PORT TOWNSEND — It was the beginning of the end of the inaugural Race to Alaska this week as the sweep boat left Port Townsend to trace the 710-mile journey to Ketchikan, Alaska.
The motorboat, which is traveling 75 miles each day, is a “floating disqualifier,” according to Jack Beattie, Northwest Maritime Center executive director and race organizer.
“If we pass you, then you’re out of the race,” said Beattie of the five vessels that are still on their way to the finish line.
“Part of it is to make sure they are OK and whether they need help or rescue.”
The 30-foot craft is a motorboat operated by volunteer Craig Muma, “who was taking a cruise up there anyway and wanted to help us out,” Beattie said.
The primary rule of the race was that none of the competing crafts could use motors.
As of Thursday, the five remaining were Team Excellent Adventure, which Beattie expects to finish shortly; Team Mike’s Kayak; Team Barefoot Wooden Boats; Team Boatyard Boys; and Team John, which already has indicated the intention to leave the race at Bella Bella, B.C.
The race, sponsored by the Northwest Maritime Center, began in the early morning hours of June 4, when 53 motorless craft began the journey.
Of these, 33 had committed to the entire journey, while the remainder planned participation only in the first leg to Victoria.
Final journey
Eight of the first-leg-only competitors and five who had hoped to make the whole journey had dropped out as of the cutoff at 5:30 p.m. June 5.
On June 7, 29 teams began the final journey. Thirteen dropped out for various reasons, Beattie said.
There were no injuries, but one boat, Team Lone Wolf, needed a Coast Guard rescue between Port Townsend and Victoria.
Some of them quit the race but turned it into a cruise.
“They are still out there having a jolly old time,” Beattie said.
“The people who are still in the race are hoping to finish; they never expected to win.”
First prize
Team Elsie Piddock, a trimaran with a three-man Seattle Crew, came in first June 12, winning the $10,000 first prize.
Team MOB Mentality arrived June 15, claiming the second-place prize of a set of steak knives,
Others who have finished the race, from fourth place to 11th, were Team FreeBurd, Team Kohara, Team Un-Cruise, Team Soggy Beavers, Team Mau, Team Blackfish, Team Grin and Team Discovery.
Beattie said he and his staff will spend the next few months analyzing the event.
The announcement of when — or if — the next race will occur will most likely take place at the Wooden Boat Festival, scheduled Sept. 11-13.
“We are intentionally not addressing this right now,” Beattie said.
“We are staying focused on the race and will do a pretty intensive evaluation of what went well, what didn’t and whether we want to do it again.”
Before the race, Beattie said he expected it to lose money. Instead, it approached a break-even point.
“We were overwhelmed by the nationwide and international enthusiasm,” he said.
“It was more popular than we ever thought it would be, and we had to bring it up to scale.”
Beattie said the event’s website has received about 9 million hits since going online last spring.
For more information and daily updates, go to www.r2ak.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.