The Race to Alaska — known as R2AK — is one of the most audacious marine competitions on the planet. Competitors race 750 miles from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan under a simple but brutal ruleset: no engines, no support, all guts. Any human- or wind-powered vessel can enter. The only prize worth bragging about is $10,000 cash for first place. Second place gets a set of steak knives.
The route cuts through some of the most storied and unforgiving coastal waters on the continent — ancestral territory of the Coast Salish, Tlingit, and Haida peoples, tidal rapids, glacier-carved coastlines, orca and grizzly country, and currents that can run over 20 knots. Rescue can be hours or days away. Self-reliance isn’t optional out here.
The 2026 Race Unfolds in Two Stages:
Stage 1 — The Proving Ground (June 14, 2026): Port Townsend, WA to Victoria, BC. This 40-mile qualifier crosses open water, two shipping lanes, and an international border. Teams have 36 hours to complete it without getting rescued. It’s not the race — it’s the audition.
Stage 2 — The Full Race (June 17, 2026): Victoria, BC to Ketchikan, AK. At high noon, the full race begins with a Le Mans-style start. There is no official course — only two waypoints and the finish line in Ketchikan. Teams that don’t make it are swept up by the race’s own vessel, aptly named The Grim Sweeper.
Ketchikan is proud to serve as the finish line for this remarkable event. For full race details, rules, and entry information, visit r2ak.com.
