J/109 TORBELLINO Team Finishes 4th in Three-Peaks Race-

Sailing in the ‘Grandfather’ of all three peaks races, The Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race, and one of the oldest extreme multi-sport endurance races in the world, were three teams sailing J's-- the TORBELLINO TEAM sailing a J/109, the SATISFACTION TEAM sailing a J/92s and the MOBY J TEAM also sailing a J/92s.  This year there was a record entry in the 34th edition of the Three Peaks.

The race combines yachting, mountain running and cycling into one of the greatest adventure challenges in British sport. Teams consist of three sailors and two runners, who set sail from Barmouth on the Welsh coast to Fort William in Scotland, via Caernarfon and Whitehaven, racing to the summits of Snowdon (3560ft) Scafell Pike (3208ft) and Ben Nevis (4408ft) on the way.  In total, the race consists of 389 miles of difficult coastal sailing, 18 miles of cycling and 72 miles of running, with a total ascent of 14,000ft to the highest points in Wales, England and Scotland.  A great one for the "bucket list", eh??  Since 1977, a total of 500 teams have competed, amongst them some famous faces including renowned sailors Robin Knox Johnston, Bob Fisher and Skip Novak.

The J/92 SATISFACTION TEAM are made up of 3 brothers and 2 close friends.  As skipper Bill Tipper said, "This year more than ever we are out to complete the race - anything else is a bonus - we are not professionals we all have busy jobs and most of us live in the midlands as far from the sea as you can get! However we all share the love of adventure there is nothing that makes you feel more alive."
Skipper

The J/92 MOBY J TEAM skippered by Martin Pound from Southampton, England said he vowed to never do the race again, but "is now addicted"!  This year he brought a new team of runners/ bikers besides himself and sail-trimmer Steve Broom.  They added brothers Charles Brent (26) and Eduardo Brent (19) as the runners.  As the event is largely created to support charities, the running brothers sponsored "Fix The Fells" (http://www.fixthefells.co.uk) and the sailors are supporting "HELP For HEROES" (http://www.bmycharity.com/mobyjthreepeaksyachtracehelpforheroes), to return brave wounded British soldiers to a more normal life-- pretty cool charities to sponsor! Says Martin, "The lure of the only race in the world which combines so much, from offshore sailing to rowing, from difficult pilotage to road running, fell running and cycling, to utter exhaustion, just cannot be resisted.  Our thanks as ever goes to all those stalwarts, the 3 Peak organizers, back in Barmouth, who put so much effort and time into keeping it all running!"

The J/109 Team TORBELLINO are all from around Stratford-Upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England.  Simon, Natasha and Tim were joined this time by Richards Ludlow and Strauss. Said the skipper, "Ludlow is a thirteen year veteran of the race, fitter than a butcher’s dog and, in some lights, slightly better looking too". He also said that, "Strauss is new to the Three Peaks and despite his advancing years, a fine addition to the sailing team. If only he would stop his constant Twittering!"  Team Torbellino competes in the race to help young adults with special needs benefit from the opportunities that sailing can provide. Over the past two years TT has raised over £12,000 for the James Myatt Trust, a registered charity which funds sailing ventures for disadvantaged young people.  In May 2011 there were two sailing trips and now part of the curriculum for the school’s sixth formers for as long as funds last. As these young people prepare for as much independence as possible in their adult lives, the sailing adventures help them enormously with self-confidence and team-work-- fantastic program and life-experience for kids!

This year's race offered up an enormous variety of weather conditions, as it always seems to do when you have to compete for over 70 hours straight.  The race began at Barmouth on the mid-Wales coast last Saturday and sea conditions were treacherous with 20 foot waves (see photo at right!!) making it difficult for the race fleet to even leave the harbour-- epic conditions to say the least.  The 32 boats taking part faced strong headwinds, then light airs and periods of calm on the route around the Mulls of Galloway and Kintyre and up through the Inner Hebridean islands to reach Fort William, and the final summit, Ben Nevis. A unique feature of the race is that yachts can be rowed through periods of calm and the crews (including runners and bikers) take their turn at the oars when required to stay ahead of the challenge from other teams!!  Imagine that, a J/109 and J/92s equipped with carbon "sweeps" to  row fast in light airs!!

When the smoke and fog on the battlefields cleared, TEAM TORBELLINO came in a very happy and successful fourth place amongst some very strong teams from around the world!  They arrived in Corpach in a clear 4th place, docking at 13.46 to set their runners off up a cloud covered Ben Nevis, knowing they are under no pressure as their nearest challengers are still several hours away.

The runners are Richard Ludlow, a very regular competitor and a past King of the Mountains winner, and Natasha Scrivens, one of the few women competing this year. (There are only 10 in total, including two skippers.) When they set off the weather was chilly, with showers in the air, a strong breeze blowing and the top of the mountain was wreathed in heavy cloud-- just another normal day on Ben Nevis. The most common question asked in Fort William is; “Where is Ben Nevis?”

As is so often the case, windy conditions at Fort William do not mean the boats on their way have good sailing conditions, often it can be the opposite with boats becalmed among the islands in the Firth of Lorn and Loch Linnhe. The Torbellino crew said they had rowed for long periods, and hit a hole in the wind around the Isle of Lismore. However, they have sliding seats fitted which they said makes a huge difference and allowed them to make 1.5 knots rowing speed!

Rowing was critical in their break away from the group of boats leaving Whitehaven. “We had managed to pull away and open up a gap,” said Simon Newton, “but the tide was turning around the Mull of Kintyre and we could see them coming up behind us. Then we rowed for ages and just made it through the tide and they all fell away and we were clear.”

There were some reflections on ‘might have beens’ when the crew told me how their No.3 sail had split when being raised on the start line. “We were an hour behind at Caernarfon after that start and I wonder how we’d have done if we were up with the leaders there. They caught the tide out of the Swellies and into Whitehaven so that hour gap became an 8 hour gap at Whitehaven and a 20 hour gap by the finish.” Even so, the team were happy to finish 4th.

It has been one of those races where the leading boats built on early advantage and caught the tides and winds perfectly to open up such a lead. Those left trailing behind have had a frustrating time, often being pushed backwards by the tides, searching for wind, rowing for long hours, and making slow progress.

In the end, while the J/109 TEAM TORBELLINO was 4th, the J/92 MOBY J TEAM achieved an admirable 7th overall and the J/92 SATISFACTION TEAM ended up 11th out of 33 teams!!   For more Three Peaks Race sailing information.