06/25/2009, Fort William
After managing to steam ahead of the chasing pack of eight boats, the tide changed, with the lack of wind they had no-where to go and the chasing pack caught them up. Overnighht the wind picked up and they had 8 knots of boat speed but they weren't moving forward because of the tide speed going the opposite way!
Skipper Helen was pretty nervous at this point as they were caught up in whirlpools and all sorts! They had to hold tight for three hours before being spat out the other end and managed to pass three or four boats that had overtaken them while they were stuck fighting it out with the whirlpools.
At about 3am the wind died again and the other boats caught up once more. For a time all the boats were together waiting for the wind, all the crews saying hello to each other, the boats were that close. In a surreal moment it felt like the race re-started, all the boats were lined up and with a bang of wind they all raced up the lock.
Next came the Corrine Narrows (probably not spelt correctly!) which was scary! It was a washing machine of water with the wind pushing forward and the water dragging back and rocks either side of the four or five boat wide section. They managed to find a channel through close to the left shore and they had to hold their nerve to control the boat. They could literally touch the rocks beside the boat! Nicola put her white water rafting skills into action and spotted the ebbies, guiding Helen through the best route.
Adele described this race "like a Tomb Raider game, with every level they accomplished it just got harder". The adrenaline really kicked in for Maria and she couldn't sleep!
Nicola and Maria are now on their way through the 19 mile stretch for the final leg, Ben Nevis. Please send them the last cheering on comments!
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06/24/2009, North of Gigha
After a another frustratingly calm night and having to row until 4am, the wind suddenly kicked in they found themselves pumping along at 10 knots.
It then dropped again almost as quickly as it has arrived but Helly Hansen UK managed to pull away from the chasing pack thanks to another puff of wind.
They are now going along at about 3 knots with 70 miles to go, and when I spoke to them they were in the wind shadow North of Gigha.
There are six boats in the main group behind them and are fighting it out with Stormer. Fort William must nearly be in sight....
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06/23/2009, Port Patrick
After a frustrating day of sailing nowhere fast and eventually surrendering to the oars again, team Helly Hansen UK are considering dropping anchor at Port Patrick for a few hours until the tide turns in their favour.
Some of the teams have sailed in close to shore and managed to move forward from the winds coming off land. The team are currently only five or six boat lengths from the bottom of some massive cliffs, with campers and hikers staring down at them with puzzled looks on their faces at seeing five ladies, top to toe in the latest Helly Hansen sailing gear, rowing around the cliffs of Scotland!
The ladies are now deciding whether to persevere with more rowing or sit tight and await the tides and wind. As we were chatting some gusts were starting to blow...watch this space!
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06/23/2009, trying to head to Fort William
At 11am this morning team Helly Hansen UK had been bobbing around in zero knots of wind for two hours along with the rest of the Three Peaks Yacht Race fleet!
The ladies have been making the most of their down time to re-fuel...on jelly beans and pringles...and catch some rays.
Not much else to report as Helly Hansen UK wait on the water wishing for wind....
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06/22/2009
Now Adele warned you this might happen...I may have got the lock times slightly muddled up! Its 2030 and I think the locks are about to open...closing again at 0330! Sorry for any confusion!
I have just come off the phone to Adele and their runners, Nicola and Maria, are about half an hour away. The sailors managed to squeeze in three hours sleep between scrubbing the decks.
Apparently there is a bit of a tussle going on at the lock entrance between the top four boats who have been sat in Whitehaven all afternoon waiting for the lock gates to open! The GFT runners destroyed Scafell Pike setting the paces for some other strong runners whose boats followed in to Whitehaven later.
Helly Hansen UK should be heading out to sea again soon so please send them windy vibes...so to speak
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The ladies had a great leg up to Whitehaven. Must be the spinach that gave them all the energy for rowing.
Good luck for the rest of the race, girls. You're doing great!
06/22/2009, Whitehaven
Helly Hansen UK touched down in Whitehaven at about 1230pm today.
Nicola and Maria barely had five minutes to catch their breath back...not that they needed to by the sounds of it, my sources tell me they had hardly broken into a sweat!...yesturday before the sailing kicked off throguh the Menai Straits. The runners helped sail all day as there was lots of spinnaker action down wind through the Straits.
The wind dropped off as soon as they were out of the Straits and they had to row from 1600 until 2300! It was like a millpond out on the water, but a beautiful sunset and rocking tunes were the tactics used to keep spirits up through the evening! Each of them took it in turns to get some sleep throughout the night but even the runners were getting up to help sail throughout the early hours.
With the morning came yet more rowing! The girls rowed their way into Whitehaven from 1000 until 1230. Nicola and and Maria have hit dry land for the Scafel Pike leg, which includes 56miles of cycling! They are aiming to complete it in 8 hours which gives the rest of the crew time to rest those arms and sort out the boat,which doens't smell of roses right now apparently!
The lock at Whitehaven is open at the moment but closes at 1900 and doesn't open again until 0330 so they don't think they will get out tonight.
All onboard Helly Hansen UK sound like they are having a blast as well as being totally up there in the race. Adele says they have a skipper extrordinaire and the whole team are working really hard!
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Sorry the winds aren't up to much but it does make me chuckle from my sofa when I imagine you all rowing. Is that what you signed up for Hels? Your skills being put to good use then! I have images of you shouting stroke rate! If anyone can get you out of Whitehaven fast, you can! Good luck up to FW! S
Good Luck
Tori x
