ALSO please note that breakfast (full cooked or continental) will ONLY be available between the hours of 0800 -1000 am on the Saturday. Food will not be available in the rooms during the night but it may be possible to organise, in advance, snacks to be served in the large Guests Lounge which will be open for use after the ceilidh finishes.

1. There are some useful tips for overall planning of ferries/accommodation etc on the Logistics page, recently updated (go through the Admin 99 page).
2. Because of the numbers in the event this year, we will be <<absolutely>> strict on deadlines for receipt of route plans. These are due on 16^th April. Any queries will be raised with you by Martin Stone prior to the event, so that by the time you register on May 4/5 there will be no changes permitted. This applies to solo entrants as well as teams. Please, if you have not already done so, make sure that you have your maps ordered/obtained now – you can get a set at a discount from Martin, again via the Admin 99 page on the site.

If you are new to the event, please do not underestimate the time it takes to plan the route, especially for the teams, where there are a lot of often quite complex options to be studied. If you need team meetings, please plan them now! If you are new to the event, please also make sure you have read and fully understand the northings rule – there is information on the FAQ page, or call me or Martin Stone (01931 714106) if you have any questions.

All these pages can be accessed via the 99 Admin pages. Please read everything carefully (including those who have been at the event before, as there are e.g. some new rules on equipment). Please get back to me if there is anything you don’t understand, or if you find any glitches. Please also use the discussion page to exchange information.

The Route now uses the Gaelic spellings on the Landranger maps.

Please telephone Cotswold on +44 (0)1285 643434 (those of you abroad can also fax credit card details to +44 (0)1285 650101). Quote Western Isles Challenge and reference number 1417673 - if there are any problems say the deal was organised by Geoffrey Stone. The strobes are to be sent to Stephanie Sargent at 4a Brocair, Point, Isle of Lewis HS2 0EZ.

NB. You will need to bring with you ONE D-CELL 1.5 VOLT ALKALINE BATTERY such as an LR20 or RP20 as these do not come with the strobe.

Please e-mail steffisar@aol.com saying that you have ordered a strobe from Cotswold, after you have done so, then we can check we have the right numbers!

The main ones are:

Day 2

* There will be only one "mystery" CP in the morning, i.e. no CP Kilo

* Removal of Toddun checkpoint

* As a consequence of this, northings required are reduced to 75

* Shuttle to allow easier changeover after RCO

Day 3

* Change to location of RCV and parking in Castle grounds

* Orienteering course can be done at different times by the two competitors

I am also looking again at Day 1 to shorten this a bit and improve logistics

Past entrants will know that this is a process that goes on every year, so please bear with us, as the changes are all meant to help!

I have been asked to point out that the accommodation at Castlebay School and the Scalpay and Berneray Halls is somewhat undeserving of the appellation "basic hostel accommodation", as it is in fact just a wooden floor. You will need a sleeping mat and bag at each location, and probably to take breakfast food as well at Castlebay

A few other clarifications of points that people have raised:

1. No kit will be required for the hill climb on Barra except the first aid kit and a light waterproof jacket
2. Also for the Pentland section and machair in Uists, just the first aid kit will be required
3. The ferry returning bikers to Ludag is a special ferry for the race and the plan is that it will have everyone back at Ludag by about 0730

It might also help you to know the plan this year to start paddlers in groups on each leg, with the slowest first and the quickest last. The aim of this is to keep the line much more together , with the quicker people overtaking the slower over the course of the route, and so improve safety. This is in no way a handicap – separate times will be taken for each group as they set off. The initial ranking will be done by means of a timed section on the paddle over to Barra on Tuesday afternoon.

The route is accessed via the 99 Admin page

Past competitors will know that there are quite frequent fine tunings of the route, so even though you will get e-mails advising of updates, please check back to the site from time to time. Updates will be posted to "what’s new".

We are always interested in comments, especially to do with simplifying logistics etc. If you think your question is one that other people would like the answer to, please post it via the discussion site and then everyone can see the response

It might help you to know the plan this year to start paddlers in groups on each leg, with the slowest first and the quickest last. The aim of this is to keep the line much more together , with the quicker people overtaking the slower over the course of the route, and so improve safety. This is in no way a handicap – separate times will be taken for each group as they set off. The initial ranking will be done by means of a timed section on the paddle over to Barra on Tuesday afternoon.

Regarding Day 1, the timing of the second paddle (teams) will be announced once we see from route pans what the best window for it is. Basically the intention will be to allow you to deliver the paddler to the start while your runner is doing the Beinn Mhor section and to allow you to collect him/her while your runner is doing the Eaval section.

