Race to Alaska and a listing of race entrants so far

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by Corley, Apr 6, 2015.

  1. Marmoset
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    Marmoset Senior Member

    That's sad TurnPoint is out, seemed something was up as they were right up there 4th 5th still, then last night round 230 or so speed dumped, figured something went wrong. firs time out, going that well, clearly boat has potential.


    Barry
     
  2. HASYB
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    HASYB Senior Member

    LOL...:D


    To be honest, I had higher expectations of the proa but I guess there's still way enough race left to prove themselves.
     
  3. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    If you are just racing to win quitting can save you time if things have gone wrong. If you are sailing for the adventure stopping for repairs and to wait out the bad blows can be part of the fun. There is lots of race to go and plenty of places where the leaders can get hung up. Boats can break but that should be taken in stride. The real race is between you and the challenge. Your bar stories will be better if you talk about scoring 2 x 4s in Nanimo for that new daggerboard or bumming a sail off a Catalina 27 to keep going than the one where you just gave up.
     
  4. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    I'm waiting for the guys who stop somewhere for half a week because it was so cool... "whoa dude, the bc produce was intense...."
     
  5. HASYB
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    HASYB Senior Member

    Of course you're right Cav, totally agree on just racing to win.
    But not being familiar with the circumstances or situation remember there are always people who just want to prove themselves, no matter what, get blood in their eyes and forget their priorities and take risks beyond their capabilities.
    I always greatly respect people who know their limits and the limits of the tools they have available and take their responsibility, even if that means bailing out quick or even quicker.

    "Whoa, whoa, whoa, dude, please just wait a facking minute here will ya. This is BC remember, isn't that produce a real piece of hyper intense brown bear just behind that suitable sapling I need for my tiller"?
     
  6. HASYB
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    HASYB Senior Member

  7. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    Real Alaska racing would be roping the bears for shore pulls during calms...Elsie is chugging along. Team Mau in the Nacra is taking the smart route north of Texada Island for their type of boat. At this point with my go through Dodd Narrows at night strategy I'd be ahead of Richard, the Golden Oldies team has made it to off Nanaimo.

    It is bear getting up Discovery Passage to Seymour Narrows with the tide against you. I like waiting in Menzies Bay North of Defender shoal for the current to turn at the Narrows. The window is an hour before or after slack or face the perils of 17 knot white water. In Johnstone Straight getting the strong current with you is a blessing or a curse.. Strong wind against strong tide = really nasty chop. I actually consider the area through Race and Current Passages in the Central portion of Johnstone Straight to be one of the most challenging on the course. Here strong current meets shallow waters meets strong wind against tide at times for a meat grinder! You need current with you to continue but it can get nasty. If you have to stop Billy Goat Bay on Helmken Island in the middle has a good holding bottom but tricky approach.If you want a bail out point take a right at the Broken Islands further on then a left into Chatham Channel (narrow, more current)for the inside route through the Broughtons. Knight Passage offers the easiest route, there are hundreds of Islands and rocks. Last year we didn't see anybody else sailing in here but it was fun.

    The alternative to Race and Current Passage is to take a right at the end of West Thurlow Island then left up Wellbore Channel. You'll have to wait for slack at Whirlpool Rapids, they are named that for a reason. Sunderland Channel then goes back to Johnstone Straight and will be lumpy with the prevailing winds.

    Exciting stuff coming up ahead, if Elsie can keep going they may wind up a good day ahead, then we'll have to call this the Race for the steak knives.
     
  8. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    Won't help the proa cause with so many sponsors out so early.... this is a challenging race, many of the teams really aren't prepared for the reality. Still it is better for people to bail out than get in trouble. The trick is to wait out the trouble then continue. If you wait for windows the trip can be done in a dinghy.
     
  9. HASYB
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    HASYB Senior Member

    Thanks for the update Cav, just trying to get my head a bit round the waters over there so I'm bearing with you, but hey 17 knots, those can be serious treacherous waters indeed.
    So if I understand you correctly this race is all about one doesn't have to sell the hide before the bear is... roped?
     
  10. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    In the true Zen sense what the race is about is the racer.... for everyone it will be different. For the observer it can be puzzling that people who don't know how to anchor, rest, then carry on can sign up, but hey with sponsors do you need to worry about money? I sort of think the Corinthian challenge should be enough but I wonder how many would have shown up for the starting gate. That so many showed up to start who weren't prepared to continue reflects on the entrance process. Yes it covers the flashy prize but was the herd corralled to milk before they were led to slaughter? I sail up here for fun, usually without powering, for the fun and challenge with no other reason so it can be done but many don't try. Summer cruisers usually go for the motor.

    But I digress, the door opens into the next world with the next current change at Seymour Narrows happening just after 11 pm Pacific time, though one could shove it wide a bit earlier. Will anyone else be able to join the Elsie? The Golden Oldies have been fighting their way to the front with another Farrier and a determined Nacra while behind others speed is starting to build......

    One other thing, the wild life is really wild up there so the contestants should be careful with the beach weeny roasts (you know who you are). Experienced callous cruisers send their wives ashore with the shore ropes in case of bears. A year or so ago I was yelling at a male Orca that recognized the boat (old whale research vessel) that I didn't have time to visit as I reefed the main for the 35 knot wind while he splashed a length away.
     
  11. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    My tracker wasn't updated, Elsie is through the gate.
     
  12. Jamie Kennedy
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    Jamie Kennedy Senior Member

    What a wonderful adventure for all. I will have to get some oars on my Yngling and do my own local version. I think I will make it a "see how far I can get in 3 days" race, which if I do it right should take me 3 days.
     
  13. redreuben
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    redreuben redreuben

    People are retiring because they are tired ? Ummm ok.
     
  14. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    In truth Red most expected smooth seas and friendly breezes. The realty of the range of conditions are surprising to people not used to open water. There may be a pucker factor involved and boat trust issues too. Unprepared.....
     

  15. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    Looks like many of the leaders are tucked in for some rest. Elsie around Otter Cove area just before the start of Johnstone. Golden Oldies and Kohara at Harwood Island in Georgia and Mau South of Powell River. Some are still going but have catching up to do. The rule of thumb in Johnstone Straight is to make tracks early in the day before the wind builds stronger in the afternoon.
     
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