The Three Peaks Yacht Race
Strengths and Weaknesses
Rob Howard / 18.06.2005
It was an early start to the day for the ‘Wise Guys’ who finally arrived on the first tide at 6.30am (after trying to persuade the race secretary they should start from Caernarfon!). He told them to come to the start and applied a penalty for arriving late as according to the ruls teams have to be in harbour 24 hours before the start. So the Wise Guys will start with a 6 and a half hour penalty later today.
With the start being so much later than usual it’s been a relaxed day with crews having the time to sit out in the sun, and for some to spend time with their families. The Ricketts family are regular competitors and are competing this year in ‘Mew Gull’ skippered by it’s owner Neal Ricketts. “Hopefully, this time I’m just going to be sailing,� he said, “last year I had to go up Ben Nevis and it nearly killed me. I could hardly walk for 3 days!�
His family are here to see him off, including his 3 month old daughter Katy Jane.
His brother, Colin will be running with Steve James, and they’ve done well in the past, being in contention for King of the Mountains in 2002, but Colin also has young family and was nervous about the runs ahead. “I’ve been spending time with my son Sean,� he said, “and not doing enough training.� In support of the team are their parents Bill and Bridgett Ricketts, so it will be a real family affair.
Race day in Barmouth began cloudy, but by midday the sun was out and it was shorts and sandals weather …. but the flags hung limply and with not a breath of breeze there is no doubt it will be a very slow start!
It was an early start to the day for the ‘Wise Guys’ who finally arrived on the first tide at 6.30am (after trying to persuade the race secretary they should start from Caernarfon!). He told them to come to the start and applied a penalty for arriving late as according to the ruls teams have to be in harbour 24 hours before the start. So the Wise Guys will start with a 6 and a half hour penalty later today.
With the start being so much later than usual it’s been a relaxed day with crews having the time to sit out in the sun, and for some to spend time with their families. The Ricketts family are regular competitors and are competing this year in ‘Mew Gull’ skippered by it’s owner Neal Ricketts. “Hopefully, this time I’m just going to be sailing,� he said, “last year I had to go up Ben Nevis and it nearly killed me. I could hardly walk for 3 days!�
His family are here to see him off, including his 3 month old daughter Katy Jane.
His brother, Colin will be running with Steve James, and they’ve done well in the past, being in contention for King of the Mountains in 2002, but Colin also has young family and was nervous about the runs ahead. “I’ve been spending time with my son Sean,� he said, “and not doing enough training.� In support of the team are their parents Bill and Bridgett Ricketts, so it will be a real family affair.
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