Harriers All at Sea

This weekend Simon and Phil took part in the 2008 Scottish Islands Peaks Race.

This gruelling test of endurance and tolerance to sea-sickness starts in Oban and finishes in Troon taking in major hill runs totalling well over 60 miles along the way, on Mull (Ben More from Salen), Jura (Paps of Jura from Craighouse) and Arran (Goat Fell from Lamlash) not to mention some epic sailing legs including rounding the Mull of Kintyre en route.

Phil and Simon, aboard the 43 foot yacht, Lady Q (skippered by Malcolm Lamb and ably crewed by Tommy Hunter and Helen - all from Ayr), completed the course in a total time of 50 hours 44 minutes which was good enough to take 16th place (7th in their class) out of the 47 or so boats that set out from Oban on Friday.

In the running competition the two Harriers finished 9th overall in a combined time of 15 hours 15 minutes. A solid run on Mull (5:05.50) was followed by a slightly disappointing performance on Jura (6:12.10) with a lost breakfast due to sea sickness, poor route choices, injury and imperfect navigation in thick mist costing the team well over an hour. However, an excellent 3rd fastest time on the final Goat Fell run, which they completed in 3:57.17, helped to ensure a top 10 finish.

The final cruise across from Arran to Troon in pleasant sunshine and a tailwind gave ample opportunity for the team, aided by plenty of IPA to celebrate their performance and to contemplate how times could be shaved next year...

Full results are at: http://www.sipr.zetnet.co.uk/results_2008.htm.