Race Teams for 2001

Design: Radford 14
Crew: Nick Edmunds (Previous races 12) from Sidmouth; Ross Edmunds (3), Sidmouth; Sam Edmunds (4), Sidmouth; David Wright (12), Bridgenorth; Scott Inglis (2), Clarence Point.

One of the more experienced teams, Haphazard will be hard to beat. The yacht is strong and quick and we can be sure that Nick will maximise the conditions to his advantage. Always a favourite with the public who are keen to see how the brothers Nick and Richard (Southern Cross) fare against each other, we know that competition will not hold back due to the family bond.

Nick Edmunds

Design: Radford 14
Crew: Richard Edmunds (12) from Sidmouth; Toby Edmunds (3), Sidmouth; Phil O'Sign (9), Low Head; Steve Bense (3) ; Paul Stancombe (5) from Launceston.

Another experienced crew with the three sailors being members of the 1995 winning team that set the new overall race record. In setting the new record the team showed a consistent good effort maximising opportunities with tide and wind to score a comfortable win without breaking any of the individual sailing or running leg times. Leading the race last year on leaving Coles Bay the yacht was dismasted handing what appeared to be their certain victory to rival Haphazard skippered by brother Nick Edmunds sailing a sister ship.

We can be certain that the Southern Cross team will be in the front runners vying for a place on the winning podium.

Design: Jarken 9.5m
Crew: Matthew Ramsden (0), Launceston; Robert Gourlay (0); Richard Parker (0);
Matthew Pilkington (0); Tom Cox (0).

The youngest team to compete in any Australian Three Peaks Race having an average age of 20.6 years, this team is expected to put together solid times even though they might not be the fastest on the water. While they maybe young they have considerable experience.

The team skipper, Matthew Ramsden has sailed in Europe participating in races such as Cowes Week and the famed Fastnet Race. Robert Gourlay has similar experience and also numerous local offshore races and deliveries. Richard Parker has accumulated some 5000 ocean miles doing deliveries and is a regular bowman aboard Hobart yachts. Matthew Pilkington and Tom Wilcox also have many ocean miles to their credit with dinghy and offshore cruising and race events to their credit. This team will  be most interesting to watch.

Design: Chamberlin 30 foot catamaran
Crew: Phillip Marshall (8) Devonport; Steve Walker (5), Wynyard; Tony Guy (5), Launceston; Mark Guy (4); Southport Queensland; Brett Newton (0), Eleanora Queensland.

Design:  Simpson 15.2m
Crew: Richard Clennett (0), Hobart; Rob Gough (0), Hobart; Matt Dalziel (2) Hobart; Adam Potito (2); Jeff Cordell (10), Hobart.

A comfortable cruising catamaran and the largest yacht in the fleet it has the potential to surprise the lighter racing cats particularly if conditions are tough windward beating. While the crew is not experienced in Three Peaks racing they have many miles of racing and cruising behind them and they will drive the yacht well.

Jeff Cordell's 10 races combined with the skills of Rob Gough who has been a World sailboard champion will ensure the catamaran performs at its best.

Runners Matt Dalziel and Adam Potito will be one of the favourites to take the King of the Mountains trophy. Matt won the gruelling Cradle to Coast Ultra Challenge over the March 2001 long weekend.

Champion runner Matt Dalzeil minutes after finishing the Cradle to Coast Ultra Challenge.

Design: Northshore 38
Crew: Mark Ballard, (1), Hobart; Grant Kleeman (1), Hobart; Bruce Palmer (0), Hobart; Jacqui Page (3), Hobart; Rod Andrewartha (2), Hobart.

An easily driven yacht should perform well in light to medium conditions and keep the pressure on some of the more fancied teams. Sailing regularly on the Derwent River with the occasional foray in offshore races this yacht will be sailed hard. In near calm conditions it will outclass the multihulls and is likely to lead the larger yachts. Hard windward work will not be to their liking.

Design: Chamberlin 38 catamaran
Crew: Robin Chamberlin (6), from Queensland; Terry Travers (3), Queensland; Peter Fletcher (5), Hobart; Andrew Kromar (4), Mt Beauty Victoria; Nigel Aylott (2), Melbourne.

Robin and Terry are a highly experienced offshore team with 100s of thousands of sea miles to their credit. They are frustrated at being second in the Three Peaks so will be all out to score the number one position and are one of the favourites for the race. Recruiting a strong and experienced crew they will be a force to watch.

The yacht with Terry and Robin has sailed further south than any other multihull going to Commonwealth Bay in the Antarctic in 1999. Robin has some 110,000 sea miles to his credit and Terry has been his sailing partner for many double-handed ocean races. Peter Fletcher has been with a three times winning crew and Nigel and Andrew are both long distance champions and Andrew has also won a Three Peaks.

Design:
Crew: John Joyce (3), Launceston; John Poynter (0), Launceston; Iain Law (0), Exeter; Bruce Nye (1), Launceston; Harvey Griggs (0) Launceston.

One of the three entrants in the Cruising Division and competing for the Tilman Trophy, the Scotch Oakburn College team is expected to have a comfortable trip. All crew are involved with Scotch Oakburn College and will compete for the Corporate/Services Trophy.

Design: Adams 10 sloop
Crew: Peter Crawford (8), Scottsdale; Brian Snare (1), George Town; Paul Snare (1), George Town; Chris Watkins (1), Prospect; Robert Wrigley (0), Prospect.

Peter's experience with his Adams 10 will keep larger and more fancied crews on their mettle to hold him out. It will be no surprise if he is ahead of larger yachts and more fancied teams through his perseverance and cunning.

Design: Mt Gay 30
Crew: Keith Dunn (0), Victoria; Rod Allen (0), Beaumaris Victoria; David McFarlane (4), Legana Tas; David Doyle (1), Beaumaris Victoria; Melvyn Sutton (0), Beaumaris Victoria.

 The smallest yacht in the fleet but known as being particularly fast with off-the-wind conditions.

Design: Jones 40
Crew: Josh Ey (2), Birches Bay; Justin Wells (0), Hobart; James Polson (2), Sandy Bay; Luke Rapley (0); Ian Meikle (2).

Launched only days before sailing to Victoria to compete in the Geelong Regatta, this yacht "Quetzalcoatl" is now beginning to show it's form as the crew learn to sail it to its potential. Having shown it is very fast downwind, the Tasmanian Craftwoods team could well be the fastest on the water - so long as the conditions suit.