Race to Alaska: The Roster is Almost Complete


by Colin Angus 3 Comments


Transpac Champion Team Tritium. The rocket coming up from San FranciscoIt’s just under four weeks until the start of Race to Alaska, and we’re pretty excited here at Angus Rowboats.  At this point there are almost 40 boats entered in R2AK, ranging from the million-dollar TransPac champion, Tritium, to a stand up paddleboard.

Our goal is not to try winning the overall race – there’s almost zero chance of a $3000 garage-built recreational vessel winning against some of the larger carbon-fiber racing vessels.  Instead, we are hoping to do well in the little-guy categories – solo, and boats under 20’.  Small Craft Advisor has ponied up a $1000 prize for the fastest boat under 20 feet, generating some excitement and competition among the smaller boats. There are currently nine solo craft, and fourteen boats under twenty feet. It is an eclectic mix of boats (and characters), and we have listed the competitors in these categories below:

 

Under 20"

Team Can't Anchor Us. A solo entry by Tim Penhallow in a Swampscott Dory. 
Team Can't Anchor Us. A solo entry by Tim Penhallow in a Swampscott Dory.
 

 


Team Squamish. This Young 6 Meter is being crewed by three.
Team Squamish. This Young 6 Meter is being crewed by three.

                              


Team Gold Rush. Solo effort by Mark Dussel in a home-built trimaran.
Team Gold Rush. Solo effort by Mark Dussel in a home-built trimaran.

 


Team Discovery. This customized vessel will be crewed solo by Roger Mann. Roger Mann was last year's first place solo finisher.

  

Bunny Whaler Dinghy. This 17' dinghy will be crewed by two.
Bunny Whaler Dinghy. This 17' dinghy will be crewed by two.

 

 

Our solo entry. A RowCruiser propelled by sails and a sliding seat rowing system. The small cabin allows for sleeping inside the boat at anchor.
Our solo entry. A RowCruiser propelled by sails and a sliding seat rowing system. The small cabin allows for sleeping inside the boat at anchor. 


Team Sea Runner. A solo effort by Thomas Nielsen.
Team Sea Runner. A solo effort by Thomas Nielsen. 


Team Hear of Gold. A solo SUP effort by Karl Kruger.
Team Heart of Gold. A solo SUP effort by Karl Kruger. 

 


Now is that prize for 20 and under or under 20? I guess this will just squeak in. This is a Cal 20 crewed by two.
Now is that prize for 20 and under or under 20? I guess this will just squeak in. This is a Cal 20 crewed by two.


Team Coastal Express. This Mirror 16 is being crewed by two.
Team Coastal Express. This Mirror 16 is being crewed by two. 


Team Vantucky. This Windrider 17 is being crewed by two.
Team Vantucky. This Windrider 17 is being crewed by two. 

 

Take Me to the Volcano. This R2AK custom designed pedal and sailing craft will be crewed solo by Matt Johnson.
Take Me to the Volcano. This R2AK custom designed pedal and sailing craft will be crewed solo by Matt Johnson.


This R2AK custom designed vessel was created by Liteboat, and will be a solo effort by Mathieu Bonnier. It is designed to sail and to be propelled with a sliding seat rowing system.
Team Liteboat. This R2AK custom designed vessel was created by Liteboat, and will be a solo effort by Mathieu Bonnier. It is designed to sail and to be propelled with a sliding seat rowing system. 


Team Excellent Adventure. A Montgomery 17 crewed by two.
Team Excellent Adventure. A Montgomery 17 crewed by two.

 

 

Solo Contenders




Team Discovery. This customized vessel will be crewed solo by Roger Mann. Roger Mann was last year's first place solo finisher.

This R2AK custom designed vessel was created by Liteboat, and will be a solo effort by Mathieu Bonnier. It is designed to sail and to be propelled with a sliding seat rowing system.
Team Liteboat. This R2AK custom designed vessel was created by Liteboat, and will be a solo effort by Mathieu Bonnier. It is designed to sail and to be propelled with a sliding seat rowing system. 

Take Me to the Volcano. This R2AK custom designed pedal and sailing craft will be crewed solo by Matt Johnson.
Take Me to the Volcano. This R2AK custom designed pedal and sailing craft will be crewed solo by Matt Johnson.

Team Sea Runner. A solo effort by Thomas Nielsen.
Team Sea Runner. A solo effort by Thomas Nielsen. 


Team Hear of Gold. A solo SUP effort by Karl Kruger.
Team Heart of Gold. A solo SUP effort by Karl Kruger. 

 


Team Gold Rush. Solo effort by Mark Dussel in a home-built trimaran.
Team Gold Rush. Solo effort by Mark Dussel in a home-built trimaran.

 

Team Can't Anchor Us. A solo entry by Tim Penhallow in a Swampscott Dory. 
Team Can't Anchor Us. A solo entry by Tim Penhallow in a Swampscott Dory.

 

Our solo entry. A RowCruiser propelled by sails and a sliding seat rowing system. The small cabin allows for sleeping inside the boat at anchor.
Our solo entry. A RowCruiser propelled by sails and a sliding seat rowing system. The small cabin allows for sleeping inside the boat at anchor.

 

Team Hanging On. Michael Adams will be competing solo with an Etchells 22
Team Hanging On. Michael Adams will be competing solo with an Etchells 22

 




Colin Angus
Colin Angus

Author



3 Responses

Colin Angus
Colin Angus

October 28, 2016

Thanks Scott!

Scott Veirs
Scott Veirs

October 28, 2016

Nice summary, Colin! I’m so excited to watch this segment of the competition. I wish you all luck and following seas.

If you’d like to dig a bit deeper into the fleet statistics (and maybe add some details about particular boats and crews), here’s a Google spreadsheet I’ve been maintain — in part to compare the fleets between this year and last:

R2AK fleets: 2015 vs 2016

Bon voyage,
Scott in Seattle

Scott Veirs
Scott Veirs

October 28, 2016

Nice summary, Colin! I’m so excited to watch this segment of the competition. I wish you all luck and following seas.

If you’d like to dig a bit deeper into the fleet statistics (and maybe add some details about particular boats and crews), here’s a Google spreadsheet I’ve been maintain — in part to compare the fleets between this year and last:

Bon voyage,
Scott in Seattle

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