The Race to Alaska. I call it the Iditarod of the sea, and for good reason. The sailors that have shown up for the Race to Alaska have the same pioneering (some say blind) spirit as those that mush their dogsleds across a harsh and unforgiving landscape.
The sailors participating in the Race to Alaska have to deal with an equally harsh environment, only instead of melting ice and wind driven snow, they have to deal with strong currents, swirling winds that come out of nowhere and the most storied and unforgiving coastal passage on the continent, the inside passage from Victoria, BC to Ketchikan Alaska.
I love the simplicity of this event. No engines but that’s about it. You can row, paddle, sail or swim ahead of your craft and tow it (if you can handle the freezing cold water). The race organizers make it perfectly clear. Once you leave Victoria you are on your own. If you get into trouble, it’s up to you to get yourself out of trouble. They don’t have any rescue capabilities.
Now I have an opinion on this. I feel that if there is a safety net, you feel able to let your guard down knowing that you will be rescued. I liken this to the time I spent in the bush with my brother in Botswana. We walked in areas where we knew there were lions but he never carried a gun. I asked him why and his answer was right on. “If you have a gun you tend to let your guard down. No gun and your senses are heightened.
They have to be. He has been living in the bush for 50 years and the lions still haven’t got him yet, and by the way he’s paralyzed after he and I got into a climbing accident when we were kids.
Sorry I digress. There is a feeder/proving ground race from Port Townsend, Washington to Victoria. It’s 40-odd miles that includes dodging two shipping lanes and dealing with whatever the weather throws at you. You have 36 hours to complete the crossing and it allows the race organizers to see if you and your vessel are up to the task to tackle the 750 grueling miles ahead.
There is one quirky thing about this race that I love. They have a Le Mans start. For those not familiar with what this is, here’s how it goes. Boats are ready, skippers and crews are held at bay. Gun fires and they make a mad dash for their boats. You can’t raise a sail until you clear Victoria harbor. Everyone has to row or paddle. After that, god speed and if the wind dies, bring out the paddles again. Anything to just keep the boat moving.
Your course is up the Inside Passage known for its strong tides, swirling gusty wind and plenty of debris in the water much of which is logs coming from the small logging camps along the way. The sailors will also have to keep an eye out for cruise ships because both Celebrity Cruises and Viking Cruises also use the Inside Passage (god how I hate those disgusting monstrosities).
While the sailors are trying to get some sleep, they will be surrounded by the most incredible scenery and wildlife. The rugged coastline is carved out from glaciers while bald eagles, raptors, puffins and flocks of sea ducks among many others make each day a wonder.
So what do you get if you win? $10,000 big ones. Second places gets you a set of steak knives. The rest just get to keep their memories. Race update – as of this Juneteenth morning the fleet are all facing stiff headwinds, you know, the cold kind that are blowing directly off the Arctic circle. Track the fleet here. – Brian Hancock.
