Gareth Martel from Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Belfast Lough, and his crew and runners on the Beneteau 40.7 Pippa VI had a very successful Scottish Islands Peaks Race finishing second overall.

Gareth was delighted with the result “It was a fantastic battle over the 56 hours. Colossal effort by runners Craig and Oleg and crew Terry and Neil in very light and challenging conditions. Thoroughly enjoyed the Peaks this year and already planning for 2024”.

Overall winners were Tangaroa! Skippered by Marc Turner with runners Robin Wilkins and David Wallace and sailing crew Steven Forteith and Nicolas Le Clanche.

This adventure race is for teams of sailors and fell runners (both youth and adult) and is held annually on and around the most beautiful parts of the west coast of Scotland. The race starts in Oban with a short hill run, then a sail to Salen on Mull, run over Ben More, sail to Craighouse on Jura, run the Paps, sail to Arran, run Goat Fell, then sail to Troon.

The race lasts 3 to 4 days and caters to multihulls, racers, and cruisers.

Pippa’s crew were Terry Graham and Neil Tannahill, with Craig Waterhouse and Oleg Chapelin as the runners.

Gareth posted on Facebook, “Second in class and second overall, really happy with that. Absolutely brilliant, and the sun and wind finally turned up for the sail home! Bring on next year”.

But in the meantime, the next task for Gareth and Pippa VI is defending his title in the Ailsa Craig Race, the overnight offshore classic scheduled by RUYC on 16th June.