Surfski Knowledge Base

Carter Johnson
09/01/14 #16208

Sadly, under no scenario could a kayaker be competitive over 750 miles with a sailing team. The results of the Everglades challenges has proven this with over 15 years of history with much smaller boats.

Sad they will not at least do Human powered vs Sail division. I am guessing this would be huge boost to the entries.

I would love to duke it out with a team of rowers or anybody(s) in what ever paddle/pedal/row/oar boat.

Cannot justify the trip though until it at least has 2 divisions.

—– Original Message —–

From: “whatcompaddlers” <whatcompaddlers@… <mailto:whatcompaddlers@…> >
To: “whatcompaddlers” <whatcompaddlers@… <mailto:whatcompaddlers@…> >
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2014 11:06:37 PM
Subject: Re: [whatcompaddlers] Re: New monster race

RE: The Race to Alaska (R2A)

I am in direct contact with Jake Beattie, the Executive Director of the Wooden Boat Foundation and have already had several email exchanges discussing the route and rules. Although the video is very compelling and professional with a spiffy website to get you excited, the WBF hasn't even worked out the details/rules about the first day of the race, let alone the rest of the race. Whether or not food drops will be allowed has not yet been decided. It seems absurd to claim you can buy food along the way but not use food drops. There are ten months to go for the details of this race to get hammered out. The rules are going to change for a awhile as the organizers wait to see how many entries are submitted, and what the Canadian and US Coast Guards have to say about it. It's $50 to enter (although not so stated on the website… you find out afterwards in follow-up emails).

But the reality about food drops is that they are not reliable. If mailed to a destination, they have to go through customs. Many kayakers have arrived at a food drop to find that the food hasn't yet arrived. Some drops never do arrive. When I rowed my trip in 2004, I carried three months worth of food, and when home discovered one month's worth would have done nicely because half of the journey is along Vancouver Island which has services (and restaurants). But, it all depends on the route one takes. And right now, you can take any route you like as long as you abide by the rules (which may change).

Just as a headzup for those that really don't know the nuts and bolts of the IP, you might want to start researching a route and talk to local people that have actually done it solo: Jennie Hahn, Susan Conrad, Derek Crook and myself. You can also contact folks like John Peaveler (currently in Kuwait), Susan Dandridge (Port Townsend) and Robin Clark (south Whidbey Island). I can give you their contact info. There are probably several others that have gone the full distance in one trip, solo and tandem–sail, paddle and oar–that I haven't named. Then, locally there are Peter Marcus and Glen Biernacki who have spent many years fishing up there. And there is a lot of reading material about solo and tandem rowing, paddling and sailing journeys between here and Ketchikan and north.

The race will be discussed at the Wooden Boat Festival, which starts next Friday in Port Townsend. I will be speaking there, as will Colin Angus (National Geo Explorer of the Year for his human-powered circumnav of the globe). Colin is from Vancouver Island and is encyclopedic in his knowledge about food for expeditions on the water and about the entire coastline of Vancouver Island having rowed around it in 15 1/2 days… and yes, I'm sure he's thinking about a row/sail in the R2A.

Food drops are not allowed. You can buy things along the way but the rules state that things can not be organized ahead of time. No outside help.

bill

09/01/14 #16210

As a sailer I would like to point out that the sailing conditions in Southern Florida are much better than what one can expect in the PNW. Contrary to what some people think, the PNW is not a great place for sailing. It's a great place for paddling and motor sailing though. If you have ever tried to sail up the inside passage and not turn on your engine, the reality of how may miles you can make in a week is depressing. If I was going to build a sailing/rowing boat for the trip I would one fast rowing boat and sailing as a downwind or reaching option only. Maybe a lightweight trimaran
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bill
09/01/14 #16211

Oops.. Didn't finish that.

Maybe a two person lightweight trimaran set up to paddle well would work but the mast and outriggers will kill you in a headwind and it won't go to windward for sh*t so you would most likely still be faster paddling it up wind with all that….. Fun.

No wind is of course a bummer in a sailing boat but wind on your nose is good because your moving but slow to cover miles to windward. Sailboats designed to make quick headway to windward are not something you would want to row. Relying on any type of sailing to make good time in the PNW is risky at best

Some dedicated sailing friends ( hate to turn on there motor) “sailed” there T-Bird to Bella Bella from Seattle. They were gone for a month and estimated they sailed ( productively, like 2 mph or more ) 20% of the trip. The rest was motoring, there was just no wind to speak of. Only one day did they spend several hours at hull speed. This is my experience in the PNW as well.

I still think it will be won by ether a double kayak and two very sleep deprived paddlers or rowers desperately needing shut eye as well.

Bill

Michael Gregory
09/01/14 #16212

Wow, 65kts - impressive speed. In a race such R2AK there would be a couple other factors; sea-worthiness and comfort. Fifty years ago, don't laugh, John Letcher cruised Aleutka through these same waters.

Aleutka was a 25 ft monohull sloop with oarlocks to row as needed. Granted, a bit slow to windward but, off the wind would sail fast. An similar updated rig might be adapted for R2AK.

A multi-hull could do but, would not point as high to windward as the mono-hull, be tough to row up-wind, and could possibly come apart in big confused chop.

West coast of Vancouver Is. might be tough for a small boat in a big westerly. So the boat of choice would be a compromise of speed, sea worthiness, and comfort. Could be fun though:)

David Scherrer
09/01/14 #16213

Me thinks this would do the trick….now where to find one around here.
Sailing Away - MOCAS OC6 Sailing Canoe
Sailing Away - MOCAS OC6 Sailing Canoe