Race to Alaska 2016

The date of the next R2AK event has been set to June 23, 2016

https://youtu.be/6z2RTHak750



promo video

https://youtu.be/02bV6QkyNyc

 

The winner 2016 needs a Trimaran...

... and I did little bit statistics: Under first 11 places over all had been real 9 multihulls (or shall I count an outrigger Canoe, too ?). Five of the 9 are Trimarans, and 1stn + 2nd place have been Trimarans too.

Clearly to say: If one want win that race in 2016, it has to be a Trimaran.

So check out which boats made it successfully to become in 2016 competitive ! Here: http://bit.ly/1EVuVW9

 

R2AK is such a great design challenge! Last year a small lightweight trimaran (sailed by great sailors) was the best boat. But even though the rules are the same for 2016 I dont think the race will be the same. 2015 had some unusually intense conditions that favored all out sailboats, who did not have to relly too much on human power. If these boats saw two or three days of flat calm (very common on the course) they could have been stuck. While some of the smaller boats that perform well under human power would have an edge. With that said I think a boat will have to sail well and be able to human power for a couple days efficiently in order to win the next race.

 

Don't underestimate Felix the Cat. This boat rips!

 

The Hobie 33 is actually a monohull they bashed through all sort of terrible weather to have MOB Mentality overtake them near the finish.

 

measurement system.

How shall that work ? - The organizer let race different boat classes against each other... and expects from Sailors "human power" ?

Not a very interesting concept as you describe, all depends on the conditions. And mother nature has its own rhythm.

I am sailor... and dont want be put into the box of "rowing" or "paddling". Sounds little bit strange for me.

Such mix of classes mostly brings troubles and is difficult to handle. In the past it demanded a complicated measurement of each boat. Here I remember Yardstick with handicap correction time... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LYS_(sailing)

We see in the world of one design classes that it can attract boaters to participate actively as it is a fair and transparent procedure behind.

Why not lettings trimarans sail in one class, catamarans in own class, the rowers/paddlers in another class ? The benefit is that the race organizer comes free of unexpected conditions which probably again would be to the detriment of one group of boat types.

 

Hi Skip
I really think the race orginizers have created something unique in a very unique stretch of water. There are plenty of sailboat races with boats competing at different handicaps.... This is a bring what you got and lets see who is fastest event and it has struck a nerve well beyond the audience that usually follow local sailboat races. The fluky winds and tidal gates favor smaller boats and help level the playing field.

The call out to Oracle to bring a boat was hilarious .... But in a way I think slightly seriuos in that a foiling AC cat likely could not finish unsupported. BUT... It would be very cool to see them try!

 

The major factor that makes the R2Ak unique is that all boats have to human power the last mile in and then out of Victoria harbour

Which is why you won't see an AC cat in the race, but Dragonfly and Bad Kitty might do it in 2016 as there is no Van Isle next year

Both boats have proven faster offshore than this years winner and both could be easily rowed long distances at 2.5 knots

MOB rowed a long way this year, as did all the boats

Having said that the later start does imply less wind. It did not surprise me to have wind this year. The surprise was that it was relatively light north of Port Hardy

Richard Woods

 

Hi Richard,
Are you going to do the race again?

I really wouldn't want to row Bad Kitty or Dragonfly for a couple days! With that said I was really impressed coming out of Victoria with how well the Fboats could be human propelled. But to me it looked like it was taking two guys some effort to keep them going at 3 knots and they might burn out their reserves after 4 hours or so of that.

If there was no wind I would want a boat like Colin Angus's rowcruiser and if there was a guaranty of wind for the whole course I would want to be on Bad Kitty.

 

R2Ak rules....

TP, I have no doubt about (beside my critics) that this kind of "short distance race" will attract many amateurs.

I'd would give it a try too if having the right Trimaran... throwing motor over board and just sail.

But NO PADDLING or ROWING !!! I hate paddling... so boring.

 

"We" meaning Allan and Conner rowed Nice Pair non stop for 2 1/2 hrs at 2.5 knots and got up to over 3 to ensure we beat Team Freeburd into Victoria

The biggest surprise to me was how fast the big multihulls could row/paddle. We overtook the Mirror 16 and were catching the Etchells when the wind arrived

(You were too far ahead of us by then. You had a very impressive pedaling setup)

Two people have asked me to crew for them next year, we'll see

Richard Woods

 

Richard, it would be great to see you in the race again next year!

Skip, I find bobbing around becalmed pretty boring myself.... especially if you can see a wind line off in the distance. Human power gives you some more options.