PinnedSlow TimeI keep thinking about the second straight day of rain in Lituya Bay, my e-reader smashed, my phone low on charge, solar panel not helpful in the gray. Nothing to do and nowhere to go. At home, downtime is laced with guilt. I can read in the sunshine, but I…Travel4 min read
20 hours agoRace to Alaska: Ketch Us if You KanAll that stuff I said about us not really being competitive? Tear it up, throw it out; clearly I was kidding myself. We’re in the home stretch, just over seven miles to the finish line, and Louistic SuperSonic has been visible at a near exact five miles behind us for…Sailing2 min read
1 day agoRace to Alaska: NorthThe first time you could really feel the growing cold was the exit of Johnstone Strait into Queen Charlotte. The sun was out, and warm, but there was a noticeable bite in the wind. The further north we go, the more we feel it. On the night watch at solstice…Sailing2 min read
1 day agoRace to Alaska: the “Race” Part“Are you in the race to Alaska?” Someone yells from the window of a house. It’s dusk, Campbell River. Graham and I are out pedaling as we make our slow way north, close to the shoreline. “Yeah!” He shouts back. “Good luck!” We’ve had others: a boat we took for…Sailing4 min read
4 days agoRace to Alaska: Midnight in Fitz Hugh ChannelI’ve pulled a plum shift: cooking at seven, on watch from eight to midnight, then six hours of rest lined up with the actual night. It’s raining, but not too bad, and I’m dressed for it: full Odlo thermals, full Mustang outer gear, Xtratuf boots. Good gear costs a mint…Sailing3 min read
4 days agoRace to Alaska: Queen CharlotteWe spent a couple of minutes yesterday trying to figure out how long we’ve been going. The rotating sleep schedule really messes with your sense of time. …Sailing3 min read
6 days agoRace to Alaska: Johnstone StraitI’m laying on my stomach in the quarter berth, which is about fifteen degrees off level, slurping Backpacker’s Pantry chili mac out of the bag in absolute darkness. Outside, I can hear the howling of wind and water streaming against the hull. I have no idea what time it is…Sailing4 min read
6 days agoRace to Alaska: #R2AKgourmetWe made a few agreements as a team before race start: anybody has veto power; when given the option, we choose the safe course (or: course completion over speed); and, eating well is important to our success. These agreements have served us very well. Marking food in particular as important…Adventure2 min read
Jun 19Race to Alaska: RepairsThere are major perks to being part of a nearly all-engineer crew. In addition to the very real upsides of shared vocabulary and dumb engineer jokes (see: our team name of Rho Your Boat), there’s a lot to fix out here. By Liam’s estimate, we have more spare parts on…Sailing3 min read
Jun 19Race to Alaska: Seymour NarrowsWe pedal until midnight to an anchorage in Duncan Bay, then wake again at two A.M., trying to hit the Narrows around three: catch a slowing northward current and the slack, anchor just beyond. It’s full dark at two, and three. We have both pedal stations rigged, but we’ve been…Race To Alaska3 min read