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The Team
'Storm Cruiser's
Skipper is Ian Jones, or to give him
his full title, Warrant Officer Aircrewman
Jones. To you and me that means he fly's
SeaKing helicopters for a living. Ian
is also responsible for a lot of other
duties associated with Navy Seakings
and is particularly fond of the rescue
service that 819 squadron provide from
their base at Prestwick. Ian is also
a RYA Yachtmaster instructor/examiner,
a very useful atribute when your passion
is Three Peaks yacht racing.
Scott Hislop and
Mike 'Lennie' Leonard are the other
two sailors. Both are experienced sailors
and are qualified RYA yachtmasters,
and like Ian spend much of their time
with the Royal Navy Seakings and new
Merlin helicopters at Culdrose. The
three have sailed together often and
work almost like a single person when
racing, such is their close understanding.
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'Lennie'
Leonard (left) and Scott Hislop
tack
Storm Cruiser near Great Cumbrae.
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The teams runners should have included
a veteran of the 1999 race, Nick McEarlean.
A member of the Royal Marines prestigous
Biathalon team. As with all things in
service life things can change quickly
and Nick was 'crash drafted' just before
the race. We presume he is now in Africa!
Two of Nick's fellow Marines have been
brought in and face the prospect of tackling
a tough set of mountain runs. Neither
of them have ever sailed before.
In essence the race
combines sailing skills and mountain
running ability. The challenge is to
race the boat as fast as you can and
get your runners up and down the three
peaks in the fastest time. Pitting your
wits against the weather, tides and
the rest of the racing fleet means that
every team must strive to work in unison.
The route for the
race follows a course through some of
the most difficult channels in Scottish
waters. The tide race marked on charts
as the Gulf of Corryvreckan is awesome
in its power with the tidal forces being
felt miles offshore, get your timing,
or your course wrong here, and it could
be days before you catch the leaders.
Or worse still you might need the professional
services of Ian's colleagues at HMS
Gannet.
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