Race to Alaska Escort Boat Service: PT to Victoria 6/4/15

Dave, point well made. It also subtly touches on the bond which is between sailors/adventurers who compete in these races or adventures. (and there are other team adventures/competitions which have the same bonds) Unless you have done it--or something like it, it is hard to understand.

Here is an audio clip from one of the crew shortly after finishing the race, which captures the essence of the race--concern for those who are still racing.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/race-to-alaska-winner-1.3112226
 
This has been an incredible race. Against incredible odds. And with incredible effort. I'm glad I was able to see some of it at the beginning, and follow along occasionally. I had a previous engagement that took me a way from i-net access for some time and I missed being able to follow closely each day.

The weather really took a toll on some of the equipment, and it is just a testament to the crews skill and fitness for this challenge that there were no serious injuries or worse.

It was a tough start, and it maintained for a week with conditions that were not very conducive to being on the water for most of the size of boats that were in the race.

It has been a great race. Thanks for all the interesting posts, and links that were posted. I'm going back now and following up on the parts I missed out on. Some really cool additions. Thanks again, for all the participation.

The race is still on, and the Winners are waiting to congratulate the finishers. How fine.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070.thumb.jpg
 
A big thanks to Harvey for bringing this to our attention and being part of the race crew who made it such a success!

The race is not at all over. Earlier today, PorFavor (PFHobie 33 mono hull) was about 60 miles ahead of Mail Order Bride Mentality (MOB--a Farrier F85SR Trimaran)
https://www.facebook.com/mailorderbrideracing
It is ironic in some ways the more "modern" F8.5 was developed as the super racer, and is going to be several days behind the winning boat, which was also a 20 plus year old Farrier design: F25C . Not to detract from the crew of MOB (who are also VanIsle race veterans) but I have to believe that the experience and dedication of EP (the winner) was what made the difference. The boats can be very similar in speed under the same conditions. MOB has taken a couple of rest periods, and as I remember almost one day off when it was really sloppy. But in the last few hours, I guess those second place "Steak Kinives" look petty good. Can a F 8.55 beat a Hobie 33?

Right now the boats are about only 8 miles apart (by latitude only).

Also MOB has a DeLorme tracker aboard--which allows them to send the 160 character text messages. I wish that all of the boats had this.

By the way, Mail Order Bride, was found in the Philippines!
http://www.f-boat.com/pages/News2/F-85SRconcept.html

She is the only example built of the F8.5 SR--and is "for experienced sailors only"--and these guys are not putting on a show!

One thing to remember is that none of these vessels have generators aboard. Battery charging has to be solar, if any. They do (should) have navigation lights --but I would not be surprised if an LED masthead combo light was the norm,
 
This is so cool, it's now a drag race between the Hobie Por Favor and F28 MOB! They're in the last miles to the finish with MOB showing some 3 knots faster over the Hobie 8.6 to 5.7
Will the breeze hold long enough for MOB to overhaul Pr Favor? After a week of being close hauled everyone will be tired, they will also be flogging these boats for every 1/4 knot tweaking for speed, this evening will be intersting
 
And now only a half mile lead by Por Favor, and surely in sight of each for several hours. We don't know if either of these boats has any shore communication for certain. But we do know that MOB has a Delorme InReach capable of messages. You have to think that they have been informed of the narrowing gap, as they worked North, and are making it a drag race intentionally. They are on the same tack, with MOB to leeward, pointing slightly higher, and moving 0.4 knots faster (as per the specific data at that moment).

Interesting race between a fast monohull, and an ultra fast tri.
 
This is great fun!! I'm at the tracker every 15-20 mins, plays hell with getting stuff done! A match race with a tacking duel. How cool is that?!!The edge certainly goes the tri-hard to beat a faster boat but not impossible especially if it continues to get lighter. Will tides come into play? Are there tidal currents of consequence in these Alaskan fiords?? I know nothing about sailing in Alaska! Will it continue to lighten ? Will it become a rowing race? Or anchoring? This fun- I'll have to check SailFlow.
Being from Monterey Bay(home of the ULDB in the'70s) I'm not a big fan of the Hobie 33 (parochial prejudice ??) but I'm rooting for them now. It will take all their skills and some luck to pull it out! Got to luv an underdog!
I'm with Bob in thanking Harvey for his participation and bringing this race to our attention!! It wasn't on my radar.
Bye--gotta go check the tracker!
 
Yes the tides can be significant, but not like in the passes of BC. The currents are gong to be less, but still enough that they may be able to row against. As I recollect, they will have a fair current, until the Morning from now. But when it switches, they may not be able have enough speed under oars. I have anchored within site of finish lines on several occasions. Up there it is going to be deep, and they will work back eddies, and probably row/paddle. The Tri can raise the board and rudder, so the advantage to MOB.
 
