On Wednesday 15th
of June Team aparito took line honours in the Three Peaks Yacht Race. The first
time that an all female crew had EVER done so. I still can’t stop smiling when I
think about it.
Pip Hare our amazing
Skipper has already written a
brilliant blog accounting our adventure,
so I’m not going to repeat any of that (but please do read hers).
But I do want to share
some personal reflections of my own on the race. Mainly to thank all the people
that made it possible.
In my blog before the
race I explained how I wanted to use the race as an opportunity to fly the
flag for women in sport, Wales and rare diseases (three things that are usually
in the minority) and my hopes to do all three of them proud. I am massively
relieved that we accomplished that.
Our fine ship
Nunatak
has the logo for
Findacure proudly displayed on the hull, and we used the
opportunity to raise money for them too. A massive thank you to all those that
have already donated to this great charity. The
link is still open, so if you can please do donate. I am always very
grateful.
We also had the Welsh flag flying from our backstay,
and the opportunity to team up with fellow Welsh adventurer Lowri Morgan was
a long time ambition which couldn't have worked out better. That Lowri and my long time friend Jo Jackson got on so well was just perfect. Indeed I could not have imagined how well all five of us got
on. Bringing five fiercely strong, independent women together always has an
element of risk to it. And unfortunately I know too well that it can go
horribly wrong – with personalities clashing and more. I need not have worried
about any of that with our fabulous team of five! And I can’t wait for the
three part documentary sharing our experience to be shown on S4C next month,
and on Channel 4 soon after.
The fact that all five of us are highly experienced
adventurers / endurance athletes means that being female shouldn't matter. But
inevitably it does. We were the fourth all female crew to compete in the
39-year history of the race, and the first to take line honors. That is worth
celebrating. Sailing does offer an unique arena where men and women can compete
equally, and where brute force or strength is not the only winning factor. The
intensity and the pace of the sailing meant that I was merely playing catch up
most of the time. Frustrated at not being able to operate at the same level as
Pip and Nikki I had to remind myself that I was still a mere novice in sailing
terms compared to them, and decided instead to relish on the opportunity to
learn from the best. I had asked Pip and Nikki to be part of the team because I
knew they were phenomenal sailors, and it was great to watch them demonstrate
that – inspiring me to consider where my sailing ability could extend in years
to come.
The list of people that I have to thank for making
this a truly once in a lifetime adventure is long, as is always the case in
these events. So, in no particular order:
- · Thanks
to my colleagues at aparito for believing in this enough to sponsor the event,
and covering for me while I was away.
- · Thanks
to all our other sponsors Keela, SubZero, Primal Pantry, Mountain House, Oes
Gafr Eto for amazing kit and supplies which made our adventure far easier.
- · Thanks
to Wendy and the HSBC rowing club for lending us the oars and seats.
- · Thanks
to Sian and family for hosting us in Barmouth and driving us around everywhere
we needed to be at the race start.
- · Thanks
to all my family that came to cheer us off at the start line. Diolch!
- · Thanks
to Mike and Pam Jaques for shore crew support in Whitehaven and Fort William,
and for keeping Frosty company.
- · Thanks
to Pip, Nikki, Lowri and Jo for being phenomenal team mates.
- · But
most of all thanks to my Frostie for chartering us the boat, prepping it
beforehand, delivering it up to Barmouth and back down from Fort William and
for generally being my No 1 fan. Seeing his pink jacket at various land marks along
the way made me smile every time. With help from your Dad (Roger Frost) you
made it possible, and I was very proud to reward your hard work and trust in us
with bringing home the trophies:
The Daily Telegraph Trophy (first yeacht to finish)
Meirioneth Cup (Second yacht to finish under handicap)
Flicka Cup (Fasstest team third leg, IRC sail + run)
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