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September 6th 2009

RACE SUMMARY

FOO FIGHTER COMPLETES YACHT RACE IN JUNE 2009

Earlier this year, and Tim Barr-Smith got a team together to compete in the Three Peaks Yacht Race.   The race started in Barmouth in North Wales and it was a spectacular sight watching all the yachts setting off round the headland to .  Notable in the field was the 60’ cutter, Ezra, with its 3 masts and on-board kilted bagpiper (not a true Scot as far as we could tell)!  This was very similar to Bill Tilman’s original craft in which he pioneered the trail which inspired the first race back in 1977.

A tracker was fitted to all the yachts enabling many well-wishers to follow the progress of the race – this also helped the road crew keep the team informed of who was around them, what their position was and gave some insight into what the other teams’ tactics were.  Some teams were very experienced and knew that particular coastline very well so were able to pick up nearshore counter-currents to help speed them along.

 The Foo Fighter took 5 days in all to complete the race, experiencing frustrating periods of very calm seas and fickle winds exacerbated by receding tides, although at one point it picked up so much the guys were doing 11 knots.  The Menai Straits proved particularly difficult and at one stage the team attempted rowing the yacht under the bridge, only to be swept back 30m to where they started (there is video footage of this).  This resulted in the team having to switch the engine on as it was becoming dangerous and for this they received a DQ.  Undaunted, the team determined to finish the race under their own steam, whatever it took. 

Loch Linnhe at Fort William, the last stage of the journey, proved equally frustrating with no wind and adverse currents making progress virtually non-existent, and the icing on the cake was the opening of the gates for the Caledonian Canal just as the Foo Fighter was level with it, washing the Foo Fighter back down the loch and adding another 3 hours to their finish time.

Conditions for the runners, however, were far more favourable on dry land and, with the high pressure over the whole coast, the runners made respectable times on the mountains and some rare, clear, spectacular views were encountered from the tops of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and . The team comprised Eric, Tim and (old colleague of Eric’s from ) as yacht crew, plus Andi Rivett and Paul Digman (from ) as runners with shoreside back-up and logistics from , Ben Sharp and Jan Burton and the Big Orange Trailer. 

The team would like to thank all who have donated to our chosen charity, the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE), and let you know it’s not too late to contribute as we are still around £800 shy of our target. 

PS  Unfortunately, the Ezra encountered problems fairly early on in the race and the piper never made it to .

June 24th 11.40am  High time for an update!  The race this year has been fraught with challenges, the biggest of which is the high pressure sitting over the UK at present resulting in very light winds and sometimes no wind at all and you may have noticed the Foo Fighter going backwards at some stage!  All rather frustrating, especially in the Menai Straits where the team were rowing for all they were worth to no avail (video footage will be uploaded soon!)  The weather conditions (rather pleasant for the shoreside teams!) have led to a very long race this year with the team in first place having only just finished the last leg at Ben Nevis.  We dropped Andy Barker off at Stranraer yesterday and now the guys are scooting up the Scottish coast and hoping to arrive in Fort William some time this evening.   Andi and Paul put in respectable times on Snowdon and Scafell Pike and it was wonderful to see the sun come up over Scafell on Tuesday morning - apparently it's usually covered in cloud and drizzle (and snow) - you may have seen the photo of Paul at Scafell this time last year!  ** New team photos just uploading **

June 19th   The Foo Fighter finally arrived out of the teeth of the wind and safely ensconced at Barmouth Harbour rather 'shaken but not stirred'.  Fine tuning and tactics talked over in the yacht club and looking forward to checking out the competition at supper tonight.  Thanks to all our supporters and keep checking back for updates on here and also on the official site at www.threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk where the Sleep Monsters team will be keeping tabs on all the teams via satellite trackers.

June 18th    The Foo Crew road team have arrived in Barmouth - hoorah - and are now settled into the Belle Vue Hotel having tasted the delights of the Merioneth Yacht Club.  The crew on the Foo Fighter have had to fight their way up to Barmouth in gale force winds, with Paul well and truly getting his sea legs initiated.  ETA Barmouth 0400 tomorrow morning, and just as well!

June 9th 09    We would like to extend a hearty thanks to all the staff and customers at The Walled Nursery at St. Ronan's School in Hawkhurst who have so far raised nearly £400 for the charity.

 

May 30th 09

The Foo Fighter left Rye on the dawn tide to start the journey along the South Coast ready to be at Barmouth on the 19th June.   

May 9th 09
The team got together for some sailing practice and Andi and Paul went running together. 

The 'Foo Crew' as detailed above are taking part in a gruelling race called the PowerBar Three Peaks Race in June 2009.    We want to raise as much money as possible for the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE) www.ncype.org.uk  and you can sponsor us for as much as you like.   The race starts from Barmouth in Wales where the team will sail to Caernarfon where the runners will set off to run up Mount Snowdon and then back to the boat via several checkpoints.  Then the team set off again sailing to Whitehaven where the runners get on their bikes to the foot of Scafell Pike, the next peak.   Without pausing for breath, the team set off to sail up to deposit the runners at Fort William for the final push up Ben Nevis and back to the yacht to finish.  

In total this is 389 miles of difficult coastal sailing, 18 miles of cycling and 72 miles of running, with 14,000 feet of ascent to reach the highest points in Wales, England and Scotland.    The total miles covered is 479 and we suggest you may wish to base your sponsorship on a 'pence per mile' and round it up. 

Further race details can be found at www.threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk    We will be one of 32 teams taking part this year.