Mersey Yacht Club, Devenport the new host for the 2015 Australian Three Peaks Race

From the following press release on the Australian Three Peaks Race website:

http://threepeaks.org.au/media/

Bright New Future for 2015 Australian Three Peaks Race

For 25 years the Australian Three Peaks Race has been an iconic event on the Tasmanian calendar.

A unique combination of offshore sailing and ultra distance running, the event captures the imagination of the public at every port visited.

Thousands of people gather at the start to watch the teams of four sailors and two runners set out into Bass Strait for the 600 kilometre journey around Tasmania’s scenic but challenging eastern coastline to Hobart. Enroute the towns of Lady Barron on Flinders Island and Coles Bay near Freycinet National Park play host to the teams and many visitors following the event.

After each sailing leg runners make the gruelling ascents of Mt Strzelecki, Mt Freycinet, and Mt Wellington; a combined distance of more than 130 kms of mountain running.

Following the 2013 race the voluntary committee that organises the event were informed by their host club Port Dalrymple Yacht Club that the club had a divergent view on the future of the race, and in October the club gave notice of intention to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding with the committee.

Whilst it may have initially appeared that the race was homeless, the Three peaks Inc. committee took the opportunity to defer the 2014 race, and use the time to examine every aspect of the event in order to enhance it for the next 25 years.

It became obvious early in the deliberations that Devonport, a city with a strong maritime history, offered a better venue to host the start of the race.

There are air and sea passenger links just minutes from the city, accommodation and support services within the city, and the close viewing of the action on the river from parklands on both sides of the river is unsurpassed.

The Three Peaks Inc. committee are pleased to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding has recently been signed between their committee and the Mersey Yacht Club, who will host the Australian Three Peaks Race and provide the start facilities.

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