The 3 Peaks Yacht Race – True Adventure for Mariners and Mountain Runners

Press Release / 03.02.2013

For sailors and athletes looking for adventure the Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race is an irresistible challenge, and entries are now open for the next race, starting June 15^th 2013.

Now in its 35th year this classic sporting event will challenge intrepid teams to sail from the mid-Wales coastal resort of Barmouth, up the West coast of the UK, to finish in Fort William and on the way they will scale the highest peaks of Wales, England and Scotland.

Those who successfully reach the finish will have sailed 389 nautical miles, risking sandbanks, rocks and fierce tides.  The 3 sailors aboard will get little rest as the race is continuous, and the 2 athletes in the team must complete 72 miles of running with 14,000 feet of climbing to reach the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. They also have a 13 mile cycle ride at both the start and finish of the route to Scafell Pike, which is longest land leg in the race.  That is no easy task when you may have to run at night, unsteady on your feet due to sea sickness and having had little sleep.

Many of those on the start line will know just how tough the race is as they have entered before, but they are drawn back by the challenge and the knowledge that every year’s race is a different experience. Others will be entering for the first time and the race draws competitors from a wide variety of sporting backgrounds and sailing experience, ranging from off-shore cruising to round-the-world racing.  Sailing and sports clubs, military and company teams all enter the race and compete on equal terms.

All the teams who enter share a spirit of adventure, and while the majority will simply strive to reach the finish line there is always keen competition throughout the race.  There are trophies for the fastest sailing legs, each running leg, handicap scores, the King of the Mountains title and even for being last to finish and slowest on the hills.  It is a race which has almost twice the number of trophies as it does competitors!