2009 - the 21st race

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In this edition

Welcome
Crew Register
Competitor News
Bus from Hobart to Beauty Point
Rule Changes
Important Dates
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Welcome

With the end of 2008 drawing ever so near and Easter 2009 becoming more of a focus, the interest in the 21st race is already mounting. Particularly, we are receiving numerous enquires from potential new competitors and from sailors and runners seeking placement with teams. Teams that have previously competed are known to be planning for Easter and linking up with runners.

It is much easier for the sailors to make a late decision to race particularly if they have their yacht up to scratch regarding the safety aspects. But runners need considerable lead time to maximise their training for the long and arduous mountains runs. The fairest thing a yacht skipper can do is link up with runners early to give them the maximum time to train.

We are yet to see if the current economic climate will have any impact on the race but we do know that our major sponsors remain loyal supporters of the event. Please give your custom and support to our major sponsors shown to the right on this page.

As this newsletter is just before Christmas, everyone from the Three Peaks Race committee would like to extend their compliments for the season and wish you well for the New Year. Those who are competing in the various sailing or running races and regattas over the Christmas/New Year period we hope you experience success but more particularly that the activities are safe and enjoyable.

Crew Register

Many runners and some sailors have registered on the website seeking placement with teams. Their details can be found at www.threepeaks.org.au/entrant/register.php. At the time of preparing this newsletter eleven persons had registered their interest.

Where possible you are asked to remind sailors considering entering the race but who do not know where to find runners that even if all the names on the crew register have been allocated to teams it is always possible to find others keen to compete.

Competitor News

John Brierley's catamaran Deguello is ready for the challenges of 2009 having just been given a major refit in Hobart. Deguello has been seen doing test sails in recent weeks on the Derwent in anticipation of competing in one of the Christmas/New Year races. Unfortunately this has not happened so John is keen to face the stiff competition that is guaranteed in the Three Peaks Race.

Deguello is 46 feet overall length and was designed by the late Lock Crowther who raced it in the first two Three Peaks in 1989 , 1990 and 1993. When the catamaran came on the market about a year ago John could not believe his luck to become the owner of this magnificent vessel.

Competing in his first Three Peaks Race in 2008 John is very keen to better his performance in 2009 and challenge the experienced teams that have many races and much experience to their credit.

Bus from Hobart to Beauty Point

A suggestion from a competitor is that a bus is organised from Hobart to Beauty Point on the Thursday morning prior to the race. The proposal is to leave Hobart at 8.00 am travelling via the Launceston Airport to collect mainland competitors arriving on the mid-morning flights, arriving in Beauty Point before lunch. This timeframe would assist officials and competitors in completing the various check-in procedures before the evening Welcome Party.

If this bus trip is something that you or your crew would be interested in please send us an email accordingly.

Rule Changes

Some minor rule changes from last year have been made for the 2009 race.

The Main Division has been redesigned to give equal recognition to Monohull and Multihull yachts.

For the yachts in the Fully Crewed Division the sailing course to Lady Barron on leg 1 of the race has been defined to require yachts to pass to the north of Tin Kettle Island to join the regular channel leads that pass to the south and east of Big Dog Island.

Important Dates for 2009

Easter in 2009 is Good Friday, 10th April 2009.

Race entries close Friday, 27 February 2009
Welcome Party at Port Dalrymple Yacht Club, 6.00 pm Thursday 9th April 2009.
Race start, 2.00 pm Good Friday, 10 April 2009
"Post Race Brag" party at race finish, 6.00 pm Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Presentation Dinner, 7.00 pm Saturday, 18 April 2009