Three Peaks Yacht Race

[Zlod]

The Ben Nevis leg is like this:

You dock at Corpach lock, run along the "coast path" by Caol (Great Glen Way) in a SE direction. You cross the river on a footbridge by the Mallaig railway line bridge (I think it is the same bridge, but may be wrong there). Run through Inverlochy, then up the north / east bank of the Nevis river along the minor road. Pass Achintee House, then up the main Ben Nevis path. You're not meant to take the Red Burn path shortcut (I think that's what it's called), but can cut the zig zags after that (according to choice). The checkpoint is on top of that big cylindrical cairn on top. The way back is the same as the way up. The finish line is by the lock in Corpach.

There is only one checkpoint on this leg: at the top.

[Note: the 2008 route is described above. The 2007 route started off / finished along the A830].

[Ady In Accy]

Yep: you've got it!

It's the A4085 on the way to Snowdon Ranger and the A4086 on the way back from Llanberis.

Note that there is only one checkpoint on this leg (at the top of the Snowdon summit cairn), so you don't actually have to go to Snowdon Ranger YH. Also note that you don't have to go to Black Sail YH on the Scafell Pike leg (you pass beneath it).

The run from Llanberis back to Caernarfon can be pretty hard work, especially when your skipper has given you a schedule to get back to the boat!

On the Scafell leg there is a defined route given but as you say you can make a shorther line than going to the YH. What is the protocol amongst the other runners in doing this?

[Norman Bates]

Did this event 3 times although the last time we did it the sailors managed to sink the boat going in to Caernarfon (I am that is spelt wrong) and we had to be taken off by the lifeboat, not a pleasant experience !

[Ady In Accy]

Did this event 3 times although the last time we did it the sailors managed to sink the boat going in to Caernarfon (I am that is spelt wrong) and we had to be taken off by the lifeboat, not a pleasant experience !

That would make it a short race for you then!

[IanDarkpeak]

Did this event 3 times although the last time we did it the sailors managed to sink the boat going in to Caernarfon (I am that is spelt wrong) and we had to be taken off by the lifeboat, not a pleasant experience !

so you were that boat. We went out with local fisherman who was a lifeboat man to recce the 'bar' and he told us the story. on my last race we bounced the keel over the bar very scarey esp since I had the tiller at the time. I got a crackin bruise on my chest.

On the run in after the 'bar' you have roughly the equivalant of the width of a motor way in the channel, the tide comes across this pushing you one way or the other. It's usually the middle of the night.

mind you the swellies are even worse

[Toffer]

Excellent. We hit the bar as well, very scary indeed. The whole world seemed to go upside down for a moment, then somehow we managed to sail off, close call. Snowdon was easy after that!

[Norman Bates]

The thing was the boat we had had a lifting keel but someone forgot to lift it. Excellent event though but all of that road running is tough, its always great to get off the tarmac and onto the fell. The great thing is that any places gained on the Ben means places gained overall and the first time we did it and my mate spotted anyone in front (headtorches as it was pitch black) he was like a man on fire. A good man he was too as he persuaded me that the way off which I had selected would take me over the North Face.

[Wheeze]

Yeah, when we hit the bar I had my trousers half off () as I changed into my running gear. There was a crash, a curse and then a sensation akin to being in the tumble washer with a face full of a fellow competitors nether regions as well smashed into each other!. According to the yachties, we got off because we 'backed off the mainsail' but all I know is that it was a hell of a way to prepare for the run to Snowdon after a day of being VERY seasick!

Oh, and for afters, skipper made us row up the Menai Straits!!

[Toffer]

then a sensation akin to being in the tumble washer with a face full of a fellow competitors nether regions as well smashed into each other!

My nether regions have never been the same again

[IanDarkpeak]

Excellent. We hit the bar as well, very scary indeed. The whole world seemed to go upside down for a moment, then somehow we managed to sail off, close call. Snowdon was easy after that!

we also ended up on our side going into Whitehaven, we arrive 5 minutes after the harbour master closed the lock on a falling tide and persuaded him to let us try and creep over the bar on there Doh

If we'd got in we would have a minimum 8 hour lead instead we slept on our side until the next tide came to lift us off, at that point there were two other yachts moored nearby