The Race and the Team

The Three Peaks Yacht Race involves sailing 389 nautical miles, running 59 miles and cycling 30 miles in a week – sailing from Barmouth on Saturday 19th June, via Caernafon to climb Snowdon; Whitehaven to climb Scafell Pike and finally to Fort William to climb Ben Nevis.

Helsby Running Club members Phil Gillard, Jackie Keasley and boat owner and captain Trevor Murphy will do all the running and cycling and also act as deck hands. Businessmen John Bailey and Richard Stone will sail the team’s yacht, Josephine –a Beneteau Oceanis 40 and one of the largest of the 23 boats in the race – through some of the trickiest waters of the Welsh, English and Scottish west coasts, navigating sandbanks, tidal streams, rocks and whirlpools.

Important - see "How you can help" below

Monday, 5 July 2010

A week later

Mon 5th June

We have had a week to recover from our amazing, not to be missed, sailing and running experience. Trevor and Josie are now fighting the elements bringing the boat home from Fort William, having taken the train back up to Fort William on Saturday. They were storm bound in Corpach yesterday sheltering from 70 mph gales. Jackie has done a mountain marathon this weekend in the Lakes and is now totally exhausted! John has spent the last week Munro bagging and has gone from sailing exhausted to walking exhausted.

A very big thank you to everyone involved and everyone who sponsored us.

Richard Stradling, our home based support, who supplied us with daily wind conditions and put together a brilliant blog.

Our land based back-up crew Bill, Josie, Helen and Christine who drove many miles around the country, catching up and patiently waiting for us in port at all times of the day and night.

Andy & Rachel who slept out on Snowdon on the Sunday evening when we did not turn up - quote from Rachel "it was worth it for the sunrise".

Josie for trailing us in the car on the very hot road runs to and from Snowdon, supplying gallons of water and Andy's delicious homemade flapjacks.

Christine at Ennerdale hostel, Pauline & Alan at Black Sail Youth hostel and Gail & John at Wasdale Head, who gave us food, water and inspiration to keep running and cycling on the Scafell Pike day.

Ed & Kath for turning up at Whitehaven to wave us off.

Richard & Bev who had an enjoyable stay at Wasdale Head but were too early to support us due to circumstances beyond our control!

Christine, Bill and Helen for supplying us with more food and water at the Ben Nevis Inn, at the start and end of the climb.

"Josephine", Trevor & Josie without which it would not have been possible!

Twelve50 bikes of Frodsham for giving us advice on our bikes and servicing them before the race.

AMEC for fund matching the SOS children donations.

Meryonydd Yacht club for organising the whole event; it was amazing seeing familiar faces from Barmouth crop up at places all over the British Isles.

Everyone who offered us support and advice.

So far we have raised £4,000 for our chosen charities:
St Anns Hospice, Heald Green
Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Chester
SOS Children
Round Table Children’s Wish

A very big thank you to all who have contributed so kindly to these worthwhile causes.

Over and out

Trevor, Phil, Jackie, John & Richard.


Pictures below show Phil and Jackie crossing the finish line. The whole team with their medals. Saying thanks to their sponsors and charities – twelve50 bikes, SOS children and Round Table Children’s Wish.

A full set of pictures are available on picasa.






































































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