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R2AK Happening Again In 2016

August 18, 2015 by jarndt
R2AK Happening Again In 2016

Very cool event. The first ever R2AK event was held this year (2015) with the 750 mile adventure race starting on June 7th in Victoria, B.C. and finishing in Ketchican, AK over the weeks ahead.  A wide variety of craft participated - paddlers, rowers, sailors, multihulls and dinghies.  For most of the 40 challengers it was an epic, very challenging course with big breeze, big currents, no breeze, no current and every variety of sailing condition imaginable.  It's not for everyone but if you've got an urge for a real challenge and adventure surrounded by spectacular scenery and fun, like-minded people this is one for you.  

Now they've just announced the 2nd annual!  This one will leave just after Summer Sailstice on June 23rd, 2016.  If you do it you'll probably be spending your Summer Sailstice weekend in Victoria, BC making the last of your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and dosing yourself with baby powder in anticipation of chafe.  Since you're starting around the solstice at about latitude 48 degrees North and making your way to about 55N the days are long for mostly daylight sailing.  

Here's the 2016 race announcement from R2AK:

You heard it here first: Organizers have given a second Race to Alaska the green light.  

"After numerous debriefs with safety personnel, race staff, event sponsors and others, we have decided to move forward with a second Race to Alaska.  Besides, there may have been a full-blown revolt if we hadn't run this again," said Jake Beattie, Executive Director of the Northwest Maritime Center, R2AK's host organization.  The race will start on June 23 in Port Townsend, WA; all other details regarding the second iteration of the race will be released on September 11 at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. "There will be changes and some fun additions to the 2016 challenge," says Race Boss Daniel Evans, on board for his second year as Race Director. 

The first-ever R2AK Blazer Party will also be held at the Wooden Boat Festival; this event is free to racers and $25 for all others. Attendees can come rub elbows with R2AK teams, see the second place steak knives, and be the first to hear the details of next year's event. In mock formality, there will be a rack of thrift store R2AK-emblazoned jackets for the racers to wear (racers who completed both stages of the race get one with two arms). 

For more information about the Race to Alaska, visit R2AK and attend the R2AK Blazer Party at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival on September 11!

We also just watched a magical video by Waterlust of the Burd brothers adventure on their 22 foot catamaran:

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