Round the world sailor Phil Harmer’s change of pace at Penrith’s Western Sydney 70.3 ironman
He’s braved some of the most dangerous and horrendous conditions imaginable. But his next sporting challenge has Phil Harmer a little worried.
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Phil Harmer has finally found a sporting challenge that doesn’t leave him wet, cold or stranded in the middle of an ocean.
The Mosman father-of-two is one of Australia’s most respected and successful ocean races with five Volvo round the world events under his belt.
A year ago in the famed endurance test, the mast on the 65-foot Vestas 11th Hour Racing yacht broke near the top spreader in strong winds.
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“We had just come round Cape Horn in second place and it was blowing 35-40 knots and we were sailing with the safest rig possible but for some reason the mast snapped,” Harmer said.
“It broke at the first spreader. It all came crashing down. We did our best to salvage everything.
“We were getting a hole in the side and had to cut everything away. We were stranded with no rip so had to motor to the Falkland Island which took about a day.
“Then we were there for nine days building a jury rig.”
On Sunday, no matter how much pain or discomfort he is in, his first half ironman race will be far less dramatic.
Harmer completed in his first Olympic distance triathlon in a team’s event in November and has now opted to tackle the gruelling 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run at the Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney on Sunday.
Harmer, who is also gearing up to race the 75th Sydney to Hobart on the supermaxi Scallywag, said he wanted to challenge himself with a sport on land.
“It’s something I have always wanted to do and now I am 40 I thought I’d have a go,” Harmer said ahead of the annual race at Penrith.
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“I’ve always wanted to do it. Now I have a little more time to do racing.”
Harmer said his biggest difficulty will be reigning in his competitive nature.
“The five hour mark is what I aiming for,” he said.
“But I can see myself getting carried away and if anyone passes me, chasing them.”