Leg 3 - Sailing

Whitehaven to Fort William

Departing Whitehaven at 23.30 hours the team now face the most gruelling sailing leg of the race, through some of the most treacherous waters off the British Isles.
They cross the Solway Firth with 10-15 knots of wind and raised spirits after leaving yet another tidal gate shut behind them. This time advantage combined with the good wind should consolidate their position and push them towards the leading group.

They sail close in to Burrow Head and Luce Bay to avoid the tide and then round Mull of Galloway by 10.00 hours the following morning. This stretch is a boost to the team as they catch up lots of time on the boats in front.

The wind dies as the team round the Rhins, and they head inshore to avoid the strong currents which are funnelled at this point between the Peninsula and the Northern Irish Coast, as they do so they touch the keel on something. Some sailors tales would romantically embellish this into their striking a whale, but we realistically believe we grounded the boat.

Jim Goddard delves into his selection of "Pick Me Up" meals and the team enjoy a three course meal, with G&T aperitifs and olives.

(Jim, renowned for his snacking skills - both in preparation, regularity and quality - is believed to be of a level to be able to "snack" for Britain. A "J.G. Snacks" page coming soon to this website).

 For 12 hours the team continue to row, mile after endless mile, close to the shore to lessen the effect of adverse tides.

A gamble is made to row out into the North Channel in the hope that, as the tide turns in their favour, the wind would fill in on top and take them over the entrance to the Firth of Clyde, and help them reach the Mull of Kintyre before the tide changed.

"This was the most depressing part of the race. Rowing out to sea with no wind. All hope gone, it looked as if our race was over" - Jim.

The gamble pays off due to an outstanding effort by Gareth and Graeme, rowing for the full watch. Gareth contemplates kedging on a small shoal (the only suitable place for miles) when the wind suddenly fills in, carrying them up to the Mull of Kintyre.

On a turning tide and the team continues up along the Mull of Kintyre, "This was really exciting - awesome wind, and fantastic scenery, mist shrouded, green and grassy cliffs". Obviously the song wasn't wrong.

Close inshore to shelter from the tide, Team No Limit spot a fellow competitor battling against the tide offshore. The poor guys look like they're going backwards, and this increases Team No Limits spirits because close in shore, back eddies are helping them forward. The team's expert tactical move takes them streaking past. It's only at this point that they realise that they have moved up three positions in the past 24 hrs.

Nearly on the rocks all the way up the Kintyre Peninsula, the team have what they consider their most enjoyable sailing of the race so far. A favourable turn in the tide sweeps them through Sound of Gigha, passing inside Gigha Island.

A slackening of winds encourages more rowing up the Sound of Jura, again reaching the top as the tide had turns. Tactics again prove critical in these turbulent waters and clever helming and navigation takes the team into the tide shadow of Reisa an t-Sruith and they notice "… an awesome current line on the North side of the island. I've never seen water moving so fast in the sea, mini whirlpools, foam. It was a mailstrom."

Sailing in a beautiful evening into Shuna Sound to keep out of tide, they miss the main route through the Sound of Luing where the tide would be running at 4-6kts against them. They row up the Shuna Sound through spectacular seascapes - porpoises, sea otters, seals, salmon farms and beautiful majestic scenery.

Sailing with a favourable tide into Cuan Sound with no wind, but 5 knots of tide rushing us through a 100yd wide channel - "so peaceful and tranquil" - through shoals of jumping fish.

Out into Easdale Bay, and deciding to carry on their mad navigation exercise of staying as close to rocks as possible, they row through a tiny inlet called Easdale Sound, with no more than a 10m wide channel, 1m under the keel, rocks all around and 4 knots of current sending them flying through at twilight.

"It felt very strange with people looking out from their houses to see this yacht going through a passage way too small for it - very exciting!"

This catapults the team out into the Firth of Lorne at dusk, where the wind finally picks up from the Northeast and they beat to windward, experiencing the first real wind of the race. This beat to windward was to continue, through a very dark night, for the next 14 hours until the end of the race.

They push on past Oban and through the Lynn of Lorn. Fatigued and exhausted, the team makes an almost disastrous navigation error. Flying along at over 6 knots, they come very close to hitting rocks and a sandbar - "with only 0.1m under the keel we didn't breathe for 30 seconds - our hearts were in our mouths for a while!"

Dawn uncovers the awesome mountain scenery surrounding Loch Linhe, and a yacht approximately 2.5 hours behind them down the loch. Not knowing which boat but well aware that it is racing, the team redouble their efforts and continue to beat up Loch Linhe.

Previous masters of tidal gates, the team are finally defeated by the 'Grandfather' of them all - The Corran Narrows. At this point the loch reduces to a quarter of its width and depth. With 6 knots of tide through here, this forms a tidal barrier that in full flood is impossible to sail through. But they try.

Finding a small eddy which carries them well into the narrows, they short tack up it, but are continually beaten back when the eddy narrows and they are forced to tack back into the main stream (even trying to kedge in this just shoots them straight back out as the anchor fails to hold). This battle rages for 2 hours, during which time the pursuing yacht creeps up relentlessly.

Encouragement is shouted from the lochside by the support team, waving the recently arrived battle flag (which is considered a little small - "It's tiny" - Jim), until at last the tide starts to turn, but by now the weary sailors have been caught by their fellow competitor Midstream.

A tacking duel ensues, eventually neck and neck in the same channel, their lead totally disappears as Midstream, a faster yacht design, manages to sail higher and slightly quicker, and breaks through the narrows, followed only minutes later by the team.

"After having just got through so many tidal gates to our advantage in the race, we couldn't really complain that we hadn't made this one." - Gareth.

Now there is a real race on. They continue to beat, up Loch Linhe, and arrive only 13 minutes behind Midstream. Every last second counting as they try to give the runners the maximum chance against the opposition on the mountain to rightfully gain back their position..........