The Three Peaks Yacht Race 2015
The Three Peaks Yacht Race is About to Start
Rob Howard / 27.06.2015
The 38th Three Peaks Yacht Race is about to begin from Barmouth, with 10 teams entered in this year’s race and about to set sail for Scotland.
Their first port of call will be Caernarfon for the run up and down Snowdon, and with the tides dictating a later than usual start this year (18.00) the leading runners can expect to be on the mountain in daylight for a change. They may have a quick first sail too as wind conditions are favourable and the passage through Caernarfon Bar has opened up for a quicker route than in previous years. (There are light or no winds forecast for later in the week though.)
The second stop is Whitehaven, where the two runners have to first cycle to Ennerdale before heading to the top of Scafell Pike and back. This longest land stage of the race is often the defining one in the King of the Mountains contest and for some can be decisive as to whether the team finish the race or not. It seems that all the teams have a support crew or bikes arranged, with the exception of Celtic Rowers who have loaded their bikes onto the boat and will look after themselves.
The final leg is from Whitehaven to Fort William for the final run up and down Ben Nevis, and at this stage that seems a very long way off to the teams, and they’ll have many challenges before the finish.
The race was expected to be for 9 teams, but there is a significant late entry – Wight Rose, the winners from last year, with just one change to the crew. This could shake up the results on both land and sea, as well as in the handicap race. For the first time this year all of the boats have an IRC handicap and this race is a test for making the overall race result handicap based next year.
Race fans can follow the race via the live 2015 race page which has links to the live tracking, of both yachts and runners and daily news and photos. There will be updates on Facebook and Twitter too.
It’s looking like a race with varied conditions and as usual on the Three Peaks Yacht Race anything could happen ... and probably will!
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