I thought the whole idea of Whitehaven was that it was not tide-gated. Methinks you mean Ravenglass outside of which many a cold and damp night has been spent by runners cooped up in a fibreglass torture chamber...except the marines, who memorably picked up their catamaran one year and walked it into the harbour!!!
No it was definately whitehaven if you want a laugh you can read about this misfortune hereOriginally Posted by Wheeze
I thought the whole idea of Whitehaven was that it was not tide-gated. Methinks you mean Ravenglass outside of which many a cold and damp night has been spent by runners cooped up in a fibreglass torture chamber...except the marines, who memorably picked up their catamaran one year and walked it into the harbour!!!
Possibly almost forgotten in the annals of time is the epic one crew had at Ravenglass on the first race - it was a real shame because they were well up and probably had the best runners by far but they got swamped and had a really nasty time getting ashore in the dinghy which effectively put an end to their interest in the proceedings...... I was just 18 at the time and crewing on another boat, none of us were proper fell runners and we took it in turns to run - I was lucky enough to do the Ben Nevis leg, it was an experience I'll never forget, and I'll always be grateful to the guy who owned the boat for including me in the crew.
It is one of those life changing events!
Lots of very happy memories that stay with you forever.
My partner at the time was the late great Eddie Thurrell one of the finest human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and the master of understatement, as the boat was sinking he turned to me and said " Doesnt look like we are going to get our run up Snowdon today"
There is a defined route and I don't think it goes to the Black Sail youth hostel in any case: it goes below it. I think that some people go to the YH, but they're off route if they do.
Wheeze> Whitehaven has a tidal issue. I know: painfully. We ran up and down Scafell Pike on the tide, got out of the lock and grounded in the harbour last year (on the way out). I think we'd have won if that hadn't happened (and a few other issues). The only good think about our grounding was that it was in the deep water channel, so all those boats that got out on the next lock and tried to get round us grounded too!
Last edited by Zlod; 23-02-2009 at 01:23 AM. Reason: typo
When you say below it, do you mean leaving the forest path and going over Pillar rock, Pillar Cove, Hind Cove and Cloven stone and picking up Black Sail pass there?
So I wonder why they stopped using Ravenglass then? At least when you came ashore there, you did not have to buggar about with bikes! Plus it is a pretty little place. Mindyou the road leg out and back is Looooooonnnnnngggggggggggggg!
You are only about 100m away from Black Sail YH. It's just that you don't need to go to the front door of the YH. You're pretty close to Black Sail YH, you just don't actually go to it. The line isn't over Pillar Rock way.
Wheeze> I think the problem with Ravenglass was that it was a total stopper on the race. It didn't matter how fast you ran: you'd still be leaving with the fleet on the next high tide. I think that there is less of an issue at Whitehaven. Personally, I think it is a bit of a shame that bikes are allowed from Whitehaven. I think the rules actually state that you may cycle from Whitehaven (rather than you have to). It would be a long way to run, but possibly more stylish. I'll be on the bike in 09! From a purity of line perspective, I'd rather go to Ravenglass.
Anyone doing this ends up short of a runner give me a buzz, am keen and have done lots of long distance stuff so should stand up to the test!
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