Las Tres Islas 2008
Las Tres Islas 2008, the most extreme quadrathlon held annually in the Canaries, Spain, took place on Saturday 31st May as part of the Dia de Canarias celebrations in the Canary Islands. For the 5th consecutive year local athletes tested their abilities against a strong international field. Amateur and professional competitors from the UK, Holland, France, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa, Australia, Poland, Germany and Italy competed alongside a strong Canarian and Spanish contingency.
For the 2008 race there were 3 categories: Solo competitors (taking part in every discipline alone), Individual competitors (competing alone for 3 disciplines but sharing the final sea-crossing i.e. 2 man kayak or sailing craft) and Teams (comprised of between 2-4 team competitors)
The competitors started the swim leg of the race at 09:00 from the harbour of La Graciosa to the Mirador beach in Lanzarote. Conditions were exceptionally tough this year, not from the waves but from a very strong current which really tested endurance levels and added, on average, an extra 10 minutes swim time for each competitor when compared to previous years times.
Security levels were especially high thanks to the Guardia Civil helicopter and rescue boat, the Proteción Civil department and boats and ribs provided by José Manual Galan, Juan Socas, Victor Gonzalez and Ivan Cruz Fernandez and their crews. Oliver Acuna Hernandez from the Policia Local Team from Yaiza was the first competitor to reach Mirador Beach in a time of 37 minutes. The first Solo competitor was Fletcher Kennedy from Australia (53:55 minutes) and first Individual competitor was Peter Dalkin - UK (59:01)
With the stunning backdrop of La Graciosa and the Mirador cliffs the run started with almost a kilometer of flat ground before the grueling uphill cliff section. James Sutton – UK - from the Flag Beach Team from Fuerteventura was the fastest runner (20:25), followed by Felix Martin Vinoly from the Policia Local Team (21:18). Fastest Solo was Albert de Jong from Holland (22:07) and Individual Vaughan Portelli - UK (27:07). After 2 disciplines the competition was still open for the Solo and Individual competitors but the strongest emerging team was the Policia Local Team.
With the wind behind, conditions for the 70km cycle the length of Lanzarote were perfect. As the cyclists arrived in Playa Blanca heading to the finish line there was a fantastic atmosphere created by hundreds of spectators, the 80 Las Tres Islas Volunteers and the local Police of Playa Blanca who had turned out in force to support their colleagues from the Policia Local Team from Yaiza
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This was the point that the Ericsson Racing Team – named The Shore Rats - started to make a claim for the trophy when Kiwi Brad Marsh turned in a cycle time of 1:46:59. Fastest Solo was Fletcher Kennedy (1:54:55) who is also part of the Ericsson Racing Team (although competing alone in Las Tres Islas) and Individual was Vaughan Portelli (2:01:15).
Conditions for the final 10 km sea crossing from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura were also excellent, with moderate waves and a north easterly wind blowing at around 15 knots. The same high level of sea and air security was in place as for the La Graciosa crossing. Las Tres Islas runs a handicap system to allow different types of watercraft to race fairly. The kayaks had a start time of 15:00, the Laser at 15:30, the catamaran at 15:45 and the windsurfers, kitesurfers and other sailing craft at 16:00
The final sea crossing to Fuerteventura is normally the discipline where the large time differences are the deciding factor in who the eventual winners will be, and in 2008 this also proved to be the case.
First team across was the Shore Rats with their Swedish Champion windsurfer Jimmy Hellberg flying across in 25:29, with the Local Policia Team Laser skipper Yonathan Umpierrez Martin sailing slightly behind (28:07 incl handicap). Fastest Solo crossing was made by Luis Andres Madrazo in a kayak (46:18 incl handicap) and the 2008 winner of the Individual class had already been decided as Vaughan Portelli and Peter Dalkin sailed the last leg of the race together (38:45). Peter Dalkin just clinched it 1 minute 27 seconds ahead of Vaughan Portelli.
Special mention should be made of Peter Dalkin’s achievements; he celebrated his 68th birthday at midnight after Las Tres Islas and had completed the Lanzarote Ironman the previous weekend.
When the last competitor had safely sailed to Corralejo Beach all competitors, the Las Tres Islas team and volunteers met at the Waikiki Beach Bar for a well deserved Paella feast and, for the competitors, a much needed massage. Later that night the prize ceremony was also held in the Waikiki. Everyone forgot about the how tired they were as they enjoyed (as one competitor put it) “the Mother of all parties” and danced till the early hours to the African, drum based rhythms of band “Africa Yeah”.
Final Results.
1st Team: Ericsson Shore Rats (total event time 3:19:06)
2nd Team: Policia Local de Yaiza (3:29:04)
3rd Team: Juani’s Equipo (3:48:05)
1st Solo: Luis Andres Madrazo (4:21:29)
2nd Solo: Fletcher Kennedy (4:26:34)
3rd Solo: Jose Ignacio Silva Pena (4:27:10)
1st Individual: Peter Dalkin (4:19:29)
2nd Individual: Vaughan Portelli (4:20:56)
Winnners Las Tres Islas 2008
Total Times
Swim Results
Climb Results
Cycle Results
Sail Results
