Design: Farr 37

Crew: Errol Pyke (1) from Hobart, Joshua Ey (1), Hobart; Alex Nolan, (1) Hobart; Jacqui Page, (2), Hobart; Melanie McCullach (1), Hobart. Trust Bank returns with the same crew as last year. Over the winter, the two runners have joined the sailing crew to gain valuable yachting experience. While it is not expected that they will take on a major sailing role as well as running, they will be able to assist with some of the boat handling easing the pressure on the sailors.

Design: Radford 14
Crew: Richard Edmunds (10) from Sidmouth; David Milne (6), Windermere; Toby Edmunds (3), Sidmouth; Paul Stancombe (3), Launceston; Steve Bence(1).

One of the many race stalwarts, Richard Edmunds would like to put another race win on his achievement record. Consistency in the name of the game for this team and with their competitive yacht and competent crew must always rate as a good chance. Due to consistency and good tactical decisions, he won the 1995 race in an overall record time of 2 days, 16 hours, 13 minutes and 30 seconds and yet his team did not break any individual leg record times.

Design: Radford 14 Crew: Nick Edmunds (10) from Sidmouth. Ross Edmunds, (3) Sidmouth; Sam Edmunds (2), Sidmouth; David Wright, (10), Bridgenorth; Scott Ingles (1), West Tamar. Another of the race stalwarts, Nick brings a team with the same composition as last year. He won in 1991 and has the experience, the team and the yacht to be on the winner's podium again. Retiring last year in the gale force winds encountered on the last sailing leg will only cause a greater effort to do well in 1999.

Design: Adams 13
Crew: Peter Hesketh (3) from Launceston; Roger Hart (0), Queensland; Craig Sly (2), South Arm; David Ross (7), Hobart; Mark Rapley (0), South Hobart.

Peter missed the last few years but he will make up for that by bringing a competitive team to the 1999 race. The Adams 13 class of yacht has been ideal for many racing in Three Peaks over the years and Peter will exploit its benefits to advantage. David Ross is a top performing runner and will have a solid running partner. Sailmaker could be the "dark horse" of the fleet with the performance potential of the yacht and the strength of the team's runners. Definitely a team to watch with the tough David Ross out to make fast times.

Design: Trimaran - Avalon 8.5
Crew: Mick Lemon (0) from Swan Point; Arie Van Asche (6), Launceston; Simon Faulkner (0), Deviot; David Fisher (0), West Hobart; and Rod Andrewartha (0), Bellerive.

It may be the smallest yacht in the fleet but this trimaran has the potential in medium reaching conditions to put the pressure on the largest yachts and give them a surprise. Shallow water will not be a difficulty as the crew can walk this craft though water only a foot deep so they are very likely to take all the short cuts others cannot. The experience of Arie Van Asche from previous races will be an asset when the pressure is on in applying the navigational tricks in Franklin Sound.

Design: Inglis 47
Crew: John Saul (8) from Hobart; Royce Salter (3), Hobart; Peter Fletcher (3), Hobart; Gerry Oldfield (3), Hobart; Andrew Kromar (3), Mt Beauty Victoria.

Winners in 1996 and 1997, ComputerLand suffered centreboard housing damage in the gales experienced on the final sailing leg in 1998 forcing her retirement. Was John disappointed? "No not at all. We' have had a terrific race and as for the retirement, well that's Three Peaks racing!" he said. The same team returns for 1999 and as one of the more experienced crews must always rate as strong potential for taking prizes.

Design: Farr 34
Crew: David Orpwood (2) from Beauty Point; Paul Herron (9), Launceston; Brendon Herron (5), Hobart; Phillip Tuck (4), Evandale; and John McKenna (1), Devonport.

Having retired for the 1998 race, Ericsson is looking for a good result this year. Another strong running pair with the potential of good times who will keep the pressure on the top-end runners.

Design: Chamberlin 38 catamaran
Crew: Robin Chamberlin (3), from Queensland; Terry Travers (3), Queensland; Tim Sloan (3), Hobart; Nigel Aylott (0), Melbourne and Andrew McDougall (0), Hobart.

