This was the 40th annual race where sailors combine runners in one epic long weekend of island hopping and running up hills.
2023 was not a great year for wind. If you were in a slow boat, then booking Monday off work would have been a no brainer. Most boats were equipped with oars, and they were used a lot. Major kudos to the skippers and sailors, they had some sleepless nights. Key decisions on the Mull to Jura sailing leg about which route to take can change your race.
Most teams enter with two runners and three sailors but there are all-rounder and junior categories. Also, there are fast and slow boat categories.
The 2023 entry list was stacked with competition despite the relatively small field of about 30 boats.
Bookies favourite running pair was Joe Symonds and Finlay Wild in catamaran Opportune. They did win King of the Bens, for fastest overall runners. But not without fight from Carnethy pair Jamie Paterson and Sasha Chepelin in Sundance of Lorn. Neither of these teams won overall, that was last year’s winner Tangaroa. Pippa got 2nd and Clockwork with Carnethy runners Andy Lamont and Eliot Sedman got 3rd.
Carnethy prize winners were:
Jasmin Paris & Konrad Rawlik in Spirit of May for Mixed Pairs.
Felix Wilson & Dan Ashwood in Blue Iris for fastest Oban run time. Blue Iris was an all-rounder team that included Naomi Lang, Ben Laverick and Capt. John Lang.
Jura was a running battle ground this year, Joe and Finlay broke the record in 3hrs 1min on Saturday, Jamie and Sasha broke the record on Sunday in 2hrs 59mins, after a fishing trip. Jamie now a veteran SIPR racer had come last overall in Sundance of Lorn in 2022 managed to repeat the feat in 2023. Jamie: “we were about to overtake at the finish but then managed to chuck a sail in the water which acted as an anchor, bringing us into last place”.
Senior Running
Leg | Distance & Elevation |
Oban | 6.5km, 200m |
Mull – Ben More | 38km, 1,200m |
Jura – Papas | 25km, 1,600m |
Arran – Goat Fell | 30.5km, 1,250m |
Total | 100km, 4,250m |
The event wouldn’t be possible without all the land-based support, thank you everyone involved. James Nicholson did an amazing job at the race briefing with some Fringe worthy jokes thrown in. Carnethy members lead support on two islands, Declan & team on Mull, Eòin & team Arran. Claire McDonnell once again supported the Fettes youth team on Big Jessie.
Results: https://www.scottishislandspeaksrace.com/about/race-results/
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sipr23