Final preparations for Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks race

4:31 PM Tue 31 Mar 2009 GMT

'21st Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race'

With little more than a week before the Good Friday start of the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks race, final preparations are being made by competitors and officials alike.

The Governor of Tasmania, His Excellency the Honourable Mr Peter Underwood has kindly agreed to fire the old cannon from HMS Edinborough to send the fleet for the 21st race on its way to Flinders Island. His Excellency will also present the major trophies at the Presentation Dinner.

Details of the thirteen teams that have nominated for this year's race can be viewed on the website www.threepeaks.org.au/Amongst the 13 teams are four catamarans including one from Queensland and one from Victoria. Amongst the 79 competitors three mainland states are represented as well as New Zealand.

Teams nominated:

1. Neil Buckby Motors Subaru
2. Pisces
3. Elphinstone Weigh To Go
4. Haphazard
5. Team Whistler
6. Chance
7. Peccadillo
8. Sullivans Cove Whisky
9. Westbury/Mersey Pharmacy
10. Tas Marine Construction
11. Premium Constructions
12. Apollonius
13. Big Wave Rider

It is difficult to predict outcomes for the race but there is bound to be fierce competition in the Main and Fully Crewed Divisions. In the past some have thought that the multihull yachts are favoured by the conditions and while that might be true sometimes there are always chances for a team that is not a predicted winner to create an upset.

The Race Course

The race is divided into three legs of two sections consisting of a sailing and running leg.

LEGS 1 and 2
The race starts on the Tamar River at Beauty Point just north of Launceston and competitors proceed by yacht to Lady Barron on Flinders Island. When they arrive (no matter what time of the day or night), TWO CREW MEMBERS are landed so that they can run to the top of Mt Strzelecki and back. They travel via the Coast Road, Badger Corner Road, Big River Road and Trousers Point Road to the mountain, returning to their vessels via the Trousers Point Road, Lady Barron Road and Coast Road.
Sailing Distance: 90 nms; Run: 65 kms; Ascent: 756 m.

LEGS 3 and 4
Teams then sail to Coles Bay where once again TWO CREW MEMBERS are disembarked to complete the circuit of the peninsula. They proceed via the road and marked track to Wineglass Bay, up over Mt Graham to Mt Freycinet, then the East Freycinet Saddle to Cooks Beach, returning to Coles Bay via the Peninsula Track, Hazards Beach, Isthmus Track and the Wineglass Bay Track over the saddle between Mt Mayson and Mt Amos.
Sailing Distance: 145 nms; Run: 35 kms; Aacent: 620 m.

LEG 5 and 6
When the crew is united, yachts then sail for Hobart where TWO CREW MEMBERS are landed at Kings Pier at Hobart to run to Davey Street and then to the Huon Highway, Fingerpost Track, Pinnacle Track and Zig Zag Track to a checkpoint at the summit of Mt Wellington. Thence by the Pinnacle Road via Big Bend to the Fingerpost Track at the Springs, returning to the finish line via the outward course.

As the sailing course is optional, some crews choose to sail, row or pedal through the Denison Canal at Dunalley to save time.
Sailing Distance: 100 nms; Run: 33 kms; Aacent: 1270 m.

APPROXIMATE TOTAL DISTANCES: Sailing Distance: 335 nms; Run: 133kms; Ascent: 2646m.

* Tasmania's tall ship, the Lady Nelson will again follow the Three Peaks Race fleet to Hobart leaving the Tamar on Good Friday afternoon. The vessel will be conducting cruises on the Tamar commencing the weekend before Easter and on Good Friday adding to the spectacle of the festivities and displays of the race start day.

On route to Hobart the Lady Nelson will stop at Coles Bay, weather permitting, as it did successfully some years ago much to the appreciation of Coles Bay residents and visitors. Bookings will be taken at the Hobart office. Telephone: (03) 6234 3348.

Australian Three Peaks Race - The First 20 years.

A collectors book in colour and black and white ideal for past competitors, volunteers and followers of the race providing the reader with a year by year history and photographs. 102 pages. Copies can be ordered on the website.
Price: AUD $20.00 (Plus Postage and Packaging $7.50 in Australia). For multiple copies Postage and Packaging is $7.50 a copy in Tasmania and $11.00 per copy to mainland Australia.

www.threepeaks.org.au/

by Alastair Douglas

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