Prior to competing in the 1999 race, Excess will be sailed from Hobart to Commonwealth Bay in the Antarctic. Robin Chamberlin and Terry Travers are both very experienced in this lightweight, fast catamaran having sailed across the Tasman Sea a number of times including having sailed through a cyclone.

Prior to competing in the Three Peaks Race, Excess is being sailed from Hobart to the Antarctic making the historic Commonwealth Bay its destination. After spending two days near the hut of the great Antarctic explorer, Douglas Mawson, they will commence their return voyage to Hobart. They expect the total trip will take about 28 to 30 days.
Check the The Ice Cat Challenge position reports.

Tim Sloan brings great strength to the running department and teamed with Nigel Aylott, who ran second to Sloan in the 1999 Tasmanian Overland Track (80 kms), will place others teams under pressure for the major mountain leg prizes. Sloan has previously set Three Peaks running records and won the King of the Mountains with Andrew Kromar in 1996. Aylott ran second in the 1999 Blue Mountains Six Foot Track (46 kms) and won the 1999 Victorian Mt Bogong - Mt Hotham rooftop run.

Design: Blazer 31
Crew: Benny Parsons (0) from Ulverstone; Rod Priestley (2), Turners Beach; Lloyd Febey (8), Burnie; Craig Emmett (0), Devonport; and David Sweetman (3), Penguin.

Ben Parsons is new to Three Peaks Racing but has drawn on the experience of previous competitors to strengthen the chances for a good placing particularly in the Tilman Trophy section of the race relying on the experience of 8 times competitor, Lloyd Febey. It is good to see the team named after the charity for which they are promoting its cause and raising money to assist in gaining Tilman points. The team is looking forward to the "adventure" aspect of the race and they say that regardless of where they finish they will have achieved their major objectives in having fun and assisting Camp Quality.

Design: Dubois 11.2m
Crew: Jeff Cordell (9), from Hobart; Andrew Davison (2), Lindisfarne; Darren White (0), Park Beach; Richard Eccleston (2), Sandy Bay; Peter Hoskinson (4), New Norfolk.

With this race Jeff joins the elite group of Three Peaks competitors who have competed in 10 or more races, an extroadinary effort. Jeff's team last year surprised many with their good performance for one of the mid-sized yachts finishing third for the Kings of the Mountains and fourth overall.

Design: Sparkmans and Stephen S&S34
Crew: Peter Gibson (2), from Devonport; Junann Whish-Wilson (2), Devonport; Les Savage (6), Devonport; David Kent (1), Miandetta; Ron Marshman (0); Deloraine.

Peter will have his eyes on the sistership in the fleet KPMG Larkspur. From the form guide of these two teams they look as though they will have a hard fought race against each other for honours. Peter's previous race experience is likely to be a deciding factor.

Design: Joubert 12.9
Crew: John Joyce (2), from Launceston; Damien Killalea (0), Mt Nelson; Patrick Killalea (2), Trevallyn; Alan McElwee (0), Trevallyn; John McLaine (0), Launceston.

Malew of Man is an entry in the Cruising division and displacing 12 tons with provide some comfort in fresher conditions.

John Joyce describes Three Peaks racing as the "most varied and interesting yacht race I have ever competed in." Being in the Cruising Division may have some concessions but it is expected that the competitiveness of this race will mean they will have all stops out for a good placing.

Design: Converted Yachting World Keelboat
Crew: Tony Guy (4), from Launceston; Anthony Cornish (2), Launceston; Paul McKenzie (1), Launceston; Helene Diamantides (3), Fife, Scotland; Adrian Davis (3), Fife, Scotland.

One of the smaller yachts in the fleet it will excel in light to medium conditions so long as there are no head winds. The Scottish runners are well known and liked in Tasmania from competing in previous races. We welcome their return and it is great to see them teamed up with Bruce Guy's nephew Tony, who was a crew member aboard Business Post Naiad in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race.

