Team members: Robert Hodge, David White, Ryan Miller, also a sock monkey named George
Hometown: Seattle, WA, USA
Race vessel: Olson 30
LOA: 30′
Human propulsion: Pedal (prop)
Connect: website, facebook, instagram, youtube
What do you do when your boat burns down the day after Christmas and all hope of racing to Alaska feels lost? If you’re Robert Hodge of Team Monkey Fist, you show up to a glamorous affair we call the Tailgate and spend your day off in a dirty parking lot, cooking hot dogs in the rain for all the people who were going to be your fellow racers. Hodge was one of the first volunteers to arrive, last to leave, and didn’t sexually harass our Intern—and it’s for all of these reasons (and more) that we’re stoked to be writing Team Monkey Fist’s bio.
Team Monkey Fist is a motley crew of sailing friends brought together by the power of the internet. TMF’s got tradefolks, rocket scientists, chili masters, and a Chief Safety and Morale Officer who gets his well-earned sailing tats embroidered in thread. The team was supposed to be joined by another rocket scientist, but they had a conflicting work trip… to the International Space Station. Which—as far as excuses go—is pretty mid.
Early this spring, Team Monkey Fist was able to secure a new vessel and a 2023 Race to Alaska became an improbable-yet-possible possibility. Thankfully, our kindly benefactor, Fisheries Supply, loves an underdog story and stepped up to sponsor Team Monkey Fist and support them with some essential gear—which we’ve been assured will not include any Christmas lights. The More You Know, right?
We sat down with Robert of Fisheries Supply Team Monkey Fist over a bowl of spare thread to talk about tropical cocktails, irony, and rising from the ashes.
What are the necessary components of a good adventure?
Fresh ground coffee, uncertain success, and fame and glory upon return.
What’s a lesson you learned the hard way?
“Turnkey” boats aren’t, Christmas lights on boats are a bad idea, and don’t upset the monkey.
What’s your favorite kind of bracket?
The Chainplates of Doom we’ve fabricated for our Olson 30.
What’s your claim to fame?
Well, Ryan is a rocket scientist who trained astronauts. Rob is an expert on old Italian motor scooters, and Dave makes a damn fine chili.
It’s drizzling, freezing cold, and you’ve missed the tide. The cabin is leaky and the stove won’t light. How do you keep the good vibes going?
The crew mutinies and stuffs George into a duffel bag and drinks all his banana liquor. He has quite the stash back in his aft cabin.
Forget the 10k or the steak knives. What does success look like for you and your team?
Getting back home before we lose our jobs.
Defend your vessel. What makes it worthy?
We replaced a boat that burned to the waterline with a boat named “Wildfire”.
Blank space, baby. Share some things:
Buoys. Pipe berths. Hot chowder. Rum. Autopilots. Those are some things, right?
We’d really like to thank Fisheries Supply for all the help that they have given us by sponsoring us for the R2AK. We couldn’t do this race without them or rum.
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Welcome to Race to Alaska, Team Monkey Fist. We have our three fingers crossed that your friend gets to hear you ring the bell in space—vacuums be damned.