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The Three Peaks - By Yacht

Rob Howard / 26.06.2008

For sailors and athletes looking for adventure the PowerBar Three Peaks Yacht Race is an irresistible challenge, and this year’s event is one of the most competitive for many years. Now in it’s 31st year this classic sporting event has attracted 20 intrepid teams who sail from Barmouth on June 28th, heading for Fort William and carrying runners who will scale the highest peaks of Wales, England and Scotland on the way.

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 runners in the team must complete 72 miles and 14,000 feet of climbing to reach the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. No easy task when you may have to run at night, unsteady on your feet due to seasickness.

Some 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 every year’s race is a different experience.

There are several past winners competing so 2008 promises to be an outstanding and competitive race, but last year’s winning yacht Vlad the Impaler is not returning. However, Vlad’s skipper Greg Marsh is back ... but as a runner on the J015 JourneyMaker 5 who won last year’s Tilman Trophy (for which 4 of the crew must reach a summit.) JourneyMaker are attempting to win the race outright this year – but keeping their options open on the Tilman Trophy once again. The team are champion fundraisers having raised over £35K for the Bendrigg Trust in their two previous races.

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