Despite a fear of capsizing, a local racer said her anticipation of the beautiful landscapes and wildlife is what draws her to the water.
Described as “the Iditarod on a boat, with a chance of drowning,” the Race to Alaska promises a hard slogging, self-propelled adventure all packed into the 750 miles between Port Townsend, OR, and Ketchikan, AK.
“I am looking forward to being out on the water with [David Sunshine] and seeing the landscape with beautiful whales, dolphins and cliffs,” said Kelly Von Bargen, a Townsite resident racing in the event.
The self-supported race—meaning no engines, supply drops or outside help—travels the Inside Passage, a route long plied by First Nation canoes, steam boats and modern-day sailing craft.
While the race’s website jokingly promises attractions such as “being run down by a freighter or eaten by a grizzly bear,” Von Bargen, an employee at Sunshine Coast Health Centre, said what she’s really worried about is capsizing and being separated from the boat.
Although Von Bargen is sailing with a man named Sunshine, well known in Lund, there is no guarantee of good weather. And while Sunshine has sailed a catamaran through Inside Passage before, this is Von Bargen’s first time ever sailing such a craft. She said they’ve both been practicing how to rescue each other and right the boat in the event of disaster.
“It takes lots of planning of everything: how much food to bring, and what supplies,” said Von Bargen. “Plus, not too many people can take this much time off work to do a race like this.”
A former forestry worker used to hard conditions, Von Bargen said their 19-foot beach catamaran will be fast. Sailing day and night she estimates they could possibly get to the finish line in two weeks if the winds are good.
She might be taking time off work but this race is no easy jaunt. The cat, weighing 400 pounds unloaded, named Hypergolic Harp Harmony, also has no cabin, meaning everything—food, repair kits, and even sleeping team members—has to be strapped to the deck.
“There’s no privacy, even doing your business you have to ask your teammate to please look the other way while you hang your heinie,” laughed Von Bargen.
Like their boat, the team also has a tongue-twisting name,Terry Thomas Tailored Tomfoolery Twins, so-called because Sunshine likes alliteration.
Von Bargen and company set sail from Port Townsend this Thursday, June 4, and after a brief stop-over in Victoria they will be making waves by wind or pedal power, to Alaska June 6.
There are 40 other teams making the full run to Alaska including the Soggy Beavers, canoeists famously travelling with bottled human ashes they found bobbing in Victoria harbour, as well as team Mike’s Kayak consisting of captain Mike Higgins and his 17-foot Prijon Kodiak.
“I know Dave [Sunshine] seems to be a good sailor,” said Larry Warner, member of the Lund Sailing Club. “It’s a good time to go because it’s summertime and the weather should be moderate. It will be interesting to see how they do.”
Race prizes include $10,000 for first place, a set of steak knives for second place and a feeling of “cathartic elation” for simply completing the course.
For more information readers can visit the race website.
