A brief analysis

The results sheets for the race tell an intriguing story. The team finished 25 minutes behind the winners, which over the course of almost 100 hours of sailing, running and cycling must count as almost a photo-finish. Even closer, however, was the aggregate sailing time, in which they trailed by just one minute – despite getting stranded on a sandbank for some hours when leaving Whitehaven, while the lead boat scurried away into the distance. As it happened, these hours of nail-gnashing weren’t much of a handicap. The leaders failed to press any advantage, presumably due to unfavourable winds and tides. The boat won two of the three legs, with just the first leg in which they finished 7th letting them down a little.
The plaudits for a superb effort can be shared, as they should be, by both sailors and runners. Without James’ inspired gamble to jink through the Sound of Islay, the runners wouldn’t have been within striking distance of the medals when they reached Fortwilliam, and without a monumental effort from the land-lubbers on the final leg, fourth place would never have been converted into second.
I enjoyed following the race enormously, via the trackers and occasional bleary text messages from Crispin. The guilt I felt at letting the team down when I broke my ribs a few weeks ago has been assuaged, and in retrospect it may have been a blessing in disguise, as I doubt I could have matched the performances Stewart churned out, only a week after the extremely gruelling Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon. Thanks again to him for stepping in at short notice to neutralise my bombshell.
I’m very much looking forward to a full account of the race from them wot were actually in it!
Damon