Team Whistler conquer sea and mountain in unique weekend effort

10:37 AM Sun 22 Nov 2009 GMT

'Whistler competing in this year’s Hydro Tasmanian Three Peaks Race. Photo:
Event media' Three Peaks 2009 Click Here to view large photo

The crew of the Hobart yacht Whistler turned in a unique performance over the weekend, competing in the gruelling Tasports Maria Island Yacht Race and then turning out to complete the demanding Point to Pinnacle marathon mountain run to the peak of Hobart's Mount Wellington.

The Maria Island Race, followed by the Point to Pinnacle Run was the start of Team Whistler's campaign to contest the Tasmanian Three Peaks Race and the British Three Peaks, two of world's toughest offshore sailing and endurance running events, in 2010.

Whistler, a Dovell-designed 38-footer owned by Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania member David Rees, finished the 190 miles of sailing in the Maria Island Race at 8.45pm on Saturday, ninth over the line and second to David Bean's Auch in the IRC handicap division.

Then, at 8am Sunday, the sailors and runners fronted up at Wrest Point for the start of the Point to Pinnacle Run, a distance of about 35 km with an ascent of 1270 metres.

Runner Michael McIntyre, who spent most of the race seasick, still managed to complete the run in 1 hour 43 minutes - 13 minutes behind the winner. Jacqui Guy's time was 2 hours 8 minutes - 28 minutes behind the first female runner.

Skipper David Rees completed the mountain dash in 2 hours 28 minutes, sailors Tim Jones in 2 hours 46 minutes and Jory Linscott in 3 hours 6 minutes

Joining Whistler's crew for the Maria Island Race were David's daughter Lucy, 13 years old, and Tim's son Hugh, 14 years old. Lucy and Hugh have completed many sea miles on Whistler delivery trips but this was their first offshore race.

Lucy is the probably the youngest ever crew for a Maria Island Race in its history going back more than 60 years.

by Peter Campbell

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Team Whistler conquer sea and mountain in unique weekend effort

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