750-mile boat race to Alaska launches from Port Townsend

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. -- An intense 750-mile boat race started Thursday morning in Port Townsend.

It’s a grueling trek from the Olympic Peninsula all the way to Ketchikan, Alaska. The race is called “Race 2 Alaska."

Sixty-five teams are competing in this year’s race. It starts with a time trial to Victoria, B.C. The teams have 36 hours to get there.

There are only two rules: no motors in the boats and no support boats.

Track the race here

How tough is it? Last year 35 teams tried and only 15 finished.

Even though sailing is allowed, that’s not how one team of eight women planned to race. Team “Kraken Up”, mostly from the Seattle area, plans to row the whole way. The team’s captain says it’s a dangerous race, but the women know what they’re doing. They are a group of athletes and professional mariners.

They think the race will take them about three weeks.

“It’s as uncomfortable as you get,” said team captain Jill Russell. “This is what you call Type 2 fun. Type 1 fun -- you ride a roller coaster, you’re scared. Type 2 fun -- you’re miserable but you come back at the end of the day, and you’re like, 'Man. That was awesome.'”

Team Kraken up doesn’t plan on winning the race. Russell said they’re doing this for the experience.

“We are eight adventurers who happened to be women, and we decided not to do it the easy way,” said beamed. “Last year the team won five days sailing the whole way. We’re rowing.”

Click here to follow the race live.