HOWB 141 – Interview | Jake Beattie, Exec. Director of the Northwest Maritime Center on the Race To Alaska, aka R2AK 09.18.14

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Jake Beattie, Executive Director of the North Maritime Center, to discuss the recently announced event RACE TO ALASKA (and other NWMC happeni The event was conceived by Jake and friends while beerstorming at the 2013 Wooden Boat Festival’s Bar Harbor.

This inaugural adventure race begins June 4, 2015 in Port Townsend, WA and the first boat to reach Ketchikan Alaska wins $10,000 cash. Second place according to Beattie is “a set of steak knives” :D. June 4th was selected as the start date since at the time of year the weather patterns and winds are in transition and mostly unpredictable. This makes the Race a bit more exciting, and is spawning ideas for new boat designs. Row vs. Sail is the theme of the day.

The basic rules are as follows:

No engines allowed (i.e. if your boat has a motor – even if for emergencies only – you are out) No crew swapping

Three Checkpoints

Victoria, BC

Seymour Narrows, BC Bella Bella, BC

Any size boat with any propulsion method except a motor

No support except on Day One from Port Townsend to Victoria

For those that would like to enter the Race for Day One only, the entry fee is $50 and support is provided. And it sounds like a fair amount of folks might do this including myself (if I can finish my SCAMP in time).