Here is the start of what I hope will be regular updates as to progress of the Alaska 1000 participants. I will try to forward them as I receive them from Bob Lindal and others.

I received an email from the Sitka Chamber of Commerce upon returning home from last weekend and they heard about the group racing to Juneau and noted the route had them stopping over in Sitka. This was very exciting to the folks in Sitka and they plan to host a welcoming event upon the groups arrival. After forwarding the email to racers and some here (Bob Lindal included), the juices are flowing and there should be some great feedback as to progress going forward.

I’m not sure if these updates and links to the “Google Earth Mapping” site can be posted on our website in some fashion or not, but I am copying Paul with this just in case.

Thanks,

Jim Anderson

Alaska Race Reports

Friday June 4^th, 2010

Hi All IPBA Racers

In response to many questions about the travels, races, weather etc. of the Alaska Race, IPBA has decided to send regular emails to all IPBA racers with short reports of progress etc. Many will be by satellite email which does mean they will be short as we pay by the character for those. They also will include a link to “google earth” with the approx location of the fleet. (don’t be concerned if it shows them on land somewhere, the location accuracy isn’t so great, i.e. ¼ to even 1/2 mile).

I will forward the emails using my IPBA email list but they will be written primarily by various participants on the Race.

So here is a first one (written by me, as the fleet should be underway on contest leg #2 which is part of their run today from Pender Harbor to Squirrel Cove, BC.) The position last night was:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=49.616497,-124.025925(Time:12%3A47+GMT%2C+Jun+04%2C+2010%20Latitude:49.616497%20Longitude:-124.025925)&z=7

The fleet consists of 14 IPBA members plus 2 tag along boats, who are not racing but taking the opportunity to “travel to Alaska”. They already have used one of the weather days or Lay Days built into the schedule in order to account for delays for bad weather. The contest leg 1 was supposed to be on Wednesday from the official start in Nanaimo to Pender Harbor. The “strong wind warning” (used to be called “Gale Warning”) caused them to wait a day and lucky they did – the winds were pretty steady at 31 knots and 4-5’ seas in Georgia Strait. I don’t know anyone who would attempt to cross the straits on a day like that. However all made it across to Pender Harbor on Thursday.

If you want to communicate with anyone of the racers directly, they will get sporadic wifi access and may be able to respond to an email. I will also try to answer any general questions of interest to all when I forward the emails from the fleet.

Thanks

Bob Lindal 

PS If you want info on the race and schedule etc.; The Alaska Race itinerary and contest legs are on the IPBA website:

http://www.ipbalogracing.org/comingevents/default.htm

Robert W. (Bob) Lindal;    Lindal Cedar Homes Inc.,   206-892-1234