Slowest ever Three Peaks

Peter Campbell reports on the Australian version of this sailing/mountain running classic

Easter in Tasmania each year provides a unique challenge for sailors and endurance runners - the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race, a combination of short-handed sailing and cross-country running around the spectacular East Coast of the island State of Australia.

The course includes sailing across infamous Storm Bay and climbing to the peaks of three mountains, Strzelecki, Freycinet and Wellington.

Based on the original Three Peaks Race around the west coast of England, Wales and Scotland, this year's 15th event added a new dimension of endurance as light autumn winds (and at times, no wind) extended the Race into six days.

Sailpower turned into manpower as both sailors and runners took their turn at maintaining boatspeed (at 2 knots)by using long sweep oars or Heath Robinson-type bicycle contraptions on the transoms that turn a long propeller shaft - all allowed under the rules of the race.

Victory went to crew of the 38-footer catamaran, API Mersey Pharmacy, as late yesterday afternoon they rowed their boat into two more records in the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race - the first team to win three consecutive events but also setting a record for the slowest sailing time for the course of 335 nautical miles.

A kilted piper, playing a Scottish traditional sea tune, welcomed the team of three sailors, Rob Chamberlin from Caloundra, Queensland, Terry Travers from Devonport, and Peter Fletcher from Hobart, and two Victorian runners, Nigel Aylott from Emerald and Andrew Kromar from Mt Beauty, as they came alongside the pontoon outside Hobart's historic Consitution Dock.

API Mersey Pharmacy crossed the finish line off Hobart's Castray Esplanade at 17.16.20 hours last evening, with the two runners setting off on the final 33 km endurance run to the 1270 metre high peak of Mt Wellington, towering above the city of Hobart.

The final leg of 100 nautical miles from Coles Bay to Hobart took more than 33 hours, an average boatspeed of just 3 knots from a multihull that is capable of more than 20 knots in a fresh breeze.

"I think we rowed more than we sailed in the final leg, probably we rowed for about a day of the four days of the race," co-owner Terry Travers said in Hobart last night.

To cap off a great victory, the runners dashed up Mt Wellington and back in darkness to break that record by 1 minutes 01 seconds and give the API Mersey Pharmacy team a total elapsed time of 3 days 12 hours 01 minutes 20 seconds, compared with their 2001 Race record overall time of 2 days 16 hours 08 minutes 35 seconds.

The remaining eight boats in the Three Peaks Race were many hours astern of API Mersey Challenge, but are expected to finish the course today.