Call is out for Lochaber sailing enthusiasts to get on board

Organisers of the Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race are appealing to sailing enthusiasts from Lochaber to get involved in their event next year.

Sixteen vessels took part in the 2021 event which started from Barmouth on Saturday June 19 and ended in Fort William three days 16 hours and 43 minutes later for the winning team.

Sailors navigated through the difficult waters of the West Coast, passing through nine tidal gates and by numerous islands and headlands. Runners were dropped ashore at Caernarfon, Whitehaven and finally Corpach, where they tackled the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, and back.

In 2022 the race will take place on Saturday July 9 and the committee are looking for sailors, runners and a few extra hands on the organisational side of things to help make the event bigger and better than ever.

Rob Howard, from the organising committee, told us: ‘Meetings usually take place once a month and in this day and age Zoom meetings mean it’s no longer necessary for committee members to be Barmouth based so we would love to have some Lochaber members join us.

‘We also get very few Scottish boats and would love to see more. There are lots of entries from the south coast of England who sail round to

Action from the 2021 Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race.

Barmouth then have to sail all the way back to the south coast from the finish in Corpach. But sadly, almost no boats come down from Scottish waters and then race ‘back, home’.’

In total, teams must sail 389 sea miles, cycle 40 miles, and run 55 miles with 16,500 feet of climbing, all within three to four days, and with little or no rest on the way. If the wind drops teams have to row as well. Competitors last year ranged in age from 23 to 77.

While they are waiting for next year’s race to come around the Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race group are currently indulging in some summer nostalgia and reprising the stories and pictures of last year’s event on their Facebook page.

‘It was such a disappointment our traditional prize-giving dinner had to be cancelled this year, so in the prevailing spirit of digital sharing we are using our Facebook page to celebrate the achievements of all the teams and give them their trophies virtually,’ added Rob.

‘We’ve been busy posting stories, race logs, photos and videos team by team, and there is plenty more to come. You should be able to see it even if you don’t normally use Facebook.’

For more information and/ or to enter the 2022 event visit www.threepeaksyachtrace. co.uk. Anyone wishing to help on the organisational side should contact Wendy Ponsford by email at secretary@threepeaksyachtrace. co.uk.