Yachts leave Barmouth for 389 miles of difficult sailing

The Magellan Three Peaks Race is one of the toughest challenges of the year and attracts some of the world's best sailors and runners.

They must complete 389 nautical miles from Barmouth in south Gwynedd to Fort William in Scotland, stopping on the way to climb to the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike in Cumbria and Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands - Britain's highest mountain.

Fifteen yachts, each with three sailors and two runners, start the race from Barmouth harbour at 1400 BST on Saturday.

The Magellan race requires great skill, courage, stamina, teamwork - and a touch of madness Race organisers

Now in its 26th year, the Magellan Three Peaks has been imitated as far away as Tasmania and Hong Kong.

But sailing from Barmouth to Fort William, taking in the highest peaks of Wales, England and Scotland, still remains among the toughest tests of mariner and mountaineer in the world.

Organisers say the Magellan race requires great skill, courage, stamina, teamwork - and a touch of madness.

Lost at sea

The runners aboard the yachts will have to complete 72 miles and 14,000 feet of climbing to reach their three summits, and also cycle 18 miles in the Lake District.

No easy task for the athletes who may have to run at night while suffering from the effects of sea sickness.

The race was inspired by Bill Tilman of Barmouth, a climber and explorer, who took to sailing the Southern Oceans and climbing Antarctic peaks in his retirement.

Shortly after presenting the prizes at the first Three Peaks Yacht Race he left his Barmouth home on his final voyage at the age of 79 and was lost at sea.

The Tilman Trophy will be presented in his honour to the fastest yacht which has put four team members onto a summit.

Local winners

The local Spirit of Barmouth yacht is one of the favourites to win this year.

Everyone in the team, crew and runners, is a previous winner, and the skipper Geoff West holds the race record.

The yachts are due to leave Barmouth harbour at 1400 BST on Saturday 21 June, ready to start the race out at sea when a signal flare is fired by the local lifeboat.

If they complete the route, they will have mastered 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 the UK.