Many of you know Liam, a kind-hearted giving soul, often volunteering his time to help others, and going above and beyond volunteering at the Wooden Boat Festival, SEVENTY48, and Race to Alaska. He truly embodies "the friendly Canadian." After selling his engine to fund a successful Race to Alaska in 2024 (and winning the "Dirtbag Award") he was making his way south from Alaska when catastrophe struck. While navigating Johnstone Strait in the dead of night Finch, Liam's floating home, struck a MASSIVE log—nearly 40 feet long and 6 feet in diameter. The impact was so severe that it completely tore off the rudder: “Never had I imagined that any log could tear off the rudder of Finch: a full keel boat with an outboard hung rudder, its forward end protected fully by the rest of the boat.”

After 5 months sitting in Campbell River, a temporary rudder was put in place, and Finch has made it to Port Townsend and has been hauled out for just over a year now. Beyond just rebuilding the rudder from scratch, additional extensive repairs have left Liam in a difficult financial position, after he had already invested everything in R2AK. Any support toward helping Liam get Finch back in the water would go a long way.

I've never met such a giving and loving soul and truly hope that the community can help give back in Liam's time of need ♡.

-Rachel, Liam's partner