MOB won the steak knives! They pulled ahead about 8 hours before the finish, and were neck and neck for several hours. MOB hugged the North Channel, PV took the south. Both were rowing at least the last 2 hours. P F at least 15 minutes behind--still at the head of the Island when I posted this. Great race by both.
 
......and the funs not over. Looks like an interesting race for 4th- two cats and another tri. The one cat is a beach cat with only two aboard! Can't imagine trying to sleep on that! Amazing guys & gals all!! Then there's the race for 7th and on. The outrigger canoe is currently the 7th and moving well the last days. Still lots of good stuff to follow!! Even the race to avoid the "sweep" boat!
I'm still lovin it!!
 
I have to admit I woke up about every two hours to check and see what was happening. I am sure Marie thought--what is that crazy husband of mine looking at on the computer at 3 AM…. But at my age looking at it on the computer, is much more sane than being up there.

The question about making a documentary was brought up on SA. It would be an epic production--consider if one had a GoPro on each boat. The big bucks Volvo can afford that sort of thing, plus constant feed back to race headquarters via satellite. The idea of this race, is that anyone can afford it--even with a simple kayak….but fortunately all people so far have been very skilled. There is always a danger in the future, that less skilled folks were to enter--and there could be serious consequences.
 
Amen on all points!! Including sitting in front of computer at all hours -shows sanity that (had better) come with "maturity".
 
The next finisher appears to be Team Freeburd (Two brothers who are semi professional sailors, and both Eagle Scouts, sailing an ARC 22.) The ARC 22 is a light weight (415 lbs) 22' cat with a 38 foot mast (360 sq foot main and standard blade jib), and a huge asymmetrical spinnaker. This is the first catamaran to finish, and the first boat to not an any kind type of cabin and with only two crew! It is also a boat which is difficult for one person to sail alone--so these guys have had a couple of naps, but they are also going to be very sleep deprived!

Mail Order Bride Mentality, split the second place prize by giving half of the 8 steak knives (second place "trophy") to Team Por Favor, the Hobie 33, who finished less than half an hour later..
 
The Open Canoe, six place outrigger variant, aka Soggy Beavers look to be next in, sometime within the next 10 hours. First all muscle, no sail finisher. They have a sail, but I believe it never got used. Gotta like that name if you are from Oregon, especially if you ever went to Oregon State! Go Beavs!
 
Team Soggy Beavers finished at about 5:25 PM PDT. Pretty impressive for paddling the whole way, and for the last several days, very little rest.

The next "super human" is Roger Mann, sailing an off the shelf Hobie Isand Adventure--he sailed/peddled (mirage drive) for over 40 hours non stop, and should finish in the next day or so. He capsized the boat in surf during one landing.

After this next group there is quite a gap of several hundred miles, of boats which have not yet crossed Queen Charlotte Straights. The two leaders of this group are a solo paddler in a 17 foot Kayak, and two guys rowing and sailing a Montgomery 17! There are several who have not yet transited Johnstone straits--having strong winds almost constantly for the last several weeks. The latter group is at risk of not completing the race, as the sweep boat will be transiting this area. A number of boats have dropped out. (22==but some never made many miles) If I counted correctly there are 18 boats either still in the race or who have finished.
 
AstoriaDave":2glxdtl9 said:
Roger Mann's saga. This is one tough mother. I am flabbergasted.

http://r2ak.com/daily-updates-2/june-21/
Click to expand...

Sweet biscuits! And unless I missed something, he did Johnstone Strait to Ketchikan without a GPS? What - he carried paper charts??? Took bearings??? While single-handing an open boat??? Holy Moly.
 
In the saga as related, he went overboard in Seymore Narrows, and lost the GPS/chart plotter there because it got wet. It is not clear but in Port O'Neil, some gal took him searching for a new GPS he said there were none to be found, He then pitch poled the boat up near Cape Caution, and lost any Electronics he had left. Yes, he sailed from there on just using charts. I have to assume that they were waterproof, or laminated.

Roger Mann is a superhuman--he was boating 20 hours a day. Averaged no more than 4 hours sleep. I am sure that there were legs where he did not stop for 48 hours.

On the other hand, he has a lot of survival skills, as well as boating skills, and many have boated for a long time with no GPS. We assume that his compass was working--but even then, there are those who have the sense of direction to do this without a compass, and just charts. Or, even without charts. I don't find that at all unusual, what I do find unusual, is the ability to continue agains all odds. Broken tiller, broken mast, broken supports for the Amas, lost most of his food and some of his great. Hypothermia, dry suit filled with water, etc.
 
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