Team members: Esther Wheeler
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Race vessel: Rockpool Taran 18
LOA: 18′
Human propulsion: Paddle
Connect: instagram
Esther Wheeler has a failure scenario in mind: all her tea bags get wet. Everything else is secondary.
She’s coming to Race to Alaska after overcoming the all-too-common misunderstanding: that it’s just a sailing race. Upon realizing people could get there however they want, including using 750 miles to build the world’s largest blisters, she scrounged a boat within a week, then spent the next year creeping on past racer tracks to find the best way north before putting in her own application.
This limey appears to be qualified. Multiple Yukon River Quest finishes with solo wins in both canoe and kayak, and an extensive résumé built on rivers and coastlines that try to kill you in myriad ways. Now she’s thinking she’s ready for something bigger.
She prefers to race alone. Not for philosophical reasons—purely practical. Travelling with other people introduces compromise, and that’s not Esther’s jam. Still, she puts her finish odds below 50% and admits she might wind up latching onto someone anyway.
The kayak is borrowed. The plan is detailed. The tea is shipped internationally because local supply chains are not to be trusted.
The Race to Alaska Podcast
Episode 14: Team Belly Full of Tea, Team Outliers, Team Lollipop
→ Listen on Spotify
→ Listen on YouTube
→ Listen on Apple Podcasts
First things first, why Race to Alaska?
Once I realised rowboats and kayaks did the race I wanted to as well. I need a new challenge having raced the Yukon 1000 and Yukon River Quest solo a few times. I love the sea, and I have missed my adventures and experiences along the coastline. After my short canoe trip July 2025 I am even more certain I want to do this race.
What’s going to break first—and what’s your plan when it does?
My heart, when all my tea bags will get wet. I suppose I can dry them out with my stove somehow.
In other ways, my hip flexors – tight as a drum! I have started yoga and have exercises for before / after paddling.
My kayak itself is pretty reliable, only the rudder can break and I can fix that, and also, I can paddle without it. I’ll also be carrying a good repair kit.
Luck/Skill Ratio
40:60
Duct Tape Fixes (Linear Feet)
0