R2AK 2026 - But first, a series of adventures

Race to Alaska 2026 - That's the goal. If you haven't heard of it, it's a ridiculously rad event that requires racers to be adventurous and stubborn little shits, with a penchant for doing epic things.

But, to do it safely (ha!) and smartly (because that's a real word, right?) there needs to be a series of events that takes place before the race. These events are broken down into the following 3 step plan:

Step 1: Build the boat (see all my foibles and triumphs here)

Step 2: Adventure the shit out of it 2025

Step 3: Race to Alaska 2026

Step 2 requires rigorous shake down cruising and tests; like capsizing my boat on purpose, cold water acclimation for myself, sailing in shitty weather, multi-day trips up and down the coast, etc. I'm essentially going to be trying to break my boat on purpose to see where the weak points are so they can be rectified before 2026.

Luckily for me, a portion of the Inside Passage (the stretch of water where R2AK runs) is much like my home waters of Lake Michigan - frigid waters, unpredictable weather, short steep seas, and minimal places to hide. All we're missing are whirlpools, tides, and the Pacific Ocean wildlife :)

Donations made to this fund will help me in numerous ways - the most pressing of which will be to finish building my boat. I'm building a Pacific Proa; also known as a sailing outrigger canoe, or, if you're into Disney flicks, something like Moana's boat. To date I've been chipping away at her for 3 years, and I plan on getting her in the water by summer 2024.

*UPDATE* She launched in 2024! On October 20, 2024, my fine little vessel named Sweet Creature was launched on Lake Michigan for her first float test. She passed with flying colors.

Second avenue for the monies will go towards gear and logistics for 2025 shake downs and the 2026 race. Despite my easy-to-follow three step plan, planning and provisioning for voyages takes hella time and patience. This part is important - and will likely take up the most of my mental capacities to be sure I've got all the essentials for a safe journey north.

At this point you might be wondering if donating is worth it - I'm a random chick from Wisconsin who wants to go play on a home-made boat in the Pacific Ocean. Can I do it? yes. Will I do it, regardless of this GoFundMe? Yes. But will your donation help me along the way? Absolutely.

This is a fund for peeps who support the spirit of adventure, solving endless problems to feed a tenacious goal, and the courage to see it through.

If you made it this far, thank you for taking the time to get to know a bit about me and this fund. Whether or not you decide to donate, I appreciate your time. Cheers!