Another Day, Another Channel (Day 14)
Leigh & Clare run with the tide in the morning, then battle the wind in the afternoon as they tackle Grenville Channel.
Our team repeated the story of the Princess Royal Channel today on the Union Passage; row with the current in the morning, then pull hard against an opposing current in the afternoon. Still, Team Don't Tell Mom made another 37 miles, stopping on the east side of Pitt Island, putting them within 3 days of finishing. Tomorrow: On to Prince Rupert.
For more info on the race and other competitors, check out the R2AK Instagram or Facebook account as well as the web daily updates!
Squalls & Calms (Day 13)
Leigh & Clare row through squalls and calms as the reach the end of one long channel and camp at the beginnning of another.
View from campsite near Camp Point, southern end of Grenville Channel
Don't Tell Mom rowed the northern half of Princess Royal Channel this morning, making average speed most of the way despite going against an incoming tide. Crossing just south of the village of Hartley Bay they held up entering Grenville Channel as the tide had begun to run out against them. Team Let's Row Maybe closed up on them during the day and held up also outside the Passage. Our team's tracker hasn't updated for a few hours as of evening. Will they continue up or wait for tide change?
Fun fact from Dameon: "The sisters are rowing through the only place on Earth the spirit bear lives."
Tidal Roulette (Day 12)
Crossing Finlayson Channel in a morning calm
Leigh and Clare started their push through Princess Royal Channel making good time, seeming to be on schedule to time the tide change correctly in the Channel. But the tides in the twisty inside channels are capricious and slowed our team so that by high tide they did not reach the point where the outgoing tide would push them to the other end of the Channel.
Pulling hard against the outgoing tide to make any progress, the team pulled over to eat dinner and wait for the tide to slow, taking back off in the evening in an effort to position for the next outgoing tide.
Will our team make a run in the middle of the night to escape Princess Royal?
Blowing By Bella Bella (Day 11)
Leigh & Clare make it to the Bella Bella checkpoint and keep on rowing!
The town of Bella Bella
Don't Tell Mom started the day with a push to Bella Bella, pacing team Let's Row Maybe by several hundred meters for 3 hours. Rather than succumb to the temptation of a stop at Bella Bella for something other than prepackaged camping food our team blew by the village docks and continued on for a 47 mile day.
Faced with increasing winds from the west, Leigh made a decision on the fly to cut inside on a new route more protected from the wind. Now camped on the south end of Roderick Island, this strategy seems to have paid off with a good pace and getting past Jackson Narrows at low tide, positioning themselves for favorable tides in the Princess Royal Channel tomorrow.
We cut into a narrow gut between islands to get out of the wind in Seaforth Channel and saw a bear eating grass on Watch Island!
Unfortunately the only place to pitch our tent was on a 20-degree slope just above the tideline.
Just Keep Rowing (Day 10)
Last night our team decided to call it a day 5 miles south of Addenbroke Lighthouse and camped in the same cove as fellow rowers Let's Row Maybe. Today the Dorsey sisters spent an uneventful day in a straight line up the east side of Calvert and Hunter Islands, stopping after 37 miles; 13 rowing miles from the village of Bella Bella, a required checkpoint. The day started with lighter winds and slight counter current, ending with a following ebb tide for a while prior to making camp. Let's Row Maybe started later and rowed later to catch up to our team. After 10 days of rowing from Victoria the two boats are only minutes apart, adding an interesting dimension to the race. Tomorrow brings a stop at Bella Bella, their first contact with civilization since Victoria. In what store-bought treat will Leigh and Clare indulge?
Also, don't forget to check out the R2AK daily updates page (linked here) for info on the rest of the competitors.
Around the Cape (Day 9)
Taking advantage of lighter winds and a following tide Team Don't Tell Mom rounded Cape Caution, one of the more exposed stretches of the race, and made 35 miles to the lee of Calvert Island by mid-afternoon. With winds rising and ebb tide against them they pondered their choices for campsites, then their tracker froze as usual. Good landing sites in the inside passages are few and far between, the few beaches often choked by drift logs. Perhaps an 8 mi farther row to Addenbroke Lighthouse?
