AROUND-THE-WORLD and trans-Tasman ventures have taught Bruce Arms and Jessica Watson a valuable lesson before their first joint tilt at the Three Peaks race.
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``We've learned the importance of reliability,'' Arms said as he gathered his experienced crew on board race favourite Mobile Travel Agents Big Wave Rider.
``Our preparation has been meticulous. We wanted to get everything right because if you strive for reliability then you can just concentrate on sailing the boat.''
In addition to being the solo Australian circumnavigation record-holder and first competitor in 40 years to win back-to-back solo trans-Tasman races, Arms was also project manager for Watson's historic 2010 global circumnavigation and is keen to improve on a Three Peaks record of fourth in 2008 and third a year later.
``In 2009 our runner missed a turning on Freycinet so we missed the tide and wind at the (Dunalley) canal and had to pull the boat through for about a mile,'' he said.
``But I just remember the race being great fun - tough racing, but fun.
``When I first heard about it, I thought it would be awesome to do. It's the sort of sailing we like to do with different aspects to it, lovely scenery and nice people.
``I always planned to come back but got a bit busy with Jessica's program and the solo trans-Tasman.''
The 51-year-old said although he is skipper, wife Suzanne is boss in a crew which also features fellow Sunshine Coaster Watson, Lachlan Pryor, of Sydney, and gun Victorian runners Andrew Kromar and John Kent.
Watson sailed down to Tasmania with Arms in 2009, joined him for last year's Brisbane to Gladstone race and is excited about her Three Peaks debut.
``I've known about it for some time and heard Bruce talk about it like forever but never really thought about doing it until this year,'' the 18-year-old said.
``It should be a fun and interesting thing to take part in.
``I'm not sure what to expect but it's certainly going to be different. If the wind is right it should be nice sailing, if it's not, we could be doing a fair amount of rowing. But I think the runners have the real hard yards.''
Arms was not getting carried away with his crew's chances.
``We would love to win and will certainly be trying to, but just want to do the best we can,'' he said.
``We've come 1000 miles to get here so it's a big trip for us and I definitely want to go better than before but it's going to be tough with four big cats involved.
``It'll be very competitive because we're all friends.''