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Gale forces abandonment of Scottish Islands Peaks Race (20 May 2007) 
The Scottish Islands Peaks Race started on time on Friday 18th May at a very breezy Oban. Forecasts of Gale Force 9 winds for the next two days forced organisers to design a much shortened race in the interests of safety. Instead of the usual sail taking in the Islands of Mull, Jura and Arran, the race would finish at Jura, sparing the competitors a long sail round the Mull of Kintyre. The Race involves a blend of fast sailing and hill running on some of Scotland’s best hill peaks.
This year’s was the 25th Anniversary Race, but it turned out to be a very short one.
The conditions of gale force winds and heavy rain meant the race was set to be a major challenge for both the sailors and the runners in each team. In the event, only five boats persevered as far as Mull, the first Island on the course, and most returned swiftly to the safety of Oban.
The severe weather forecast meant that many competitors had already decided not to race this year. Among those deciding not to set out was one of the favourites, ocean racer Ross Hobson, who holds the record time for this race, set in 2000. Ross’s team had brought a secret weapon to Oban, mounting very wide racks on their catamaran to allow the crew to power the boat up. In fact the width of the boat with its racks was 37 feet, much greater than its 28 foot length. The yacht carries 1000 sq feet of sail, and was the lightest boat in the fleet. However, for this greyhound of the seas, Ideal Stelrad, these heavy winds were far from ideal.
So like many other skippers, Ross Hobson decided this year not to risk competing. Although Ross and his team were very disappointed to miss this year’s Islands Race, he is determined to return to Scotland again soon, hoping to rack up another course record in the Loch Ness Monster Race in August. There the Ideal Stelrad team will be sailing against a wide range of catamarans, and the top of the bill contest is expected to be between the Ross Hobson team in their 28 footer, and the Basilica team in their giant Extreme 40.
For more information on Ideal Stelrad please visit www.idealstelrad.com
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