood itself pays homage to traditional Hawaiian surfboard craftsmanship. Lindsey Holland, the founder of Marnie Rays, and James Otter, the founder of Otter Surfboards, visited Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England to help select the veneer.
The preparation of the surfboard involved techniques that Bentley hasn’t used since the end of production for its former flagship sedan model, the Mulsanne. After that, the board was passed on to James Otter’s workshop in Cornwall, where the board was shaped by hand using his signature method, and the logos of all three collaborators were etched into the surface. After its unveiling at Marnie Rays, the board will be gifted to Surfability UK, which is a community interest company that provides adaptive surfing lessons and experiences for people with disabilities, injuries or learning differences. The organization will auction the board to raise funds for its mission. For a good cause, Bentley, Marnie Rays, and Otter Surfboards collaborated to create a beautiful homage to surfing tradition.
Image Source: Bentley Motors
