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Open sea

No engines

Only natural power

Enjoying the silence

Race to Alaska

No Motor, No Support. ALL THE WAY TO ALASKA. The physical endurance, saltwater know-how, and bulldog tenacity to navigate the 750 cold water miles from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska. The inside passage to Alaska has been paddled by native canoes since time immemorial, sailing craft for centuries, and after someone found gold in the Klondike the route was jammed with steamboats full of prospectors elbowing each other out of the way for the promise of fortune. It’s in the spirit of tradition, exploration, and self-reliance that Race to Alaska was born. R2AK is the first of its kind and North America’s longest human and wind powered race, and currently the largest cash prize for a race of its kind. This isn’t for everyone It’s like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. The hardest kind of simplicity You, a boat, a starting gun. $10,000 if you finish first, a set of steak knives if you’re second. Cathartic elation if you can simply complete the course. R2AK is a self-supported race with no supply drops and no safety net. Any boat without an engine can enter.

Event ratings

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Contact information

Email: info@r2ak.com

Website

Event highlights

These waters are serious business, so dig deep, ask yourself if you’re ready and think you can get by our Vetting Team, then:

This race is served in two courses: R2ak Map 2023 Sm The full-course chart can be downloaded in PDF format here. And also available for purchase. Charts are 10″ by 24″ and printed on tear/water resistant paper. Stage 1: The Proving Ground Port Townsend to Victoria BC (40 miles) R2AK starts with an initial jaunt across open water, two sets of shipping lanes, and an international border. While not a race in itself, the Proving Ground is designed as a qualifier for the full race and as a stand-alone 40 mile sprint for people who just want to put their toe in. If you want to be a part of R2AK but don’t have the time or inclination for the full race- join for a full day of all out racing across some of the biggest water in the course. Racers continuing on will clear Canadian customs in Victoria. Stage one finishers get to bask in the glory for a full day and a half. Stage 2: To the Bitter End Victoria, BC to Ketchikan, AK (710 miles) Racers start in Victoria at high noon on the Wednesday after the Stage 1 start and continue until they reach Ketchikan—or are tapped out by the sweep boat. Other than two waypoints–at Seymour Narrows and Bella Bella–there is no official course. To quote the bard, You can go your own way. If this sounds like your brand of whiskey, R2AK is the race for you.

Social Program

Capping off each year of R2AK in September at the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, WA. With 2025 being an off-year for R2AK, the Blazer Party won’t be happening – but we’ll be cooking up a new way to announce R2AK 2026 at the Wooden Boat Festival on September 5, 2025. Keep your eyes open. It’s a reunion, awards ceremony, and a kickoff beer bash all wrapped into one! And everyone is invited to join in. In as much formality as we can muster, we’ve spent a year buying up the best/worst thrift store blazers that will be issued to any racer that attends. Non-racers, spectators, hangers-on, and general no-goodniks in attendance are encouraged to wear anything awesome that is not a blazer. We leave that honor to the racers. (Alaska racers who completed the full race get to keep both sleeves of their blazers—volunteers with scissors are standing by for racers whose race ended south of Ketchikan.) The Blazer Party is like Monte Carlo, except less gambling and yachts and more dogs and peanut shells. It’s a James Bond retirement party after he already blew his 401-K. This is an event no adventure race fan wants to miss! It’s the R2AK Blazer Party. An annual event to bring lovers of the race and racers together to share stories of this year’s race and be the first to hear changes to the races for the next year. That’s right, information before the internet gets it. Also: A presentation by Race High Command Awarding of highly prestigious Awards, including: Dirt Bag Award – least money sunk into the race Most in Need of a Stiff Drink – Presented by Admiralty Distillers And maybe more A celebration of new World Records. Buy a ticket for admission and get a free drink and fistfuls of finger food. At the Northwest Maritime Center during the Wooden Boat Festival. Tickets cost money, unless you’re a racer and qualify for a discount, then they are a little less.

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