Leg 2 - Sailing

Caernarfon to Whitehaven

Arrival of the 'Snowdon' runners is perfect timing for the start of Leg 2 - 'The Solent Section', and the team take heart from the fact that the 2 race leaders are floundering, high and dry, on the sandbanks some 300m upstream.

They sail on past. Tides are, for the meantime, still flowing in Team No Limit's favour, and they are able to use them to aid their passage along the Menai Strait, again in poor winds.

The Strait is a narrow passage of water between Anglesey and the North Wales Coast, the width narrowing to some 230m in places. It has extremely strong tidal currents (generally up to 7.5 knots, with 10 knots having been known). In the middle of the Strait is a treacherous area, between the Menai and Britannia bridges, known as the Swellies, with exceptionally high currents and eddies, and large rocks and drying areas, which act as magnets to many a yacht's keel.
It is into this cauldron that the team throw themselves, again rowing, as the set of the tide starts to turn against them (it seems they have no friends amongst the elements).

With an effort that can only be described as heroic, the team short tack, whilst rowing like their lives depend upon it, under the Menai Bridge, recently adorned with the Sponsors logo, just as the tide turns fully against them. (Permission for this adornment, I am sure, was sought in advance from the relevant authorities, and if not, the team reliably informs me, will be sought retrospectively).

They struggle on for a further 500 yards, spurred on by their supporters from both banks. Craig personally makes an enormous effort to row whilst Gareth looks as if he is on a boating pond.

The effort to fight the rising tide becoming too much, the team decide to kedge while waiting for the wind, to enable them to beat the tide. The one and a half hour wait is taken in usefully in relaxing over dinner. The shore team depart, and report much frustration in not being able to find a hotel with a pool. "Our team suffers - we suffer!"

The tide turns and eventually sweeps Team No Limit out of the Menai Strait and into Colwyn Bay and the Irish Sea.

Due to little wind, they take 36 hours to travel less than 70 nautical miles. Some local winds are sought and utilised, in true 19th Century fashion, by dispatching a man to the masthead to navigate. A day of great tactical sailing, interspersed with plenty of rowing "We'll have the calluses to show for that." The evening has brought a spectacular sunset over the Isle of Man, and the sighting of a few other competitors in the distance (behind or in front they are not saying).

The drama comes at the end:

Time is running out, and they have a four hour goal to reach Whitehaven before low tide prevents their entry to the harbour, which would mean a further 5 hour wait for the next entry window. The exciting sailing and heavy concentration that follows causes the Team to nickname themselves "Mission Focussed". Part rowing, part sailing, sometimes both, they again close tack amongst the rocks off St. Bees Head, with a welcome 10 knot sea breeze to help them round. With MINUS 10 minutes to spare, Team No Limit arrive at the outer harbour and hail the Harbourmaster on the VHF radio. They are told that the level of water over the sand bar at the harbour entrance is only just too shallow for the boat to cross at this time. Facing a 5 hour wait Jim decides to force the Harbourmaster's hand, the engine is put into full ahead, Gareth hoists the spinnaker, and he, Paul and Graeme lean out to starboard hanging from the shrouds.

Craig is called up from below but, being indisposed, feels his only option is to lean to starboard whilst on the loo! Powered up under full sail they crash on over the sand bar, touching down on 4 or 5 occasions (Gareth's build a major factor). As they approach the lock the Harbourmaster, spurred by their audacity and sailing skills, opens the lock gates and the team are faced with a fifteen foot wall of water emptying out of the gates, as it is skilfully controlled by the Harbourmaster to prevent the Team being swept back out of the harbour. They motor on in to the lock, whooping and cheering, joined by the Harbourmaster with comments of: "You really do have 'NO LIMIT'" "I've never seen anybody do that. You've really made my day."

The video clip of this, to be published later, is well worth watching (understatement!) Minutes later, on the pontoons, the runners, Craig and Graeme, are off and heading for HELL! "Adrenaline was still pumping through my body an hour later" - Gareth..........