TWO Warrington men made debuts in the Grand Slam team that finished sixth in the gruelling Three Peaks Yacht Race.

Boat owner Mike Croxall and Tony Blackhurst took part part in the sailing and running adventure from Barmouth to Fort William as part of a team of five from Liverpool Marina.

They won a trophy as the highest finishing club outfit in a competition that consists of 389 miles of testing coastal sailing, 24 miles of cycling and 60 miles of mountain running, with a total ascent of 14,000ft to the highest points in Wales, England and Scotland - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis.

The Liverpool Yacht Club quintet, all keen alpine skiers and athletes, are also competitors in the LYC Venture Class Series on the River Mersey.

In this event, Croxall's and Blackhurst's race roles were on the water, while teammates completed the running.

Mechanical engineer and Grand Slam skipper Croxall, aged 53, realised a dream by contesting the Three Peaks Yacht Race – his first international offshore competition.

Blackhurst, an IT consultant, was the boat's appointed navigator with the job of taking Team Grand Slam from Barmouth to Fort William by the shortest and fastest route.

As part of their adventure, they are also raising money for Alzheimer’s Society and the Macmillan Cancer Support.

Visit their fundraising page here.

The Three Peaks Yacht Race, established in 1977, is one of the oldest multi-sport endurance races in the world with more than 500 teams to have taken part.

Competitors include triathletes, marathon, mountain and ultra runners, adventure racers and those who just plan to walk up the mountains.

THE RACE

The Three Peaks Yacht Race involves sailing from Barmouth to Caernarfon, Caernarfon to Whitehaven and then Whitehaven to Fort William.

Dedicated runners among the crew will cycle to and run up and down Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis.

Use of boat engines is not allowed, except for safety reasons in specific areas in ports. However, a unique feature of the race is that rowing is allowed, and over the years, many teams have been known to row during light airs and periods of calm.

Back-up support can meet the teams on land but are restricted in what support they can give.

Barmouth to Caernarfon

The first leg starts from Barmouth, yachts sail approximately 62 sea miles, past Bardsey Island and the Lleyn Peninsula, over Caernarfon Bar and into Caernarfon. A compulsory five-minute kit check by marshals is carried out before the runners set off to the summit of Snowdon via the Mountain Ranger Path and return via Llanberis, a distance of 24 miles.

Caernarfon to Whitehaven

Here crews can opt to sail around the isle of Anglesey or continue, under sail only, through the Menai Straits. This has been an interesting decision for some skippers to make in previous years.

After a further sail of approximately 100 sea miles yachts arrive at the marina in Whitehaven where another set of marshals await runners. This is the longest land leg of the race, the distance to Scafell Pike and back being some 40 miles, so bicycles are allowed for the first part.

The ride is via a cycle path and forestry track. Cyclists should be aware that this track is not suitable for bikes with racing tyres. Racers leave bikes at Black Sail Youth Hostel before crossing Black Sail Pass to Wasdale Head. Here they will be met by friendly marshals at Wasdale Head Hotel, this time with food and drink! Runners then proceed to the summit of Scafell Pike and return to their yacht via the same route.

Whitehaven to Fort William

This sailing leg is a distance of approximately 227 sea miles rounding the Mull of Kintyre and into the Sound of Jura, through some of the most beautiful scenery but with many tidal gates to negotiate. The race finishes just north of Fort William at Corpach, the entrance to the Caledonian canal where the sailing is over and skippers can lock in to Corpach Basin and lie alongside.

The runners, after checking in with the marshals, set off to the summit of Ben Nevis. Their race is finished when they return and cross the finish line.

THE BOAT - Grand Slam

Grand Slam is a Westerly Typhoon built by Westerly Yachts in 1991, to Lloyds specification and is one of 40 built.

She is 37ft long, has a fin keel and fractional sloop rig. While she is not a true racing yacht, she can make good passage times given the right conditions and crew.

Grand Slam is berthed at Liverpool Marina.