Freeburd spreads wings to Alaska

(June 14; Day 4) – The Pure & Wild/Freeburd team of Tripp Burd, Chris Burd, and Trevor Burd continue to lead the Race to Alaska, either sailing or pedaling their 27-foot trimaran to about 17nm ahead of Bob Davis, Ron Tomas, Paul Doran, Paul Thompson on their 34-foot catamaran Team Bad Kitty. With just over 200nm to the finish in Ketchikan, AK, both teams have passed through the narrows of the final checkpoint at Bella Bella, and are getting back into the channel and the building breeze.

Event details – Entry list – Tracker – Updates – Facebook

The race has two stages:

Stage 1: The Proving Ground – June 8
Port Townsend to Victoria BC (40 miles): R2AK starts with an initial race across open water, two sets of shipping lanes, and an international border. The first stage is designed as a qualifier for the full race and as a stand-alone 40 mile sprint for people who just want to put their toe in.

If you want to be a part of R2AK but don’t have the time or inclination for the full race- join for a full day of all out racing across some of the biggest water in the course. Racers continuing on will clear Canadian customs in Victoria.

Stage one winners get to bask in the glory for a full day and a half.

Stage 2: To the Bitter End – June 11
Victoria, BC to Ketchikan, AK (710 miles): Racers start in Victoria and continue until they reach Ketchikan, accept their mortality and quit, or lag too far behind and are tapped out by the sweep boat. Other than two waypoints along the way, Seymour Narrows and Bella Bella, there is no official course. To quote the bard, You can go your own way.

Source: R2AK