Race to Alaska - Start date June 13, 2022

Trimarans are probably the best vessel to sail in the Race to Alaska, they are fast, stable and there is lots of room to move about!

Team Elsie Piddock in a trimaran wins the Race to Alaska, 2015

About the race to Alaska…

750 miles no motors, no support, all the way to Alaska!

Stage 1 Race start: June 13, 2022, Port Townsend, Washington
Stage 2 Race start: June 16, 2022, Victoria, BC
Application deadline: Tax Day baby! April 15th

The inside passage to Alaska has been paddled by native canoes since time immemorial, sailing craft for centuries, and after someone found gold in the Klondike the route was jammed with steamboats full of prospectors elbowing each other out of the way for the promise of fortune.

It’s in the spirit of tradition, exploration, and the lawless self-reliance of the gold rush that Race to Alaska was born. R2AK is the first of its kind and North America’s longest human and wind powered race, and currently the largest cash prize for a race of its kind.

This isn’t for everyone

It’s like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on earth.

Three brothers from Marblehead won a more than 700 mile race that began in Washington and ended in Alaska 2017.

Team Blackfish during the Race to Alaska, 2015

Angry Beaver during the Race to Alaska, 2019

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The new 29’ Corsair 880 was developed for the modern sailor; adventurous and versatile!

Corsair 880

United States Sail Grand Prix/San Francisco / March 26-27, 2022

There is an exciting range of ticket options for the United States Sail Grand Prix/San Francisco

EIGHT TEAMS // EIGHT EVENTS // EQUAL BOATS

Expect sheer emotion, state-of-the-art technology and incredible drama as elite athletes fly cutting-edge wingsailed catamarans in thrilling close-to-shore races.

It’s full speed ahead for SailGP’s eight-nation fleet as they head into Season 2’s home stretch. Vying for the highly coveted $1 million top prize, the United States Sail Grand Prix will play host to the championship league’s Grand Final on March 26-27, 2022 in San Francisco.

Known for its cable cars and hilly streets lined with Victorian houses, the Bay area will be pumping with adrenaline as the eight identical high-flying F50s battle it out for ultimate supremacy against the backdrop of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

As the final event of Season 2, stay tuned to see if the defending champions, Australian SailGP Team, will clinch their second consecutive title, or if a new winner will be crowned.

Save the dates!
 Make your arrangements today - details coming
180 Marine will be host to the Corsair sailing community during the San Francisco 2022 Grand Prix.

New owners of the Corsair 760 will be ready to meet, greet and sail together before the Grand Prix event on March 24-25. Plans are in the works to spectate the race in the Race Village on the waterfront March 26 and on dedicated on-water access March 27.

Boating is good for you, confirms new scientific study in Sail World!

But you already knew that!

Here is a great article we thought you would find interesting…The article is by Domenic Genua / September 27, 2020

“Dr Wallace Nichols… has shown getting out on the water in a boat promotes rest, with significant physiological and psychological benefits…

“His research includes the vast cognitive, emotional, psychological, social, physical, and spiritual benefits that we can all derive from healthy waters and oceans throughout our lives.

“Through his research, Dr. Nichols has identified that the mere sight and sound of water promotes wellness by lowering cortisol, increasing serotonin and inducing relaxation. Being on the water promotes physiological and psychological benefits that help manage trauma, anxiety, sleep, autism, addiction, fitness, attention/focus, stress, grief, PTSD, build personal resilience, and much more.

“His study in the US has shown that 84% of parents think their kids would be more likely to unplug from their phones and laptops on a boat trip versus a road trip…”

Fun for kids at the Festival of Sails © Teri Dodds

The benefits of recreational boating have been assumed for decades and now through some interesting and compelling work, it has been proven that boating is good for you.

The award-winning marine biologist Dr Wallace Nichols is internationally renowned for his study which, through a scientific evidence-based approach, has shown getting out on the water in a boat promotes rest, with significant physiological and psychological benefits. He has found that with our lives getting increasingly busy and stressed, boating is the perfect way to unwind and relax.

His research includes the vast cognitive, emotional, psychological, social, physical, and spiritual benefits that we can all derive from healthy waters and oceans throughout our lives.

Through his research, Dr. Nichols has identified that the mere sight and sound of water promotes wellness by lowering cortisol, increasing serotonin, and inducing relaxation. Being on the water promotes physiological and psychological benefits that help manage trauma, anxiety, sleep, autism, addiction, fitness, attention/focus, stress, grief, PTSD, build personal resilience, and much more.