These runners won the Kings of the Mountains trophy last year and will be endeavouring to make it two in a row but will face some serious challenges from other teams.

Design: Spencer 42
Crew: Angus Sprott (5), from Hobart; David McFarlane (4), Legana; Andrew Ostler (5), Howden; Adrian Beard (0), Turners Beach; Matt Dalziel (1), Kingston Beach.

Former Tilman Trophy winners, a perpetual trophy donated by the British Three Peaks Race organisers, this team is a regular and while there will be some news members this year it is again likely to have all crew running Mt Wellington to maximise Tilman points. They will be trying hard for a good overall result as well.

Design: Sparkmans and Stephen S&S34
Crew: Toby Darvall (0), from Melbourne; Andrew Roberts (0), Melbourne; James Garbett (0), Melbourne; Paul Blessington (0), Canberra; Chris Wood (0), Melbourne.

A first time for this crew but the runners have checked the course on Mt Freycinet and Mt Wellington as part of their detailed race preparation. They will be watching carefully the sistership Aquila and will provide them with a "race within the race".

Paul Blessington is one of the few runners who will have competed in the three major Three Peaks races, this Australian race, the British Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race and the Islands Peaks Race off the west coast of Scotland.

Design: Carina 44
Crew: Ken Gourlay (3), from Launceston; Adam Gourlay (0), Launceston; Tristan Gourlay (0), Launceston; Francis Cosgrave (0), Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Martin McDonald (0), Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

Ken won the race 1994 and returns this year in a new yacht crewed by his family together with a powerful running duo coming out from Ireland especially to compete. The runners, both Irish Mountain running champions, have put down a challenge to take the King of the Mountains from the previous winners, the Scottish runners with Tony Guy's Contructions team.

Martin McDonald has represented his country in the Irish Mountain Team competing in France 1993, Germany 1994, Scotland 1995 and Austria in 1996. He is at home in the hills winning numerous cross-country events and was also the national masters 5000m track championship. This race includes an ascent of 4100 metres.

Francis Cosgrave ran in the 1997 Crow's Pass Crossing Race in Alaska finishing 1st, becoming the first person outside of Alaska to win the mountain marathon. In 1998, he competed in the Climbathon at Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia known as the world's toughest mountain race, where he was placed 13th out of 143 competitors, 63 from overseas. He has also been placed well and won numerous major Irish running events.

Design: 33' Adams sloop
Crew: Brendan Boon (0), from Hobart; Andrew Boon (0), Hobart; Lyn Dawson (0), Launceston; Malcolm Steer (0), Boronia Victoria; Jason Flanagan (0), Box Hill Victoria.

Another team competing for the first time and crewed by brothers. Andrew will be making copious notes as he plans to enter his own cruiser in 2000.

Design: 16.5m Gaff Ketch
Crew: Alan Campbell (0), from Launceston; Bruce Potter (0), Launceston; Glen Smith (0), Launceston; Ross Newman (0), Rowella; Olivia Norris (0), Sandy Bay; Ruth Prenter (0), Launceston.

Rhona H is a ketch built in 1942. She is an entrant in the new "Classics Division" for ketches, schooners, brigs, etc many of which are in commercial survey. Bruce Potter has assembled a crew to ensure the keyword "fun" is had as they progress around the course. They will be playing their cat and mouse game with the schooner New Horizons and I suspect that they will not have time to go fishing as they have said.

They are sympathetic to Tilman's original concepts of oceaneering and mountaineering and while they will prefer following winds, the gaff rig of this vessel will please the eye of the spectator regardless of the wind direction.

Design: Schooner
Crew: Rudi Dahms (0), from Launceston; Tom Leaver (6), Low Head; John Oldenhof (0), Legana; Sandra Silberberg (0); James Polson (0); Ian Miekle (0); Rod Thorp (0); Craig Saunders (0); Bruce Church (0).

New Horizons is another "Classics Division" entrant making its first Three Peaks trip although it followed the fleet to Flinders Island a few years ago. A large "crew" of passengers and regular boat crew will have a great time aboard this vessel and will push Rhona H and her crew for finish honours.