The PowerBar Three Peaks Yacht Race

The PowerBar Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race combines yachting and mountain running (and a little bit of cycling) into one of the greatest adventure challenges in British sport. The race is now in it’s 32th year and it’s sail/run format has been copied in similar races as far away Hong Kong and Tasmania.

Teams comprise 3 sailors and 2 runners, and their aim is to sail from Barmouth on the Welsh coast to Fort William in Scotland, via Caernarfon and Whitehaven, climbing to the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis on the way. (The athletes cycle from Whitehaven into Ennerdale and run up and down Scafell Pike from there.)

In total this is 389 miles of difficult coastal sailing, 18 miles of cycling and 72 miles of running, with 14,000 feet of ascent to reach the highest points in Wales, England and Scotland.

The race is open to monohull yachts only and engine power can only be used close to port, but yachts can be rowed, or even pulled along by crew members on the shore. There are no handicaps or adjustments, it’s a straight race and the first team to get their runners back to their yacht in Fort William, having completed all the mountains, wins the coveted Daily Telegraph Cup.

There are other trophies to race for as well. The fastest runners over all 3 tops are the ‘Kings of the Mountains’, and there are cups for the fastest run on each peak too. Equally prestigious is the ‘Tilman Trophy’, named after the great mountaineer and sailor who inspired the race. This is for all round performance and is for the fastest yacht which has put 4 team members onto a summit.

The race attracts some of the world's best sailors and runners, as well as teams who hope just to complete the course, which is a considerable achievement in its own right.