The Three Peaks Yacht Race
Wise Guys Arrive – Almost
Rob Howard / 23.06.2005
Instead of pulling straight alongside the jetty they tried to turn about and ran into the shallows, held fast by the wind and tide pushing them aground. The runners inflated the dinghy to come ashore and set off up Ben Nevis, leaving their boat and crew stranded, very publicly, just off the finish! As the boat was close enough to have a line thrown to them a small posse of crew and support tried in vain to pull Wise Guys off, but to no effect, so they’ll have to sit there until the tide floats them off, but by then the lock gates will be shut, so they won’t be able to get into the basin.
As their runners set off they passed those from Flapjack running back in, or in the case of Emyr Owen, limping back in. He’d twisted his ankle on the mountain and was walking slowly back to the finish. The Wise Guys runners might also see Rob Smith and Keith Read off Vladimir the Impaler as well. They are running up Ben Nevis (out of competition) so they can complete the 3 peaks themselves, having done Snowdon and Scafell Pike as part of their Tilman Trophy victory.
The weather on the mountain deteriorated during the early hours of Thursday with low cloud and rain sweeping in across Ben Nevis and cold temperatures on top. (Most of the UK is suffering a heat wave but it’s not affecting Fort William!) The runners who were out during the night had the worst of the conditions, Keith Toon of Galahad (who finished just before 1am) said, “It was horrible�, and Dave Pendleberry of Huckleberry Friend said, “It was nasty … like it always is on the Ben!�
He finished at 9.25am but none of his crew or support were there to see him cross the line with Nicholas Wright … they had to go and wake them up! Those who finished in the night (Galahad, Paget’s Lady and Hummingbird) didn’t get much of a reception either, nor did they hang around to celebrate in the dark on the wet and windy finish line.
The race will close when the two runners from Wise Guys get back (expected to be around 5.30pm), which will just give them time to get ready for the party, which will be held at sea on the local cruiser ‘Souters Lass’. Hopefully, by the time they get back their yacht and crew will have arrived as well!
SleepMonsters
