R2AK - April Update
GALLERY | Click images to enlarge
The Race to Alaska - only 40 days until the June 4 starting gun! The new boats are finally getting splashed, the first hurdle of many to come.
The first and only proa to be entered in the race is Team Pure and Wild, launched this Saturday at CSR Marine in Seattle. Designed by America’s Cup foil master Paul Bieker, built by legendary proa builder Russell Brown, and raced by the team of Joe Bersch and Dalton Bergan (I-14 National Champion, 49er National and North American Champion, Foiling Moth North American Champion, Olympic Trials, Olympic Team, etc.) this proa is dressed for bear.
Despite the proa’s great performance potential, it is sadly true that no proa has ever matched the racing success of Richard Newick’s CHEERS, the first racing proa in the world, which arrived third in the 1968 OSTAR. Will this be the race where a proa finally wins it, and the proa faithful are finally vindicated? Follow Team Pure and Wild on their Facebook page.
Also launching this week is the new row/sail trimaran from Team Angus. This beautiful boat is captained by Colin Angus, who holds world records in human powered circumnavigation as well as number of chin-ups in 24 hours. If the wind is light to nonexistent (a real possibility), Team Angus could well be the first to Ketchikan. Follow Team Angus on their Facebook page.
Don’t miss the Pre-Race Ruckus in Port Townsend on the third, though get there early, I imagine the racers will be hitting the hay early for their 5:00 am start the next morning!
