The PowerBar Three Peaks Yacht Race
The Narrows
Rob Howard / 24.06.2009
EADS Innovation Works maintained their lead into the Firth of Lorn, passing Port Appin as the sun set and the tide turned against them. It’s a strong tide and with the wind falling away to nothing as darkness descended, they struggled to make any headway towards the Corran Narrows, the last tidal gate of the race. The narrows are marked by a lighthouse and are the entrance to Loch Linnhe, at the far end of which lies Fort William.
Yet, somehow, they managed to keep moving, despite the conditions and the fatigue, and at the head of the loch found more wind. At the same time chasing yachts were totally becalmed and taking up moorings near Port Appin (Penmaenmawr SC and Journeymaker are there) or putting down anchors to maintain their position. As of now (23.30 Weds) our intrepid RIB-riding reporter Alec Blanc of Lochaber Watersports, who is alongside, says they are doing 5 knots and he thinks they may yet break through the narrows. They are currently 5 miles ahead of the stranded chasers.
If they succeed they will reach Corpach yacht basin at the end of the Caledonian Canal around dawn and at present the snow capped summit of Ben Nevis is clear so there is the prospect of the EADS runners doing the Ben Nevis run in daylight, in the coolest part of the day, and secure in the knowledge there are no teams chasing them. If they fail to push through the narrows tonight then it might be a different story and a much more competitive run ... watch the trackers ... and check here for news in the morning to see how it turns out.
SleepMonsters
