Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks race

Wayfaring sailors

Ever hear of Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race? No. Well, get this: 335nm of coastal sailing, 131km of marathon running, five crew, and all in one race.

Sounds invigorating, doesn't it? Sure does, as it is one of the world's most challenging multi-sport events.

The Three Peaks race kicks off on Good Friday, March 21, at Beauty Point in northern Tasmania's Tamar Valley.

The upcoming 20th anniversary of the race has sparked international interest, according to organisers, with competitors coming from as far afield as Israel and the UK among more than 30 teams to register their interest.

Israeli naval officer Alon Peled and crew member Ron Shilon have competed in the British Three Peaks and Scottish Islands Peaks races. The pair join the Victorian Beneteau 373 team Aphrodite this year to complete their three peaks circuit and raise money for the Quadriplegic Hand Foundation.

Launceston's Ken Gourlay, who holds the record for the fastest and oldest Australian and first Tasmanian to circumnavigate the globe solo, non-stop and unassisted, plans to team up with sons Adam and Tristan to contest the milestone race.

Also in the fleet will be the only two competitors to have participated in all 19 previous races, Radford 14 Haphazard skipper Nick Edmunds and crew member David Wright.

Tasmanian sailor Philip Marshall will be working his Chamberlain 9 catamaran hard to retain the overall race trophy which he has held since 2005.

Expatriate Tasmanian Martin Pryor, who pioneered the Tasmanian Three Peaks Race in 1989, will travel from northern NSW to compete.

"The prospect of the 2008 race exceeding the record fleet of 30 teams set in 1989 appears to be a real possibility for the 20th race," said race director, Alistair Douglas.

"This large entry list will make for a very exciting race overall and in all three divisions, main, cruising and fully-crewed.

"The yachts expected will range from a 50-foot catamaran to a 30-foot monohull and vary in style from comfortable cruisers to out-and-out racers," Douglas said.

Thirteen entries are expected to compete in the main racing division, which sees teams of three sailors and two runners tackle the gruelling racecourse.

The Three Peaks race concept was inspired by the adventures of Welsh mountaineer and seaman, Major Bill Tilman. The British race starts at Barmouth in Wales and ends in Fort William in Scotland. It requires runners to scale the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales.

MT STRZELECKI
The Tasmanian equivalent takes teams from the mouth of the Tamar River to the small township of Lady Barron on Bass Strait's Flinders Island. There, runners tackle a gruelling 65km run up Mt Strzelecki before the teams sail round Tasmania's northeast tip and head south along the stunning east coast.

The second stopover is the pristine Freycinet National Park where runners climb Mt Freycinet, one of three pink granite mountains that make up the aptly-named Hazards Range.

Then it is on to the crews' ultimate destination, Hobart, where Mt Wellington's 1270m ascent awaits.

A safe return to Constitution Dock on the city's waterfront means the end of the race and a major celebration for survivors.

The race record, set by Robin Chamberlin and Terry Travers' trimaran in 2004, stands at two days, 10 hours, 24 minutes and eight seconds.

The 20th Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race is a must-see event combining some of the world's most beautiful and rugged scenery and a fantastic sporting challenge.

Entry is open to any mono or multi-hull yacht longer than 8.5 metres, crewed by five or more people over the age of 18. Late entries are still being accepted.

For more information, visit www.threepeaks.org.au