Doug Kennedy has spent decades sailing the globe. HeB次元官网网址檚 navigated Scandinavian waters like a viking, and once crossed the Atlantic from the coast of Morocco to the Caribbean over a three-week journey.
A trip north along B.C.B次元官网网址檚 coast should, in theory, be easy for him. In practice, it will be anything but for Kennedy and a group of Nelson sailors looking to make history B次元官网网址� if they can finish the journey that is.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 as challenging a place to sail as anywhere in the world,B次元官网网址� says Kennedy.
The Kootenay Pedalwheelers, a team of six including Kennedy, Jay Blackmore, Mike Bowick, Roger Hassol, Todd Kettner and Mike Sagal, are set to compete in the Race to Alaska beginning June 13.
The event is a 1,200-kilometre endurance race from Port Townsend, Wash., to Ketchikan, Alaska. The 38 teams taking part are bound by two rules: no motors and no outside help.
That means if the Pedalwheelers want to become the first Canadian team to win the race, theyB次元官网网址檒l need to work together to overcome unpredictable weather, wildlife and exhaustion using only the sails of their boat to navigate the Pacific.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the anti-yacht race,B次元官网网址� says Blackmore. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the race for the everyman.B次元官网网址�
The Pedalwheelers will compete in the Amurskaya, a 10-metre Flying Tiger sail boat. Blackmore describes it as a race car chassis with nothing but engine. Inside the small hull is a space for extra sails, supplies and two sleeping berths.
When the race begins, the crew will take four-hour shifts in pairs either at the helm, working the sails or resting inside. TheyB次元官网网址檒l sail 24-7, either testing the open waters to cut down on time or closer to the coast in calmer conditions.
Teams have 48 hours to travel 64 kilometres from Port Townsend to Victoria or be disqualified. After that, they begin the journey to Alaska with only one mandatory check-in at Bella Bella, B.C.
If the boat is damaged, they have to fix it themselves. If they run out of food, they have to find a place to resupply. If thereB次元官网网址檚 a mutiny, well, thatB次元官网网址檚 probably unlikely.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just fun having an endeavour, a project, a goal that weB次元官网网址檙e all working towards,B次元官网网址� says Blackmore. B次元官网网址淲e all have a love of sailing and a passion for it and adventure.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 the first time the Pedalwheelers have taken part in the race, but theyB次元官网网址檝e been preparing for years. COVID-19 cancelled their plans to participate in the 2020 event, so instead they made a seven-day trip around Vancouver Island as a consolation.
The crew ranges from experienced sailors like Blackmore and Kennedy to Mike Sagal, who is on his first multi-day trip with the team. Sagal was at the helm steering the Amurskaya on Friday during the teamB次元官网网址檚 final practice session on Kootenay Lake.
B次元官网网址淚 love how much you have to pay attention to the environment around you and adjust to it all the time,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭he winds will pick up and then you have to adapt very quickly and be very aware and basically make the best advantages out of the wind youB次元官网网址檙e given.B次元官网网址�
The team is aiming to finish the race in five days. In 2019, only 25-of-45 teams completed the journey, so just making it to Alaska in one piece would be worth celebrating. But Blackmore likes their chances.
B次元官网网址淲e feel like weB次元官网网址檝e got a good shot at top-10. After that itB次元官网网址檚 a roll of the dice.B次元官网网址�
Whichever team finishes first receives $10,000, the entirety of which the Pedalwheelers say they will donate to Society, a non-profit that works on sustainability initiatives.
The only other prize is a set of steak knives for finishing second. The knives, and the memories, the team will keep for themselves.
| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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