Race to Alaska Podcast
Published on May 2nd, 2024
The Race to Alaska will hold its 8th edition in 2024, continuing with its 750-mile course from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, AK. And now there is a podcast series prior to the June 9 start. In this episode, the spotlight is on boat lovers/addicts, a solo sailor with a lot of wet miles ahead of her, and a team manifested from an online sailing/dating scheme:
Team Only Lubbers Left Alive
There is cause to worry that the sailing couple of Chelsea and Mark have an unhealthy boat-buying addiction. Fortunately, they live on one and the rest are gathered around it like pups to a teat—none of them abandoned in a lonely field somewhere.
Team Forget-Me-Knot
Jolyn sails. Jolyn sails alone. Jolyn sails alone on a Hobie Tandem Island, and has pretty much done the R2AK course already. Watch Jolyn sail.
Team Loose Screw
After R2AK caught her eye, team ring leader Emily magicked herself together a quartet full of sailing know-how to race her fixer-upper San Juan 24 to Ketchikan. Race High Command dares them to do it without cleaning the bottom.
Race details: https://r2ak.com/
The 8th edition of the Race to Alaska (R2AK) returns again in 2024 for the 750 mile course from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, AK.
Stage 1: The Proving Ground – June 9 start
Port Townsend, WA to Victoria, BC (40 miles)
R2AK starts with an initial jaunt across open water, two sets of shipping lanes, and an international border. While not a race in itself, the Proving Ground 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.
Stage 2: To the Bitter End – June 12 start
Victoria, BC to Ketchikan, AK (710 miles)
Racers start in Victoria at high noon and continue until they reach Ketchikan—or are tapped out by the sweep boat. Unlike the 2022 and 2023 races, the western side of Vancouver Island is no longer an option as the course has returned to the original format with two waypoints at Seymour Narrows and Bella Bella.