We had arrived at Port Townsend, Washington, a few days before the start of the 2015 Race to Alaska (R2AK) so we would have a chance to make any repairs after our sail there from Gabriola Island in British Columbia, and to watch the fleet arriving. Our 100-mile pre-race trip from Gabriola had been a success, and we felt good about our chances of winning the race—until the other boats started showing up. Although we launched on the scheduled day of April 12, many rig details remained unfinished. The 6-week pre-race trial we intended to do was reduced to about 6 day trips. This little beach on the northwest corner of Valdes was part of one of them.
Quill Goldman
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I had to stop a moment while reading to let strong emotions settle down about the Nak’waxda’xw settlement. Quill, you are a beautiful writer, and one helluva a sailor. Glad I got a chance to meet you in the first Shipyard Raid. And the thought has popped up several times that the raids should become a permanent part of the small-boat culture in the Salish Sea. Let’s talk! We both know a lot of folks that would support reestablishing the raid. Congratulations to you and crew. This is a story worth waiting for… Mazeltov!
Captivating account, well told. Makes this greybeard want to get a team together and charter one of your boats for the next R2AK.
Congratulations to Quill and the team—boat, race, writing, everything. I am so impressed on multiple counts. Thank you for conveying the beauty, and a sense of the forces you were sometimes up against. Anybody interested in this ride will appreciate how quickly and how severely conditions can change. Mountains, passages, ocean swells, and mighty river outflows create a unique environment of vertical and horizontal forces. The idea of keeping your eyes on the horizon clearly comes across in this account.
Excellent writing, Quill. I’ve been waiting a long time to hear this story and it was well worth waiting for. Hope to see you around the islands this summer. My best to everyone on Gabriola.
Well spun yarns, Quill. As a team member who stopped 14 days in at Telegraph Cove, it was a real treat to hear the names and descriptions of some of the places farther north that we missed seeing in 2015.
Bravo to you and your crew for finishing the boat—just getting a purpose built boat across the starting line is a grand accomplishment—and accolades galore for persisting through the bugs, squalls, and equipment failures! Unlike many R2AK teams, you actually saw a bear and wolf tracks, and truly explored part of the wild coast.
I, for one, would be honored to raid through the Salish Sea with you and yours!