Team members: Darrell Gray, Tom Lutz, Jim Hestad
Hometown: Bellingham, WA, USA
Race vessel: Goman Yachts Express 30
LOA: 30′
Human propulsion: Row
Daryl and Tom got involved in the Race to Alaska because their kids are cooler than they are: 2024’s Team Juvenile Delinquents. After helping to prepare the youngin’s, following the race with deep parental fear, and sailing Loose Cannon back from Ketchikan afterward, they figured they should just do the thing themselves.
They brought in Jim, a longtime friend with plenty of Alaska water under him and a practical approach to things going wrong. He’s spent years on the water, both recreationally and commercially, and seems comfortable with the idea that plans will change.
The boat is a 1982 Express 30 that is just coming out of a bout of Long COVID that it picked up in ‘20. It’s bigger than what they first considered, with enough space to make it appealing and enough neglect to keep them busy.
In 2024, they were the unglorious return-trippers. This time, if they make it, it’s the kids’ turn to slow roll the boat south while these old f’s sleep in real beds.
The Race to Alaska Podcast
Episode 13: Team Dogsmile Adventures, Team Mad Hornblowers, Team Old Farts
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First things first, why Race to Alaska?
My daughter, Willow Gray, participated with Juvenile Delinquents in the 2024 R2AK. I got pretty involved getting the boat ready for the race, so the crew offered me the chance to sail the boat home after the race was done. Another Juvenile Delinquents parent, Tom Lutz, joined me for part of the trip back to Bellingham, and the 2026 R2AK plan was hatched. We were both so impressed with the R2AK story, organizers, participants and event, we decided a couple of old farts should give it a go. I have been looking for the right boat and a third crew member ever since.
What’s going to break first—and what’s your plan when it does?
Possibly a halyard. We are hoping to use the existing running rigging, but as I said, it has been sitting for some. Being uncertain if just sitting for years degrades a line, we plan to bring some spare line for replacement. If we were smarter and less cheap, we should replace the halyards and keep the old ones for spares
Luck/Skill Ratio
50:50
Duct Tape Fixes (Linear Feet)
102