Against The Wind (Day 8)
Our luxurious kitchen!
Anchored in the protection of Skull Cove
Team Don't Tell Mom spent another day pulling hard into a stiff wind on the north side of Queen Charlotte Strait, making about 26 miles before landing at a familiar spot—the campsite at Skull Cove that Leigh and Dameon used 3 years ago. This positions them for a possible attempt at crossing Cape Caution, a stretch exposed to the open Pacific that requires calmer conditions. Rival rowers Let's Row Maybe logged an extra 4 hours to pull ahead of our of team slightly. Will tomorrow's conditions allow our team to cross the aptly-named Cape Caution?
Everyone Knows It's Windy (Day 7)
View from campsite on Howcraft Bay, BC mainland
Facing direct headwinds over 15 mph at time our intrepid travelers had slow going up Queen Charlotte Strait, going as slow as 1.5 knots at times. After making only 20 miles by 3 pm (+ an extra "power hour" of rowing using Snickers as fuel) with winds continuing to rise, our team wisely bivouacked in Howcraft Bay. The other paddlers/rowers had similarly frustrating days and did no better.
With tomorrow's winds forecast almost as bad, will Don't Tell Mom press ahead or break out the card deck?
Fighting the headwinds in Queen Charlotte Strait - Photo by Rebecca Ross
Another Day, Another 40 Miles (Day 6)
Don't Tell Mom stuck with their plan to row early with light winds and stop early when the winds increase. Now out of the Johnstone Strait and into Queen Charlotte Strait, our team has beached on Owl Island to warm up and maybe dry out. Clare reports the day was wet and cold but they are in high spirits. As reported on the R2AK website, Leigh says it's hard to eat all the pre-planned food per day and still have enough time for rowing and sleeping.
Forecast winds are higher on Wednesday; stay tuned for how far the team gets tomorrow!
Restocking our water supply
Tea-colored water, stained by the cedar tannins
Lovely tent site on Owl Island
Slogging Up Johnstone Strait (Day 5)
After taking a much-needed extended overnight bivouac Team Don't Tell Mom made their way northwest up Johnstone Strait with lesser headwinds than previous days. Fighting a flood tide early and possibly riding a following ebb tide later they have beached on Hardwicke Island after a 37+ mile day. See Rebecca Ross' new Field Report on the Dorsey sisters on the R2AK website (linked here).
Shot the Seymour Narrows (Day 4)
Last night the Team pushed until sunset for an unprecedented 60 mile day, camping on the Comox shore, in order to be able to reach the Seymour Narrows at low slack tide today. As reported by R2AK, the Narrows have a tidal bore that can create whirlpools 60 ft across and 6 ft deep. Their strategy paid off after they pushed hard against a headwind to hit the Narrows at 1340 PDT, which they did almost on the dot, helped the last hour by a following ebb tide that pushed them to over 9 knots at times. Leigh reports that a Canadian Coast Guard boat was keeping an eye on them as they passed through, something they didn't mind as headwinds made the passage tricky. The other human-powered boats all held up short of the Narrows, unable to be in place for the slack tide. After a tough two days the sisters made early camp just past the Narrows on Quadra Island, resting up for the days to come.
Bald Eagle spotting
Long Day (Day 3)
Don't Tell Mom cruised steadily today with less headwind, albeit against the tide at times. Stopping at 1800 for dinner on Hornby Island, with the new fuel they pushed ahead with currently favorable conditions. More updates to follow in the morning (but I'm heading to bed for now!).
Updates: After the dinner stop, Leigh and Clare continued rowing until 2130 making it all the way to Cape Lazo. This put them at about 60 miles of rowing for the day and will hopefully set them up for tackling the Seymour Narrows!
Also, don't forget to check out the following post from Rebecca Ross who is one of the amazing field reporters following the race.
