The Three Peaks Yacht Race
Sail up the wild West Coast and run to the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, the highest peaks of Wales, England & Scotland. A classic adventure race for teams of runners and sailors, since 1977.
Team Grand Slam
Team Grand Slam are a group of enthusiastic yachtsmen and runners from Liverpool Yacht Club (LYC) based at Liverpool Marina ’Sailing in the Heart of the City’ who race in the LYC Venture Class Series’ on the River Mersey, though not all on the same yacht! When not sailing they are all keen alpine skiers and ‘Outdoor Athletes’.
The skipper and owner, Mike, has had the Three Peaks Yacht Race on his ‘bucket list” for years and though an experienced Yachtmaster the Three Peaks Yacht Race is his first international offshore race.
The crew of four, all yachtsman but only two dedicated runners comprise of Tony, an IT Consultant and the appointed navigator, Tony probably has the hardest job on the yacht - getting Team Grand Slam from Barmouth to Fort William by the shortest and fastest route for a Westerly Typhoon.
Jonty, a Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner with four Rolex Fastnet Ocean Races under his belt, the last two double handed and then there are the two ‘racing whippets’ runners Jason and Chris. Both are ultra keen ‘Outdoor Athletes’ who sail, ski, swim, climb, run and cycle.
Jason an experienced yachtsman who has delivered yachts all over Europe and competed in numerous fell races and is found “playing in the mountains” whenever possible. Chris, a marine engineer, has over 3000 miles offshore, is a dinghy instructor, competes in sprint triathlons, cycling sportives and as the youngest in the team at 27 is expected to take all the sailing and running in his stride.
Finally, the support team, Steve, a former GB kayak paddler, competitor in the Rome to London Cycle Challenge and keen triathlete will be following the yacht by road in the trusty van ensuring that everything is in order at each port of call. The average age of the team is 43 and their motto for the Team Grand Slam is ‘Perseverance Pays”
Team Grand Slam is sponsored by Liverpool Marina, Micro Precision Engineering Ltd, ESP Ltd and BaseFeet for which the team is enormously grateful.
Team Grand Slam is fund raising for the Alzheimer’s Society and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Team Grand Slam website is: grandslam3peaks.uk where there is a link to Just Giving and links to our sponsors.
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Yacht Name: Grand Slam
Length: 11.4m
Yacht Type: Westerly Typhoon
Hull Colour: White
Draught: 1.9m
Sail No: GBR 4073T
Country of Origin: UK
Radio Call Sign: MNXY2
Home Port: Liverpool Marina
Tilman Trophy: No
Family Team: No
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Mike Croxall - Skipper
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Club: Liverpool Yacht Club
Company: Micro Precision Engineering Ltd
Nationality: British
Yachtmaster Offshore
Venture Class Racing with Liverpool Yacht Club
Extensive cruising around North Wales, Irish Sea and Liverpool
Tony Blackhurst - Crew/Navigator
Occupation: IT Consultant
Club: Liverpool Yacht Club
Nationality: British
RYA Day Skipper
Venture Class Racing with Liverpool Yacht Club
Cruising North Wales and Liverpool
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Jonty Clews - Crew
Occupation: Retired Army Officer
Club: Liverpool Yacht Club
Nationality: British
RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and Yachtmaster Examiner
Extensive sailing in UK waters, English Channel, Channel Islands, French coastal waters, Canary Islands, Falkland Islands to Caribbean.
Skippered 4 Rolex Fastnet Ocean Races, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. The last two being double handed.
Yachting Monthly Triangle Race 2014
Venture Class Racing with Liverpool Yacht Club
Jason Large - Crew/Runner
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
Club: Liverpool Yacht Club
Nationality: British
Extensive Irish Sea sailing
Yacht deliveries around European waters
Venture Class Racing with Liverpool Yacht Club
25 Years Club Racing with South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club
Experienced ‘Outdoors Athlete’; running, climbing, mountain and road biking, surfing and
Alpine Skiing Race Coach
Multiple Welsh Fell Running Association Races including Cader Idris.
Chris Briggs - Crew/Runner
Occupation: Marine Engineer
Club; Liverpool Yacht Club
Nationality: British
3000 nm offshore
Solent Racing in the Hamble Winter Series
Dinghy Instructor
Degree in Yacht Design
Venture Class Racing with Liverpool Yacht Club
Keen road runner and ‘Outdoor Athlete’
Sprint Triathlon Competitor
Numerous Cycling Sportives
Steve Briggs - Support
Occupation: Managing Director, ESP Ltd
Company: ESP Ltd
Nationality: British
Kayaking GB Squad member
Rome to London Cycling Challenge
Triathlon runner
Chris’s Dad
