The Ruckus

See the boats. Meet the racers. Get the tattoo. Party.

Sunday June 12, 2022
Pope Marine Park & Northwest Maritime Center – map it

Give the racers a night to remember before their long, wet journey while you put faces (and hulls) to those blips on the tracker screen. Dozen of R2AK boats and crew will be spread across the Ruckus for you to check out. See the improbable craft and peer into the eyes of the marginally sane adventurers who actually choose to race.

So come on down, see some race boats on the hard, get great food and drinks, dance it up with great music, and find huge discounts on gear from Ortlieb, YETI, Fisheries, and the Wooden Boat Chandlery.

Beer garden sponsored by the one and only Port Townsend Brewing, featuring a selection of PT beers and Finnriver cider.

And get a free tattoo! Yup, Clae Welch will be offering his skill and if you decide to get a tattoo of the R2AK logo, we’ll pay for it.

We bet your life will be richer for coming to the Ruckus. And if we’re wrong? We’ll ask your buddy to pay you five bucks. Come on down. See for yourself.

All the spirit of Race to Alaska, 10% of the danger.

SEVENTY48 Finish Line Clubhouse and Bar

June 11-12, 7 AM – 9 PM
It’s like the Pre-pre-Ruckus! We’re standing up a Finish Line Clubhouse Bar at Pope Marine for SEVENTY48, because the finish line is right there at City Dock.

That’s right, starting June 11 the Pope Marine Building will be filled with chow from Aldrich’s, a bar, a tracker to watch the race, and a couch. One couch, maybe two and other seating. All ages are welcome. And it’s totally free to hang out. So come down anytime between 7 AM and 9 PM on June 11 or June 12.

SEVENTY48 Awards

June 12, 7 PM
The incredible humans that are going to actually finish SEVENTY48 will be pouring in all day wild-eyed and dehydrated, maybe even a little heat exhaustion. Who knows! What we do know is that it’s an incredible collection of racers and boats, and they’ll be there as well.

Why?

Because they’re too tired to move and are waiting to see which teams will be taking away over $11,000 in cash prizes from the event. SEVENTY48 awards are on the band stage at 7 PM. We’ll find out the winners of SEVENTY48’s four classes, the Mustang Random Hero Award, and the Ortlieb Most in Need of a Dry Bag award.