Pure&wild Ketchikan 20220621 Thomashawthorne 24 (2)

Payouts

It’s been said the winner-take-all nature of R2AK isn’t fair.

“How can a kayak compete with a carbon fiber sailing rocket?”

We have no idea, but folks keep on trying. Why? Because R2AK isn’t the winning but the doing. And that’s easier to say if you didn’t have a chance of winning anything in the first place.

That said, winning Race to Alaska is real. Here’s how:

You finish. The greatest glory of all is going to be your first night in Ketchikan, telling stories not making them. Value is uncertain but damn high.

  • If you’re first you get $10,000, but you have to figure out how to get it off the wood.
  • Second place gets a pretty good set of steak knives.
  • If you’re special you get rewarded by walking away with one of our Side Bets or Annual Awards.

Steak Knives

R2ak Steak Knives
2ND PLACE STEAK KNIVES IN ALL THEIR GLORY

So what’s the story with the steak knives? Watch Glengarry Glen Ross, baby, it all starts there. They’re not worth much but you have to take 2nd Place to get them. In year one, they were shared between Team MOB Mentality and Team Por Favor after a battle for the finish line when mere minutes decided a 750 mile race. In year two, Team Jungle Kitty Skiff Foundation brought their own steak to the award ceremony to test the power of the knives. Sorry PETA.

Who else holds the Steak Knife crown?

2017 – Big Broderna
2018 – Lagopus
2019 – Pear Shaped Racing
2022 – Elsewhere
2023 – Budgie Smugglers
2024 – Brio

Side Bets

To amuse themselves and even the score, sponsors and others are throwing down and surrounding the big payday with some little ones: We’re calling them side bets.

These aren’t really bets, they aren’t class awards – some of them aren’t even good ideas – but if you can accomplish whatever is offered up you can get some pretty good stuff.

The side bets currently on the table:

  • The 20 And Under Award/ This is awarded to the first boat under 20′ to reach Ketchikan. This Side Bet is put up by Small Craft Advisor and comes with $1000 cash – as well as a set of tactical sporks (with case) supplied by Turn Point Design.
  • Oaracle Blister Prize. This prize, sponsored by the beloved Team Oaracle, will be awarded to the first human-powered team to reach Ketchikan. We’re told $1,000 in Canadian Loonies weighs about 18 pounds.
  • The Hecate Solo Star Award. This prize, put together by a border-straddling group of racers and fans (headed up by Janice of Team Oaracle) goes to the first ever female solo finisher. $1000 cash, and a star gets named after them.
  • And the team with the least money into this race will take the Dirtbag Award. There is no money attached – you don’t need it anyway – but the prestige is tremendous. Ask Liam, winner of the 2024 Dirtbag, who sold his engine to race and only ate food given to him.

Do it for glory. Do it to escape creditors. Do it because you feel compelled to punish yourself. We don’t care. We’ll love you anyway.