A few further pleas/reminders:

1. Please make your bookings with CalMac – you don’t have to lay out any money at this stage (or indeed at all until you arrive at the ferry)
2. If you need help with accommodation, please contact the Western Isles Tourist Board via the site. They have a website with all accommodation listed, and a form to allow them to book accommodation for you at the expense of the accommodation provider. We regret that we cannot get involved in booking accommodation, though we do intend to try to post a list of non-Tourist Board accommodation in the Tarbert area for Wednesday and Thursday nights
3. We have tried to do a deal on sets of flares for loans, but I am afraid without success in this world of red tape. If you are coming from abroad, you can buy these via the form on Stephanie’s site at www.hebex.co.uk . Orders for these and indeed all other gear must be with Stephanie by mid April at the latest
4. We have also tried to establish a polling station on the Clisham, but again without success … Therefore anyone eligible to vote in the Scottish elections on Thursday May 6 is reminded that they need to have arranged a postal vote or proxy in their home town. The forms to do this are obtainable from your local electoral officer (council offices) and must have been completed and returned there before 5pm on Tuesday April 20. It will not be possible for race competitors to vote while they are in the Western Isles as only those on electoral duties are permitted to vote elsewhere while away from home.
5. If you have not already committed to doing so, if you live in the UK -- and whether in a team or solo - please consider running for our official charity, Macmillan Cancer Relief. This is basically a win/win option for you, as Macmillan will give you a local "minder" to do all the actual work, plus goodies such as T-shirts. If you live in Scotland, please call Lorraine Allstead on 0131 228 9328. Elsewhere in the UK please call Jo Deverson on 0171 887 8412

Finally, I would be interested in any comments from solo competitors on their route, as it is easy to fix problems at this stage. There have been a number of changes to the field, with people dropping out and reserves coming in. We now have two women competing, and Mats Andersson of Team Peak Performance (leading the 98 Eco into its very final stages) is among those who have come onto the list.

You will have to give credit card information. They MUST be dispatched back on Monday May 10 as they are needed for another race - if they don't your credit card will be billed for them.

Hire suits available in standard sizes from:

Biddie Foord (correct spelling), Terrapin Wetsuits, 19, Maple Way, Earl Shilton, Leicester, LE9 7HW

I am afraid we are still having trouble completing the route cards for download, but these will definitely be available early next week in various formats.

If you have any contacts with the Almighty, please get on the phone and ask for some dry east winds …. After the wettest winter anyone can remember, the route is presently navigable by supertanker along its entire distance!

Finally, can I repeat my plea to any Teams not already doing so to consider competing for Macmillan. We are looking to have teams all over the country, and there is no major effort involved on your part as Macmillan will provide you with a local volunteer to co-ordinate the fundraising for you. If you live in England or Wales, please contact Jo Deverson on 0171 887 8412. If in Scotland, please call Lorraine Alstead on 0131 228 9328 or by e-mail at osni@macmillan.org.uk

The team route cards now include the standard northings for various CPs, so please make sure that your detailed plans add up to the same figures!

Please advise any discrepancies asap.

1. Machair track on Day 1 – the following info may be helpful if you are planning northings along this:

735180 Cemetery 735220 Gravel or good solid grass track

735220 730240 More muddy in places but still cycleable

730240 725277 Good sandy track, not always obvious. Fence with stile at this grid

These are listed below, but I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU NOW PRINT OFF ALL FOUR DAYS’ ROUTE SHEETS, THE LOGISTICS PAGE, THE ORIENTEERING DETAILS AND THE RULES TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARRIVE AT THE EVENT WITH THE FINAL VERSIONS OF EACH. It might also be worth double-checking all the previous updates just to make sure there is nothing you have overlooked, as omissions may be difficult to rectify at a distance from home.

When you arrive for registration on Monday and Tuesday, there will be the following forms to complete:

Warranty – all team members and the team contact (if different) need to be there to sigh this, so please bring the whole team for this purpose

Accommodation, food etc requirements – NB payment for this will be required at this stage, and can be made by credit card

Please also note that team contacts should bring with them next of kin details for all team members – we do not take these, but they should be to hand

Swimming gear checks will be done at the same venue as canoe checks

The logistics route clarifications are:

1. Slight changes to times/arrangements for getting over to Barra on Tuesday
2. Ditto re arrangements at Ludag on Wednesday morning
3. Wording about bike section to Day 2 to clarify precisely where this begins and ends
4. Ditto route from Ceann Reamhar after RCL
5. Times that Eisgein Road (SC18) is out of bounds on Day 3
6. Details of Orienteering Section Day 3

PLEASE IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO GO <<<<<NOW>>>> TO THE ACCOMMODATION FORM AND SEND IT BACK TO US – WE NEED THIS TO ADVISE NUMBERS TO THE VARIOUS VENUES

For anyone who hasn’t seen it, there is a nice piece in Trail Magazine this month. Current main feature press is looking like The Evening Standard, Scotsman and FT, but doubtless more will follow as we get nearer the event

There will be a live website, accessible via the main site and live from Monday 4 May onwards. Your nearest and dearest can follow you and send e-mails etc to urge you on, so please pass on the address to anyone you think might be interested – as below