The Race to Alaska (aka R2AK) is an annual 750-mile adventure race from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska. There are only two rules: no engine of any kind is allowed aboard, and racers can utilize no form of pre-planned support. First place gets $10k, second place gets a set of steak knives. Glory to the rest. 

R2AK Race Marshal Jesse Wiegel from the Northwest Maritime Center will be presenting.  He will walk us through the history of the race, how and why it was created, some points about the race area, a deep dive on several of the record-holding teams, and different ways people can get involved - from volunteering, to spectating on various (completely free!) platforms.

Jesse is also the Director of two other local events that he will talk about. SEVENTY48 is a 70-mile, 48-hour human-powered race from Tacoma to Port Townsend, pitting any form of non-motorized and non-sail powered vessel against one another. Salish 100 is a cruising event that travels the length of the Puget Sound each summer.