West Marine US Open Sailing Series Launches in 2021

Six Olympic-Class Regattas are scheduled in Florida and California.

Sailing has the potential to change a life and can build character for the next generation!

“West Marine’s mission statement is to outfit, educate and inspire boaters,” said Ken Seipel, CEO of West Marine. “Partnering with US Sailing on this new Olympic-class series is a great opportunity to inspire both current Olympic hopefuls as well as young athletes about to enter the sport with dreams of standing on the podium.”

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.

BRISTOL, R.I. (January 11, 2021) – US Sailing and host yacht clubs at spectacular sailing venues in Florida and California are thrilled to launch a new U.S. based racing and training series of Olympic-class regattas in 2021.

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. has identified a strong demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it is essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.

US Sailing and event organizers are honored to have West Marine as the title sponsor for the new series. For more than 50 years, West Marine has been the premier retailer of sailing, boating, fishing, and paddling gear. The company is committed to providing the local sailing community and all boaters with the highest quality products and expert service, all while inspiring a new generation. West Marine has a long-standing history of supporting the sport of sailing with a focus on youth and young sailors who aspire to reach new heights.  

“West Marine’s mission statement is to outfit, educate and inspire boaters,” said Ken Seipel, CEO of West Marine. “Partnering with US Sailing on this new Olympic-class series is a great opportunity to inspire both current Olympic hopefuls as well as young athletes about to enter the sport with dreams of standing on the podium.”  

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series will become an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes.

2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series:

January 15-18: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Lauderdale Yacht Club

January 21-24: Miami, Florida
Miami Yacht Club Youth Sailing Foundation

February 4-7: Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater Community Sailing Center, Tampa Bay Charities, Sail Life

June 11-13: San Diego, California
San Diego Yacht Club

July 9-11: Long Beach, California
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, US Sailing Center Long Beach

August 13-15: San Francisco, California
St. Francis Yacht Club, Treasure Island Sailing Center, San Francisco Yacht Club, Richmond Yacht Club

The yacht clubs and sailing organizations hosting these US Open Sailing Series events are the Organizing Authorities for each regatta.

“This series is a real game-changer for Olympic-class sailing in the U.S.,” said Leandro Spina, US Sailing Olympic Development Director. “The U.S. really needs an Olympic sailing platform like this, so prospective athletes at every level can race and train right here in the United States. We want to be more efficient and resourceful with our efforts to prepare our athletes for the Games and provide them with a tremendous experience.”

Are you ready for America's Cup action?

Prada America’s Cup World Series Auckland and Prada Christmas race format announced.

Four international teams from New Zealand, Italy, United States, and Great Britain will line up for the first time on their second generation of flying AC75’s for the PRADA America’s Cup World Series Auckland and the PRADA Christmas Race (December 17-20).

The event will see current America’s Cup Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, the Challenger of Record Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, INEOS TEAM UK and New York Yacht Club American Magic facing each other during four days of match racing on the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf widely regarded as ‘The jewel in Auckland’s crown’.

The first race will start few minutes after 3pm on December 17 and will the Defender Emirates against the Challenger of Record. The second pairing will be American Magic versus INEOS TEAM UK.

With each of the teams interpreting the AC75 design rule differently there are marked differences between all four boats launched so far and therefore great anticipation to see them race for the first time.

The racing format for the four days of racing has now been finalised. For the first three days of the PRADA ACWS Auckland (17th-19th of December) there will be four races per day of Round Robin competition when all of the four teams will race each other twice.

The fourth day (20th of December) the PRADA Christmas Race will kick off and will be comprised of two knock out stages, the first stage consists of two head to head match ups, the winners of each will progress to the final, the losers to a 3rd & 4th match which will help decide the final rankings. The pairing of the Christmas Race Semifinals will be decided by the results of the PRADA ACWS Auckland double Round Robin.

The races will be held on a windward-leeward racecourse with an upwind start and last around 25-30 minutes each.  

Racing is scheduled for 1500 – 1800 each day weather permitting. The race course will be communicated on racing days by the Race Management depending on wind direction, intensity and tides. The permitted wind range is between 6.5 and 21 knots. 

The America’s Cup Race village is FREE to enter and a great place to enjoy the action from, or soak up the village atmosphere. Depending on the course of the day, there are many vantage points around Auckland, from which the racing can be enjoyed while on land.

For the Challenger teams, the results from the ACWS and the Christmas Race regatta will determine the pairings for the PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series to be held in January/February 2021 that will decide which of them will take on Emirates Team New Zealand in the Match for the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA starting on March 6th 2021.

Pre race press conference >>