Three peaks yacht race
Encyclopedia
The Three Peaks Yacht Race is held each year in June in the United Kingdom
since 1977. It is based on an idea of the late Bill Tilman
, who had advocated a Three Peaks Challenge
route without using motorised transport. His doctor, Rob Haworth, with colleague Merfyn Jones developed the idea into a race.
Teams of five, comprising three sailors and two runners, set out in yachts from Barmouth
on the West Wales
coast and sail to Caernarfon
in the Menai Strait
s, where the runners leave the boat and run to the top of Snowdon
and back. They then proceed to Whitehaven
on the coast of north-west England
, where the runners cycle to the foot of Scafell Pike
then run to the top and back. Finally they sail to Fort William in Scotland
where the runners scale Ben Nevis
and return to the yacht.
The first team to complete the race wins the trophy. Achieving a good enough start to gain the help of the Menai Strait
tidal current after the Snowdon run can save several hours.
In 2005, ten teams completed the race with times ranging from three days eighteen hours to five days eight hours.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
since 1977. It is based on an idea of the late Bill Tilman
Bill Tilman
Major Harold William "Bill" Tilman, CBE, DSO, MC and Bar was an English mountaineer and explorer, renowned for his Himalayan climbs and sailing voyages.-Early years and Africa:...
, who had advocated a Three Peaks Challenge
National Three Peaks Challenge
The National Three Peaks Challenge is a mountain-endurance challenge in Great Britain, with a history of over 40 years, in which participants attempt to climb the highest peaks of each of the island's three countries...
route without using motorised transport. His doctor, Rob Haworth, with colleague Merfyn Jones developed the idea into a race.
Teams of five, comprising three sailors and two runners, set out in yachts from Barmouth
Barmouth
Barmouth ; Y Bermo ) is a town in the county of Gwynedd, north-western Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Mawddach and Cardigan Bay.The town is served by Barmouth railway station.- History :...
on the West Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
coast and sail to Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
in the Menai Strait
Menai Strait
The Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.The strait is bridged in two places - the main A5 road is carried over the strait by Thomas Telford's elegant iron suspension bridge, the first of its kind,...
s, where the runners leave the boat and run to the top of Snowdon
Snowdon
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales, at an altitude of above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside Scotland. It is located in Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, and has been described as "probably the busiest mountain in Britain"...
and back. They then proceed to Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
on the coast of north-west England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where the runners cycle to the foot of Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England at . It is located in Lake District National Park sometimes confused with the neighbouring Sca Fell, to which it is connected by the col of Mickledore...
then run to the top and back. Finally they sail to Fort William in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
where the runners scale Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William....
and return to the yacht.
The first team to complete the race wins the trophy. Achieving a good enough start to gain the help of the Menai Strait
Menai Strait
The Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.The strait is bridged in two places - the main A5 road is carried over the strait by Thomas Telford's elegant iron suspension bridge, the first of its kind,...
tidal current after the Snowdon run can save several hours.
In 2005, ten teams completed the race with times ranging from three days eighteen hours to five days eight hours.