Photos of the 2001 Race

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Race day dawns fine and clear as the Beauty Point race officials ensure all last minute details are complete. Yachts await their crews who receive the briefing on weather, the race course and navigational matters.

Outside the briefing room spectators by their thousand begin to arrive at the Beauty Point wharf to enjoy the warm day, choose their lunch from the many stalls and finally, as the smoke clears from the cannon fired by the Race Patron, His Excellency Sir Guy Green, Governor of Tasmania, they cheer the yachts and their teams off on their epic journey.

The Tamar River is also lined with spectators and hundreds of water craft of all types follow the fleet to the heads. As the first yacht reaches Bass Strait the historic fog horn at the Low Head lighthouse comes to life for the first time for 40 years.

A 25 to 30 knot westerly in Bass Strait speeds the fleet towards Flinders Island. The narrow channel between Big Dog Island and Little Dog Island waits to lure any unsuspecting vessel to the sand but the navigators are too smart and negotiate their passage into Lady Barron without mishap. The first teams arrive about 11.45 pm, have their running kits checked and sent on their way by the Governor and Lady Green.

All teams arrive during the morning preventing any time for the officials to relax. Meantime, the official party follows

the runners out to Mt Strzelecki cheering them on their long run back to Lady Barron. The Mt Strzelecki base control point has the distraction of baby wombats and a baby ringtail possum that everyone must nurse. It's all a bit of a surprise for the Camp Quality runners to find such important people waiting as they emerge from the bush after scaling Mt Strzelecki. The wombat sleeps on!

The Race progresses in fast time. It appears that at least six teams could break the overall race record then the wind dies. It now looks as though it will turn out to be a slow race! Anything can happen in a Three Peaks Race - and it usually does.

Holiday residents in the picturesque east coast Coles Bay township gather at the wharf to greet the teams. Officials ensure all kit checks are complete before timing the runners out to Mt Freycinet. The five minutes "time-out" seems to be an eternity to runners anxious to start.

Hobart Race Control is all geared up and waiting. The media team also waits to record interviews for the morning newspapers and news services. It is early morning when the first team arrives; the mountain is conquered and, yes to the excitement of all, it is a new overall race record by the API Mersey Pharmacy team clipping a mere 4 minutes and 55 seconds off the old time.

More teams, more kit checks, more media opportunities! Action is happening everywhere.

Later teams arrive and in a more respectable hour. Speculation mounts whether the last team in will claim King of the Mountains Trophy and who will win the coveted Tilman Trophy.

The waiting is over, crews are welcomed home by family and friends, fine Cascade amber fluid is consumed, war cries chanted, everyone celebrates.

The Last in Trophy is won and Phil and Rodney do claim the King of the Mountains with the fastest accumulated times on all three mountains. It is the first time that the last team has taken the major prize of King of the Mountains.

The race might be over but everyone is still having enjoyment reliving experiences. Competitors from previous years are loitering about muttering that they should have raced this year and will be back next year. The Post Race Brag function is on and competitors are reliving their moments of glory, fun and achievement. Officials have had a good time too. We are now all looking forward to 2002!