STOP PRESS
We've just heard that we won not only the 'Last Inn Cup' but also the prestigous 'Wrinklies Trophy' for the crew completing the race who have the greatest aggregate age....
Update-Race Completed
We did it! Our runners returned from Ben Nevis with two hours in hand before the one-week deadline at 6pm on Saturday. Though Driac was the 25th and last boat to finish she beat seven others which gave up the fight at different points along the way. She has won the 'Last Inn Cup' as the final competitor to finish the race within time.
It was a very hard race this year as there was very little wind much of the time and what there was came mostly dead against us; Driac's windward performance was not as good as that of the more modern yachts, but then her sails alone (crucial to performance) were older than most other boats in the race and she herself could have given any of them 50 years.
Charles took the helm to run through the dreaded Swellies as no-one else could be asked to bear that resonsibility. We got through, but not without running aground on two rocks and doing part of it sideways! No harm was done as we chose a rising tide and the soft lead keel absorbed the reasonably gentle impact. Subsequently we ran aground again on mud but Hugo's quick thinking and energy meant we had inflated the dinghy, rowed out with an anchor and kedged ourselves off in less than ten minutes.
Dylan and Hugo had a good run on Snowdon though Hugo had cramp for the last few miles. At Scafell Pike we had the advantage of Pete's excellent preparation and recce as well as the high quality bikes and tyres he had organised; this saved us the multiple punctures which other teams struggled with and had Charles done any cycle training at all he might not have had cramp throughout the run... Pete's constant, patient encouragement got him through a very hot day's running.
We rowed for many hours against the tide and made the most of every scrap of wind with frequent sail changes. Des's tactics were excellent and the passage of the Corran Narrows at the last minute as the current against us was building faster and faster, under light winds with oars as well will be remembered for a long time.
We had a wonderful fast, powerful sail from the Mull of Kintyre all the way to the Corran Narrows but there the wind died and we had to row for ten hours through the night to Corpach; not the ideal preparation for Hugo, Dylan and Charles to run the Ben...
So that's that for the next year; thankyou for all your support for us and for Odyssey.
Odyssey is a charity which for fifteen years has transformed the lives of adults with cancer through five-day programmes of adventure in the outdoors. Odyssey operates in Kent, Mid Wales and Scotland and takes participants from all parts of Britain. Places are free and Odyssey needs to raise funds continually to sustain its work so please give generously.
The Three Peaks Yacht Race is a tremendous, week-long challenge which all of us in the team have wanted to tackle for years. It begins in Barmouth and involves sailing to Caernarfon, Whitehaven and Corpach harbours, stopping at each only long enough for two of the team to run up Snowdon, Scafell Pike or Ben Nevis and back. In total this is 389 miles of sailing, 18 miles of cycling and 72 miles of running, with 14,000 feet of ascent. Some of the harbours are tidal and can only be entered or left at certain times. We also go through the notoriously difficult tidal currents of the Menai Strait and the Corran Narrows; as the use of engines is not allowed this may involve rowing.
The team comprises Des George, our skipper, Hugo Iffla, Dylan Evans, Pete Robinson, Charles Lyster. Charles, Hugo and Des all work regularly as staff on the Odyssey programmes.
Charles became the owner of Driac, our yacht, in November 2008 and entered the 3 peaks race the same day. Driac is a classic 40' wooden yacht built in 1930 by Camper and Nicholsons of Gosport. She is built in teak on oak frames with a 5 ton lead keel, the finest construction of her day. Charles has spent January and February working on a major refit. Driac is now fully seaworthy and ready for the race; she may be 78 years old but she was known for being fast and sea-kindly in her youth and was written about in glowing terms by the great yacht designer Uffa Fox.
We are all in training for the running and hope at least to finish! If along the way we can raise significant funds for Odyssey's life-enhancing work in this difficult year then the experience will be doubly worthwhile. Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Odyssey gets your money faster and, if you're a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor us now!
