Race to Alaska: ready to roll

Race to Alaska is back for year six after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus. No motors or support allowed, the R2AK is about the physical endurance, saltwater know-how, and bulldog tenacity that it takes to navigate the 750 cold water miles from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska. “As these teams sail into the forgotten reaches of our coastal wilderness, the stories that do come out will be incredible,” says Race Boss Daniel Evans.

First place wins $10K; second place, a set of mediocre steak knives. Teams embark on Stage 1, “The Proving Ground,” from Port Townsend on June 13 at 5:00 AM; they have 48 hours to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca and make it to Victoria, BC. June 16 at high noon marks the start of Stage 2, “To the Bitter End,” the 710-mile trek from Victoria to Alaska.

Racing this year are prototype vessels like Team Skywalker on a foiling boat that looks like a TIE fighter. A team of four youth, 16.75 average age, called Mustang Survival’s Rite of Passage are sailing a veteran Santa Cruz 27. Human-powered teams in kayaks and rowboats will be jockeying for position with go-fast boats, solo racers, and even those attempting to drag their engineless houseboats up the Inside Passage. Most just hope to finish, and the journey is what is celebrated.

This year, the removal of one of only two waypoints between Victoria and Ketchikan, Seymour Narrows, gives racers the choice of going up the inside of Vancouver Island or going out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca into the Pacific Ocean, opening up a new realm of possibilities as teams endeavor to solve the R2AK puzzle.

The public is invited to come to the Northwest Maritime Center on June 12th to meet the teams and celebrate their impending adventure at the Ruckus, a free block party, and again for the race start at 5 AM on June 13th to cheer on the teams and they embark on Stage 1.

The Race to Alaska is a project of the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, WA. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and educate people of all generations in traditional and contemporary maritime life, in a spirit of adventure and discovery.

Race details – 2019 Results – Facebook – Instagram

Race to Alaska, now in its 6th year, follows the same general rules which launched this madness. No motor, no support, through wild frontier, navigating by sail or peddle/paddle (but at some point both) the 750 cold water miles from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska.

To save people from themselves, and possibly fulfill event insurance coverage requirements, the distance is divided into two stages. Anyone that completes the 40-mile crossing from Port Townsend to Victoria, BC can pass Go and proceed. Those that fail Stage 1 go to R2AK Jail. Their race is done. Here is the 2022 plan:

Stage 1 Race start: June 13 – Port Townsend, Washington
Stage 2 Race start: June 16 – Victoria, BC

There is $10,000 if you finish first, a set of steak knives if you’re second. Cathartic elation if you can simply complete the course. R2AK is a self-supported race with no supply drops and no safety net. Any boat without an engine can enter.

In 2019, there were 48 starters for Stage 1 and 37 finishers. Of those finishers, 35 took on Stage 2 of which 10 were tagged as DNF.

Source: Race to Alaska