In the history of bonkers ideas....

[flaming]

This one might just take the biscuit.

Pip Hare and Charles Hill are about to compete in the 3 peaks race double-handed. So they will both do all of the running and all of the sailing. Absolutely bonkers, but if anyone can pull this off Pip can!

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/196570/Double-Handed-attempt

 

[Woodlouse]

Rather them than me...

 

[savageseadog]

It's a very tough yachting even on its own. Lots of very difficult bits of sea.

 

[Yacht Yogi]

That's truly bonkers in an already bonkers race. My daughter and erstwhile bow girl on JT won the Tillman Trophy last year with Southampton Uni OTC team and that seemed tough enough. I don't see how they are going to get enough sleep to keep up the pace for the whole distance. I shall watch with interest and shall be deeply impressed if they get a good result!

 

[bbg]

Good for her - hope she does well.

 

[flaming]

Well they lead into the first stop, and up and down Snowdon. Then sadly got stuck in a wind hole after the Swellies and have slipped back a bit. Though ironically of course a longer sail probably improves their running!

 

[lpdsn]

I can't see them keeping it up. We took along a couple of very seasoned endurance runners and even they slept (or hung on for dear life) most of the time on the boat. The only time they were actively helping with the sailing was from the northern Sd of Jura onwards.

We also took the decision to keep the three sailors on deck the whole race, which gave a significant advantage over the boats that just had watches of two. And that was exhausting enough without venturing up any mountains.

They'll be seeing mermaids and the Loch Ness monster sunbeathing on the beach by the time they finish.

 

[flaming]

I can't see them keeping it up. We took along a couple of very seasoned endurance runners and even they slept (or hung on for dear life) most of the time on the boat. The only time they were actively helping with the sailing was from the northern Sd of Jura onwards.

We also took the decision to keep the three sailors on deck the whole race, which gave a significant advantage over the boats that just had watches of two. And that was exhausting enough without venturing up any mountains.

They'll be seeing mermaids and the Loch Ness monster sunbeathing on the beach by the time they finish.

Yep, Pip has described this as the biggest challenge she's ever done. Her CV includes amongst other things 2 mini transats. Just finishing will be an incredible achievement.

 

[lpdsn]

Her CV includes amongst other things 2 mini transats. Just finishing will be an incredible achievement.

The difference is that the 3PYR includes a lot more coastal navigation & pilotage. As you say, it will still be an incredible achievement for them even to finish. What they're attempting is much more than even a Tillman Trophy winner has to go through.

 

[flaming]

The difference is that the 3PYR includes a lot more coastal navigation & pilotage. As you say, it will still be an incredible achievement for them even to finish. What they're attempting is much more than even a Tillman Trophy winner has to go through.

2 down, one to go... Currently lying 4th on the water. They haven't been the slowest in either run.

 

[Judders]

It's eyewatering isn't it.

I am currently involved I trying to put something together for next year with some old chums but we keep rejecting boats as not comfortable enough for the runners to get the sleep!

(PS if anyone has something suitable and wishes to get involved then let me know)

 

[lpdsn]

I am currently involved I trying to put something together for next year with some old chums but we keep rejecting boats as not comfortable enough for the runners to get the sleep!

You need to find tougher runners.

Our runners slept directly on the fibre glass structural boxes supporting the hull. There was an attempt to supply them with thin cushions, but they got soaked in heavy weather in Cardigan Bay.

I managed to get a good few hours sleep in the race hut at Whitehaven and later about 30 mins on the spinnaker bags and that was it. The only time I saw the skipper sleep was for about an hour on the side deck as we headed up to the MoK.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

In the old days . . . . before the race was neutered . . . the leg from Caernarvon, to Ravenglass was often so fast on a multihull and so wild that it was impossible for the runners to sleep. They essentially did a mountainous marathon, then had two hours rowing to clear the Swellies, 12 or 13 hours laying down holding on with white knuckles before doing another mountainous marathon.

And the multihullers had it easy! I used to look at the numerous First Class Eights and think "wow, that looks grim" .Their runners had to sit on the rail between runs.

We pushed for a double handed class in the early days but it was never allowed. And on a practical front, you needed runners who had access to their own boat really to make it feasable. There weren't many yachties who were competitive fell runners either then or now. But today, there's lots of people who did the event as runners who now have their own boats - but as they're in their 60s and 70s, it's keeping their bodies together that's the limiting factor on them realising their ambition.

 

[flaming]

Up to second with an excellent sail overnight. Going 3 knots faster than the boat in front...

 

[Triassic]

Team Baloo are currently going quite well, doing 31.4 knots just outside Shrewsbury......

 

[flaming]

Only 3.5 miles behind and half a knot faster...

 

[Judders]

You need to find tougher runners.

Oh these boys are pretty tough. I keep having to explain why we can not do it on the Impala.

But I want to give them the best chance available.

 

[lpdsn]

I keep having to explain why we can not do it on the Impala.

Don't rule it out. There are a lot of factors affecting success in the race. Even though I knew rowing was an important part of the race, and a major plank of our strategy, it was amazing what a difference it made. We often had an oar going on the lee side even with the kite up and sailing at a couple of knots. Lightweight boats are a lot easier to row.

We went for a lightweight stripped out racer (although stripped out gives the erroneous impression there was ever anything to strip out to start with). We could get to about 2.5knots under oars before it stopped making a difference. I'm not convinced a big J Boat (which would be otherwise ideal) could do that. And I'm sure with a better arrangement along the lines of Vlad the Impaler we could've done better. Advice is to get the best rowing set-up you can.

Shallow draught used to be useful too - Geoff West won on an X99 one year I think - but I'd heard they'd changed the rules to stop the clock if tidebound at Whitehaven, so draught advantage isn't as strong as it used to be.

I'd also heard that the run the race on IRC now, which would favour an Impala. It used to be first over the line.

 

[Judders]

I'd also heard that the run the race on IRC now, which would favour an Impala. It used to be first over the line.

Ah now that would change everything. I was under the impression it was first over the line but IRC makes a world of difference, especially it it's light.

For one thing, the Impala is a whole lot easier to get to Barmouth than anything bigger. Thanks for the heads up. I shall revisit the idea.

 

[lpdsn]

Ah now that would change everything. I was under the impression it was first over the line but IRC makes a world of difference, especially it it's light.

For one thing, the Impala is a whole lot easier to get to Barmouth than anything bigger. Thanks for the heads up. I shall revisit the idea.

I got that IRC rumour from another former competitor so worth checking in the current rules.

PS We got 2.25m draught into Barmouth no problem. Getting out into a F7 with two lifeboats escorting the fleet out to the start was interesting.