The Three Peaks Yacht Race
A Heatwave then Sea Fog
Rob Howard / 19.06.2005
But though visibility was poor the wind was rising to a favourable south-westerly and earlier in the day this had helped the leaders force a passage against a strong unfavourable tide, to break through the Menai Strait and secure their lead. The runners from Vlad the Impaler and Abbeydale Moonshine both set good times on Snowdon, and they had left before 5 boats had even arrived in Caernarfon.
Rob Smith off Vlad the Impaler said, “It was hard running on those roads, I’m not used to so much road running. And it was HOT, it was good to get into the cloud near the summit, where it was cooler.� The heat was later to affect others more severely, particularly Chris Smith of Hummingbird, who wasn’t up to saying anything much when he finished. Snowdon is the only mountain he will run though, and there will be sports physio at Whitehaven! Despite the struggle to complete the run his team still left in 4th place.
They too had left before the final boats came in. Into the afternoon Wise Guys and Annie Gunn were the only two yachts still to complete the first sailing leg. The local boat, Annie Gunn, with race founder Rob Haworth and race committee member Dave Bird on board, arrived last and though they looked despondent Haworth said, “There is still a long way to go and we can make up the time.� Bird added, “We just couldn’t find any wind – it was so frustrating.�
Their runners said they’d not rowed much. “You can’t row all the way�,� said Tony Hodgson, “so we didn’t bother!� Along with Clint Proffitt he was looking forward to the Snowdon run and they predicted a fast time on the mountain. The only sailing trophy they can now expect to ‘compete’ for is the ‘Last Inn Cup’, but the runners might yet challenge the leaders.
The leaders will expect to make Whitehaven by early tomorrow morning and all the fleet will expect to arrive on Monday.
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