Camping Buddies (Day 2)
Last night team Don't Tell Mom (DTM) decided to call it an earlier night and joined team Let's Row Maybe (LRM) on Prevost Island. Keeping with their intent to row early to beat the wind our team set out before LRM, leading the way for a group of 5 rowers and paddlers through the islands off Vancouver Island. Going was slow at times with stiff headwinds and an outgoing tide, so DTM rested on Wallace Island for a few hours to let the current turn. They landed for the night on Gabriola Island, joined shortly thereafter by LRM, their new camping buddies. It's obvious the two rowboats are evenly matched in speed. Who will keep up the pace in the days to come?
Also, the R2AK website has a nice article (linked here) on the group that spent 2 nights on Dungeness Spit, including quotes from our girls and pictures.
Wallace Island Marine Park break
Out Of The Gate (Day 1)
The preliminaries are over. The 3 day exercise in patience to reach Victoria doesn't matter as the real race began today. Rowboats and kayaks started out fast as very light winds hobbled the sailboats that will soon overtake them. Rival rowers Let's Row Maybe leads the pack this evening as they appeared to gain faster current on a more inside line through the islands. Going into the evening our team is pulling steadily into the Trincomali Channel, heading for Wallace Island. Meanwhile, the sailboats are heading for the Strait of Georgia, willing to take a longer route to get to more open water. Will the Dorsey sisters overnight on Wallace or push on ahead?
Check back in tomorrow morning on this post for what actually happens!
What happened: They decided to stop and camp on Prevost Island at the James Bay Campground (a little before Wallace Island). They had some company as Team Let's Row Maybe also pitched their tent there.
See a great shot of them jumping in to start the second stage of the race from Victoria in the following video!
Cross Off Crossing the Strait
Victoria!
Our team arrived safely in Victoria today after a 4.5 hour crossing from Dungeness Spit in much nicer conditions than the past two days. Leigh reports that "it was very smooth, though a lot of current in places." A 1.5 hour delay at Canadian Customs put them in way ahead of the cutoff time. Of note, the other two teams of women rowers (Let's Row Maybe and Interstice) also passed the test of Juan De Fuca. With the Proving Grounds Stage 1 complete, the race really starts now. For more details on the stay on Dungeness Spit, see today's update on the R2AK website which also includes a nice picture of Clare in front of the lighthouse.
Mini Stay-cation
Leigh & Clare are stranded on Dungeness Spit with the other human-powered teams, waiting for the winds to abate.
Again, due to weather, many teams were forced to stay put. Fortunately, the light keepers' were true to their name and provided shelter and homemade cookies which were greatly appreciated by all who stayed on the Spit. Leigh and Clare even managed to fit in an 11 mile walk along with some grounds clean up!
Team Don't Tell Mom plans to row their way to Victoria tomorrow! Stay tuned for updates, and don't forget to check the tracker as they cross! In the meantime... enjoy some pictures from their Dungeness adventures!
Team Don't Tell Mom Battles To Dungeness Spit
Despite small craft warnings and winds gusting into the 30's the R2AK organizers launched on schedule today. Almost all rowboats and kayaks wisely stayed out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and some worked their way west to Dungeness Spit. From there it will be a shorter crossing to Victoria. While Tuesday will have similar bad conditions, race officials extended the time limit to report at Victoria by 24 hours in order to allow a crossing on Wednesday when seas should be one foot or less.
While many sailboats were able to cross today, a few wish they hadn't tried. Three sailboats capsized and one dismasted. All crews are safe and the US Coast Guard rescued at least one crew.
Leigh reports that she had some of the toughest rowing of her life getting to Dungeness and that Clare took it in stride. Our team can look forward to a two-night stay on the Spit with fellow paddlers/rowers. Will there be sing-alongs and s'mores?
For the live stream video: The race starts @ minute 2:58 and you can catch a glimpse of Leigh and Clare @ minute 3:17
Don't forget to follow on the race tracker!
Seventy48... more like Seventy<14!
Andrew & Dameon set off from the end of a narrow channel in Tacoma at 7pm on Friday, June 10th in a light drizzle. They were close to the front of the frenetic gaggle of 119 human-powered vessels at the start of the Seventy48. There were rowboats, kayaks, surf skis, stand up paddle boards, canoes, and even a 4-person bicycle-powered pontoon boat. (This particular vessel was incredibly fast but apparently hard to steer and almost careened into MURSU at the start!)
