This year a team will be entering the race with members who have very much followed the example of Bill Tilman’s extraordinary life. They are Chris Kemp, Mike Nott, Rob Willings, Lou Willings and Mark Watson, who will be in “Kokiri”, a 38ft New Zealand-built Pacific 38.
Chris, Mike and Mark served together in the Parachute Regiment where they developed passions for mountaineering and fell running. Lou and Rob met during an adventure race in the Arabian Empty Quarter. In 1991, Mike and Mark made an expedition to climb Mt Kenya and summitted on Nelion Peak, just as Tilman and Shipton did years before them.(The top photo is Mark on the summit.)
On this trip one of the party was seriously injured by rockfall and a lengthy self-rescue ensued. This involved re-crossing challenging mixed rock and snow ground lowering the casualty, a run to get help from others in a lower hut and then a long stretcher carry over glacial moraine. Tilman held strong views about outside help during adventures, and firmly believed in the ability to self-rescue in all circumstances.
Collectively, the team has made mountaineering expeditions throughout the World and Mark will be returning from his job in East Africa in order to do the race, but not by bike as Tilman once did!
Chris (pictured beloew) owns “Kokiri” which he sails whenever he can – he is under pressure to land us on the shores of northern latitudes for lots more climbing trips as soon as we can get more time off together!
Mark Watson
