If all goes well, and a couple of miracles happen, my boat AUKLET is going to be in the Race to Alaska, that starts June 3 from Port Townsend, Washington for the qualifying run, and then June 6 from Victoria, BC for the rest of the race to Ketchikan. A couple of folks who have junk rigged boats, but are not (though I keep working on this) in the JRA have talked about sailing over – one to Port Townsend before the first start, and the other is talking about sailing together from the Victoria start for a little bit of the way. I'm still trying to see what might be dates to plan around for Port Townsend – hopefully the week before the start, maybe when AUKLET can be out for a little shakedown sailing.

Does either one of these possibilities appeal to members in the Pacific Northwest? Particular days before the Port Townsend start? Team AUKLET is hoping to be in Port Townsend by May 25, and then it will take a few days to get the boat in the water and ready to go…

Anybody reading this who might be in the area? I'll add dates to this announcement, once we have an idea of the most workable schedule.

For more about the Race to Alaska, see here. And it's not too late to enter the race! Applications can be put in up until April 15.

Shemaya

Thanks David! Isn't that bio fun – written by one of the race organizers, who stays carefully anonymous. He writes updates about each team during the race also, and says he maintains his anonymity in order not to distract from the race. I saw his name once, but I'm sure he'll be glad to know that I forgot it…

Shemaya

Hi Paul,

I'll hold out hope, and lean toward the end of the week if it works for others who might turn up with interest. I'm getting ready to send an email to all the Pacific Northwest members, to see what folks might think. Maybe Friday, May 31/Saturday June 1? Race participants have to do stuff on Sunday…

You could sail over to Victoria that Tuesday or Wednesday, (June 2-3) for the noon Thursday start of the second leg, that goes all the way to Ketchikan… Here's hoping something works. And sending best wishes for the medical thing, and Mexico!

Shemaya

Hi Scott,

Another JRA member, Chris Shelton,  has incredibly kindly volunteered to tow the boat  with his pickup truck, from Maine to Washington.  So I will be going separately, leaving a few days after Chris. In the car (minivan), we may be going north through Michigan and across the bridge to the upper Peninsula. If you ever come over that way, maybe we could say hi on the way by! I have no idea how far that is from where you live… Maybe completely unrealistic…

Thanks for the encouragement!

Shemaya

I am completely jazzed that you're doing this, Shamaya.  Auklet and crew are my odds on favorite for being the coolest part of the show.