Three Peaks fleet reach Flinders Island

7:05 PM Fri 10 Apr 2009 GMT

'Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy -first into Lady Barron' Three Peaks 2009

Australia's premier short-handed sailing endurance mountain running race is held every Easter in Tasmania. First conducted in 1989, the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race is a major event on the Tasmanian sporting calendar attracting large crowds.

The 21st annual race started on Good Friday, 10th April 2009, when the 2009 Three Peaks fleet sailed from Launceston yesterday afternoon at 2pm.
Phil Marshall's catamaran, Neil Buckby Motors Subaru, won the race to be first out of the Tamar River, entering Bass Strait in a confused swell and 12-knot north-westerly.

Racing multihull challenger Terry Travers aboard Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy was a mile back in fifth lace but caught Marshall in the 90nm run to Lady Barron on Flinders Island.

For much of the way it was a tight reach, with 10 to 15 knots from the north-west. It was a fast crossing for the boats and runners

At 10pm on Friday night Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy reported being off Oyster Rocks in Franklin Sound, about one and a half hours away from Lady Barron.

BWR Multihulls was in the leading group and Haphazard was the first monohull, about two hours behind the leaders.

Much of the fleet was closely bunched about 20 miles from the Sound.

Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy was the first yacht to arrive at Lady Barron, just before midnight and only a couple of hours outside record time.

Skipper Terry Travers said he was very happy with the 'pleasant crossing'. He gave the seal of approval to his new sails. Crew-member Peter Fletcher said there wasn't as much wind as they would have liked.

They estimated a lead of about 30 minutes on Phillip Marshall, who was now within sight of Lady Barron race control.

Andrew Kromar and Clarence Blake were soon on the running course after checking in their gear. They looked confident, well-rested and relaxed and looking forward to stretching their legs on what they described as good, cool conditions with not too much wind.

Just before 2am on Saturday morning BWR Multihulls' runners Ian Frankze and John Kent set off, going clockwise around Mt Strzelecki. When asked by Robyn if there was anything they wanted a supporter to take around the course for them, John said 'yes - you can take my pack!'

Haphazard was the next boat expected at Lady Barron.

Only a few minutes later, out of the darkness Rob Gourlay's Tas Marine Constructions slipped into Lady Barron ahead of the expected Haphazard. A result more than likely borne from the need of Haphazard having to sail a longer route due to her entry into the Fully Crewed Racing division. A class with a set course to be followed and where 'shortcuts', are not allowed.

Tas Marine Constructions runners Donovan Jacka and Chris Stevens completed their pre run checklist and set off for Mt Strezlecki at 2:21am.

Excitement at race control as three teams arrived at the same time. Team 8, Diane Harkas' Sydney 38 Sullivans Cove Whisky (Asylum), dropped its runners Andrew Howse and Adrian Young at the wharf just seconds before Jacqui Guy and Michael McIntyre departed Team Whistler.

Whistler is competing for the Tilman trophy, which will see all five crew tackle the last run leg.

Haphazard's John Claridge and Tristan Gourlay arrived two minutes later, packing race control with teams checking in. The three teams departed between 3.31am and 3.34pm.

Howse and Young are so far the only team to elect to run anti-clockwise.

Robyn said it was unusual to see so many teams start the run at the same time and that three teams was the maximum she had seen check in at one time.

`It's good when they're out on the road because it gives them someone to pace,' she said.

Fellow volunteer Michael Sullivan reported from the top of Mt Strzelecki that leaders Blake and Kromar made it to the top at 3.18am while second-placed Guy and Piper had made up some time to summit at 3.39am.

With only 21 minutes separating the top two teams, it will be a close race to the finish.

Next boat expected in is Peccadillo but with a dying breeze and now outgoing tide, the sailing will slow.

by Sail-World.com

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