PORT TOWNSEND — Three boats dropped out of the Race to Alaska on Monday while headwinds and unfavorable tides made progress slow for the remaining 26 competitors.
The Real Thing encountered problems with its mast, Turn Point Design also had equipment issues and the crew of Pure and Wild decided they weren’t ready for the race, Carrie Andrews, spokeswoman for the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, said Monday.
‘Go out and test it’
“There really isn’t any way to test it unless you go out and test it,” Andrews said of the boats that were unable to continue the 750-mile race from Port Townsend to Ketchikan, Alaska.
Most of the racers are staying close to shore due to serious headwinds and tides that have been working against them, she said.
Elsie Piddock, a trimaran with a crew of three, led the race Monday afternoon.
Andrews said the Elsie Piddock is the largest boat in the race and best able to cope with adverse conditions.
MOB Mentality, Mau, Por Favor and Kohara led the remaining pack behind Elsie Piddock.
First leg to Victoria
The teams began the first 40-mile leg from Port Townsend to Victoria on Thursday with 53 entries.
The field was narrowed to 29 boats for the start of the main 710-mile leg, which began at noon Sunday in Victoria.
That stretch has two waypoints — at Seymour Narrows off British Columbia and Bella Bella, B.C. — before reaching the finish line in Ketchikan.
