For centuries, native canoes have paddled the inside passage to Alaska and next month the historic route will again be teeming with vessels, this time with modern-day sailors out to capture a $10,000 prize.
Organizers say
the 1200-kilometer Race to Alaska is the longest human and wind-powered race of
its kind. The route takes mariners from Port Townsend, Washington, up the
Inside Passage, to Southeast Alaska.
What makes this race different from other sailing events? No engines are permitted. The "no motors" rule leaves sailing, rowing, paddling, pedaling or some combination of those activites as the only way to victory.
What makes this race different from other sailing events? No engines are permitted. The "no motors" rule leaves sailing, rowing, paddling, pedaling or some combination of those activites as the only way to victory.
Jake Beattie's
business cards identify him as the "Lead Conspirator" for the Race to
Alaska and one of his guiding principles is to keep things simple, with as few
rules as possible.
"Get a boat
without an engine, any boat, doesn't matter what size or number of sailors. Be
self-supporting, meaning that you can't have pre-arranged support or boats
chasing you around to fix you if you break. Start in Port Townsend, finish in
Ketchikan. If you're first, we'll give you $10,000. If you're second, we'll
give you a set of steak knives. Everyone else
gets a T-shirt."
The trip can be
risky, with sailors facing strong currents, floating driftwood and logs, bears
on shore and sailing in the dark.
Most of the teams
entered in the race plan to use sailboats.
"There's one
kayaker, a couple of different ocean-going rowboats and one guy on a standup
paddleboard who is going to do the entire 1200 km."
At least six
teams had a boat custom-designed for this race. That includes world-class
sailors Joe Bersch and Dalton Bergan of Seattle. Their brand new 7-meter long
outrigger sailboat was inspired by a symmetrical Polynesian design called a
proa.
Some unusual features of the sailboat include an auxiliary pedal-powered propeller and a coffin-shaped sleeping compartment the co-captains have already nicknamed the "sarcophagus."
As he worked on
the proa, Bersch commented, "There's a tendency to look at some of these
boats and say, 'Why are you doing it? You should never try it in that.' Or,
'You'll never win. Why are you doing it?' I think the opportunity to sail up
the Inside Passage in a small craft and challenge yourself is a once in a
lifetime experience."
If their team -
Pure and Wild - takes first place, Bersch and Bergan say they will donate their
$10,000 grand prize to a charity.
Thirty-five teams
from the U.S. and Canada have entered the full race from Port Townsend to
Ketchikan. The competition will start with a long open water crossing to
Victoria, which will serve as a qualifying leg. Racers who make it to
Victoria's Inner Harbor within 36 hours without assistance may continue. The
racers will restart at high noon on Sunday, June 7, and head to Ketchikan.
There are two
mandatory checkpoints along the way, and all participants must carry a
satellite tracking beacon and VHF radio for safety.
The winner of the
inaugural Race to Alaska will cross the finish line in less than 14 days, but
it could take as little as one week.
 |
| Shane Perrin will be competing on his custom stand up paddle board and he is the world record holder for most miles traveled by SUP in 24 hours (more than 160 km). (Image Credit: VerticalOar.com) |
 |
| Wild proa, a type of multihull sailing vessel |
 |
| Testing Proa |
