In a dismal day for adventure style racing The Australian Three Peaks Race committee of the Mersey Yacht Club inc. announced that the 2015 Three Peaks Race has been cancelled and the organisation will go into recess.
Chairman Terry Travers said today, “At the close of expressions of interest for entries only a handful of teams had submitted an intention to compete.”
“This is a gruelling event that requires significant preparation, and cannot be undertaken as a 'last minute' effort”, he said. “Nor is it simply a yacht race that requires a starter and a finisher. Upwards of 50 volunteers are required at the four ports, and it is not reasonable to mobilise this generous group of supporters for a very small number of teams.”
“We are deeply saddened by this decision”, Travers said. “There is a 25 year history of successful short-handed sailing and ultra mountain running undertaken in all sorts of weather. But times change.”
Organisers cited the costs and time needed to prepare a boat and team in the current economic climate, together with a decline in interest among sailors to participate in tougher long-distance offshore sailing as factors contributing to the reduced entries.
Although the organisation is in recess, the assets and expertise will be retained. Three Peaks Inc. will continue to hold the rights to all intellectual property.
