Carrbridge charity man to be "Kidnapped"
A Carrbridge fund-raiser is to write another chapter for charity - by reliving a classic novel.
Next summer, Alan Rankin and Edinburgh colleague Willie Gibson aim to revisit “Kidnapped”, the Scottish literary classic by Robert Louis Stevenson, 130 years after its publication.
The charity challenge will see the duo sail 500 miles from South Queensferry on the Forth, northwards and around Orkney then down the west coast landing on the rocky island of Erraid near Mull.
From there they will swap sailing boots for walking shoes to hike and run the 260 miles back to Edinburgh.
The challenge will leave from South Queensferry sailing non-stop around Orkney then passing Cape Wrath and passing west of Skye, rounding Tiree and landing at Erraid.
From there the overland route crosses Mull, Morvern, Appin, Glencoe, Rannoch Moor, Trossachs, Hillfoots and returning over the Forth to South Queensferry and following the story to finish in Edinburgh.
The overland route leads to many high tops and will take in 42,000 feet of ascent, nearly one and half times the height of Mount Everest.
Messrs Rankin and Gibson are veterans of adventure races and long distance challenges.
In 2006 the former became the first person to sail and cycle around Scotland and in 2013 he sailed single-handed around the UK and Ireland, stopping to run 10K at each of 10 ports along the way.
Willie has competed in more than 20 mountain marathons, tackled ultra-distance cross Scotland routes and completed the punishing 50 mile Ramsey Round.
Both are veterans and multiple winners of one of Scotland’s harshest adventure races, the Scottish Island Three Peaks.
Said Mr Rankin: “Kidnapped is one of my favourite books so to retrace the steps and relive the adventure seemed a good idea and it will be a ‘first’ as we don’t think anyone else has ever attempted it.
“The trip combines my two passions of sailing and being in the hills as well as connecting with a story I have read more times than I care to count.”
The challenge will raise funds for three charities: Parkinson’s UK, Ocean Youth Trust Scotland and Stevenson Adventures.
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Ms Jan Mattison, of Parkinson’s UK, said: “We wish Alan, Willie and their team every success in their fantastic adventure.
“Kidnapped 130 is an innovative way of raising funds and awareness of Parkinson’s UK and we are delighted that they have chosen us as one of three charities to benefit from their endeavours.”
Mr Ian Logan, of Stevenson Adventures, shared the excitement: “We’re delighted to be associated with Kidnapped130 in their challenge, and who knows, there may be Red Coat soldiers to evade as well!”
Said Mr Gibson: “We make a good team. Alan is in charge of the sailing leg and I will lead the overland navigation and routing. We plan to keep as close as possible to the route described in the book.
“We will be wild camping and taking accommodation along the way in much the same way as the books leading characters David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart.”
The challenge has a low-carbon ambition on both sea and land. Their yacht will utilise wind, wave and tidal forces to sail and renewable energy generated from on-board solar panels and wind turbine for all on board electrical power required for navigation, communications and lighting requirements.
The pair will have assistance from Gordon Jack and Richard Marshall helping to take shifts over the long non-stop sailing leg - both have extensive sailing experience and are past Scottish Islands Peaks Race competitors.
Mr Rankin added: “We are looking to recreate the great tale. In the book their ship is wrecked, David and Alan witness murder and flee for their lives pursued by Red Coats.
“I’d just like to stress that we plan to do none of these things!“
The challenge will take place in June, next year, and is expected to be completed within 16 days.
Donations can be made online from www.kidnapped130.com
Updates will be available on Twitter @kidnapped130 or on Facebook.