In just less than two weeks one of the world's toughest endurance races - now in its 41st  year - will see five new and very local faces.

The Barmouth to Fort William race is not for the fainthearted. Its punishing route involves sailing up the UK’s wild west coast and running up its highest summits - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. The sail distance is just short of 400 sea miles and the runners will cover the equivalent of 3 to 4 marathons in 4 to 5 days.

Matt White, Ben Bailey, Ben Cartwright, Gwion Llwyd and Ed Bailey - all from the Harlech and Barmouth areas - are planning to ruffle the feathers of some very experienced hardened endurance competitors in the infamous Three Peaks Yacht Race. Their team is aptly named “Gwyr Harlech”.

It’s all in aid of a charity that was very close to the heart of a friend Tom Walker, who sadly lost his brave fight against a brain tumour last December. Tom would have been 38 in June and leaves behind him his wife Jackie as well as two young sons. He was an extremely talented rugby player, a great father and brilliant friend. 

The Men of Harlech (Gwyr Harlech) hope that their participation in this gruelling challenge will help bring the very important work that the Brain Tumour Charity does for patients.

The team are also dedicating their participation in this race to Steffan Owen, his partner Leah and their family. Steffan is currently fighting another battle now against Leukemia, having fought initially so bravely also against a brain tumour. Steff has in his own right raised thousands of pounds for Charity and he deserves now for people to work equally hard for him and his family. Please see their own fund raising page also https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/steffaleah

The team, by their own admission, have very little experience of both sailing and running marathons, but have been working hard to get their boat - a 30 foot yacht - ready for the challenge.  They have also worked hard to reassure the boat’s owner Will Bailey - Ben Bailey’s father - that it will be returned to him in one piece.

The training regime has also seen the team trying to get land miles under their belts which has involved a social outing to both Snowdon and Scafell Pike fitted around the crew’s day jobs. Their diverse occupations take in engineer, farmer, carpenter, chartered surveyor and holiday business owner.

The formidable challenge starts in Barmouth at 4pm on Saturday 9th June 2018.