After rowing a couple hours in the dimming light, darkness descended. At first, it was disorienting. Although the winds were relatively light and the water relatively calm, not being able to see the waves meant that your body wasn't able to anticipate the rolling of the boat, and made it more likely to catch your blade on a wave. But soon, they relaxed into a rhythm and even enjoyed watching the lights of Seattle blink past. Even more mesmerizing than the city lights were the blue-green galaxies of bioluminescent plankton that swirled off the end of blades at every stroke, and left a glowing tail behind them.
Other than dodging a few ferries and a surprise encounter with a freakish set of waves near Point No Point, the 70 miles rolled by fairly smoothly (if you don't count the constant muscle fatigue and joint soreness). The current was with them, it rained only a little, and there were always other human-powered teams nearby to keep it interesting. Though they were around 20-25th place at dusk, they slowly and steadily creeped ahead on the leader board as the night wore on.
The goal finish time was 9am on June 11th, which would have been 14 hours. They hoped that would place them in the first 10 finishers. Luckily Leigh was still on "east coast time" and woke up early to check the tracker (see the progress linked here), did some quick math and measuring, and realized they were going to be in sooner than anticipated!
At 8:04 THE GITS hit the beach, in 9th place overall! As they approached, the announcer let the crowd know "This boat really has no business being this far up in the list of finishers...they're twice as wide as a Maas [an ocean racing shell]." And it's true - they beat many many boats that were lighter, faster and sleeker. A satisfying and well-earned victory, although both rowers say they see no need to either row through the night or for 70 miles straight ever again.
MURSU Leaves Belfast
This past Friday was filled with last minute packing, boat repair lessons, and a quick dolly practice session, all followed by an awesome send-off party with great food and even better company!
Dameon departed Belfast Saturday morning with MURSU lashed to the top of his Subaru, armed with the soundtrack to While Line Fever and a handle of Allens; only 3066 miles to Port Townsend, Washington. Crammed inside are 42 bags of food, 8 dry bags full of camping gear, two GPS, and bear spray. The food bags are the stuff of dreams (or nightmares) for endurance athletes; protein powder, dried pasta, and Snickers. Three years ago Leigh felt they didn't eat enough calories on the race, and this year, with God as her witness, she will not be hungry again.
Check out the packing list post for a detailed food list (coming soon).
Stress Test - R2AK Here We Come!
While you're here, don't forget to check out the latest article in the Bangor Daily News:
"Belfast woman prepares for wild ocean race to Alaska"
A month out from the start of R2AK, Leigh and Clare met up for a much needed weekend R2AK practice run around Penobscot Bay. Departing Friday morning and returning Sunday morning, this two day adventure was planned as a stress test of the gear and the food planning. It was also a good endurance test to see how their bodies held up over 70 miles in less than 48 hours.
On the first day, they departed from Rockland Harbor after a slightly delayed start due to fog and put in roughly 32 miles before camping at Pond Island. Here they got to try out the brand new beach rollers. After a bit of a learning curve, MURSU was safely tucked away on shore. They also got to test out Clare's culinary skills with a dehydrated lentil stew.
The second day was thankfully fog free and they were able to get an early start hitting the water shortly after 7am. It was a beautiful morning to row as they rounded Vinalhaven enroute to Monroe Island, putting in about 33 miles for the day. On Monroe, they deployed the clothesline anchoring system with success and had time for a quick hike around the island with the bonus of testing the water filter out on a pond.
Sunday morning was an early start and a quick 5 mile jaunt back to Rockland Harbor. Overall it was a great trip that revealed no major issues but was very helpful in finding a bunch of little things to tweak before the start of the race. While they did fewer miles each day than they are planning to do for the race, both felt relatively good and woke up both days feeling fully refreshed. No doubt the R2AK will be challenging but this trip left Leigh and Clare are feeling prepared and excited!
