我是干枯的胡杨^_^
一些文字与几张图片Email: dream_land_there@yahoo.comWeChat: sunsetset
R2AK，也就是 Race to Alaska，是一个由美国 Northwest-Maritime 举办的世界范围的比赛。由于条件所限，大部份参赛者还是以美加两地的为主。
R2AK 的比赛条规是：任何人与船都可申请参赛，只有两点要求，首先就是不能用马达，其次就是沿途可以接受陌生人的帮助，但不能向亲朋好友求助，也不能事先沿途安排资源以利自己到时所需。
R2AK 参赛的申请流程是，每年的十一月开始到来年的四月十五号结束，真正开始比赛是六月的十号左右。申请后由专门业人士评估，评估申请者是否够格，其目的就是减少参赛者在途中出意外死亡的可能性。
这个比赛是很危险的，尤其是小船单人的参赛者，途中处处充满不可预测的危险，如果没有经验，没有面对危险时冷静的心理与合理的对策，很容易在某处挂了。人们称那片西部海域为太平洋的坟场，是有充足理由的。难怪每次举办者在为参赛者饯行时，总是强调：Please don't die, please don't die"
比赛分两个阶段，第一阶段为证明阶段，从华盛顿州的 Port Townsend 出发，到加拿大的维多利亚海港，总长四十来英里。参赛者必须在 36 小时内越过这个风高浪急的海湾，只有达到这个要求，才能参加第二阶段的比赛。
第二阶段为正式的比赛阶段，就是从维多利亚海港出发，一路北上直达目的地，阿拉斯加的小镇 Ketchikan。全程七百五十英里，这七百五十英里是最合理的不走弯路的途径，一般每个参赛者的实际路径，都会起超过这七百五十英里。北上途中要求经过两个地方，就是 Seymour Narrow 和 Bella Bella。Seymour Narrow 是一个窄口，涨落潮时，这儿的水流可到达恐怖的每小时十五英里，我的 Kayak 人力最快速度才三英里每小时，所以一定要算对时间顺流而过，Bella Bella 是一个沿途小镇。其它的没什么要求，怎么走可随参赛者随意发挥。
第二阶段的比赛也是有时间限制的，记得似乎开赛十五天后，会有一条船从维多利亚出发，一路北上驶向 Alaska 的终点，号称清扫船，途中如果被这清扫船追上，那么这个参赛者就会被踢出参赛队伍，失去参赛资格。
上面提到的，为什么说由于条件所限，大部份参赛者还是以美加两地的为主? 因为准备参赛的船是个问题，大老远的运过来，费时费力费钱，比赛完后又要运回去，又得折腾一番。所以国际参赛者，基本上都以小船为主，以方便运输。
我从两年前就开始为这个 R2AK 作准备。知识方面，观看与阅读了许多以往参赛者的视频与文章；体力方面，坚持每周三次，每次二小时的锻练；经验方面，分几次从金门大桥出发，用 Kayak 一直去五百英里外的圣地亚哥；设备方面，一直添加，如安全装备，御寒的衣服，备用电池，干粮等等，等等。
由于准备充分，所以我的申请一次过。批准后还有一个面试，以便让其他人更多的知道我。只因我的英文口音太重，所以我的面试是文字面试。请看以下我的面试内容。
其实所有的准备中，最重要的准备是心理准备，我几百次几千次地想象着如果我碰到这样那样的问题，我该如何去面对，该如何去解决，我会放弃吗？还是会想尽一切办法去克服困难，坚持下去。 我几百次几千次地想象着，如果那些海难事故中的人是我，我会如何做，那时，我根本就没有放弃的权利，唯有利用当时一切可利用的东西，克服一切困难，才能存活，既然他们能做到，为什么我不行？他们那时缺水缺粮，没有天气预报，也没有 GPS，不知目的地在哪，也不知何时会死掉，而我现在有充足的食物与水，有目的地知道自己可到达，有天气预报与 GPS 以避开风险也不会迷路，还有许多人看着我的行程，知道我在哪里，危急关头我还可用 PLB 求救，我凭什么担心害怕，我有什么资格娇气娇情，我有什么理由不能到达目标？我一定行！我一定会到达目标的！
还有更重要的是，虽然我是单人参赛，但我知道自己并不孤单，以前在加州海滩岸线上看到刻在石头上的这首诗歌，被它深深吸引，可以说震撼了心灵，无论在多艰难的环境中碰到多少困难，我心里总会默念：“When the dark night seems endless，Please remember me”
“Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me”
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“你的眼睛投向海洋
你的灵魂融入大海
当黑夜变得无边无尽时
请记得有我在旁”
于是信心倍增，毅然决然地继续前行。“当黑夜变得无边无尽时，
请记得有我在旁”，我知道有人或有神灵伴我同行，内心再无惧怕与犹豫。
以下的视频介绍了 R2AK：
这就是刻在那块石头上的那首诗歌：
走近看：
出发前再仔细地检查了一遍 Kayak，听 NCKA Mark 的建议，加装了这根白色的封条，以防漏水：
六月七号，周五中午，开车去到八百英里外的 Port Townsend 小镇
周六凌晨到达，在车内小息一会，准备天亮后卸 Kayak，组装后下水。这次下水，如无意外，要二十多天后在阿拉斯加才能离水上岸，所以要仔细组装，不能有一点错误，否则会留下无尽的隐患，也许一个小错会前功尽弃，到不了目的地。
魔鬼在细节中。
来到水边，开始卸与组装。当时朝霞映红天边，这是个好兆头。
来了几只小鹿，鹿代表好运，内心隐隐觉得，这次我能成功
组装好下水后，来到集合处，这就是我的 Kayak， 左边的箱子里装的是电池与衣服，右边的箱子里装的是食物与炉子餐俱，还带了钓鱼用俱，万一出什么意外，真需要时也不会饿死。我对人说，我什么都带来了了，左边是床，右边是厨房。
”风萧萧兮易水寒“，不达目的誓不还。
看人家的船，好大，我的整个 Kayak 还没有人家一边的 AMA 的一半大，它的帆撑起来，也是我的十几倍大，这怎么比啊，小船小 Kayak 更本没有赢的可能，难怪有些人说，这好不公平啊！
然我觉得无所谓，这个活动虽说是比赛，其实更像是冒险，自己走自己的路，享受每个瞬间。如果硬要说是比赛，也是自己同自己比赛，看看能否走完全程，能否比自己预想的到达时间更早到目的地。每年都有许多人在半途由于各种原因退出比赛。而对 Kayak 来说，就是在主办方规定的时间内走完全程，就已经非常不容易了，已是一个非常大的成就了。
我以前也想过为什么主办方不根据船的大小与性能，在前面乘以一个系数？如小船或 Kayak 在实际完成的天数前乘以一个 0.25 或者0.3，这样二十天的就变成了五天或六天，同大船有的一拚了，世界上许多比赛就是这样设定的，现在大数据，AI 这么流行，做个 Model，执行起来应该不难，但我想也许主办方不想麻烦，所以去繁就简了。
这是加拿大海军的参赛船，看起来古色古香的
这是单体帆船，在船中不算大，但比起我的 Kayak 来，已是巨物了
来张同参赛船的合影吧
第二天周日一早五点出发，周日的天气似乎非常不好，风速从 Gust 的 20 到 45 英里每小时，这样的天气对小船与 Kayak 来说很危险，但后天周一的天气似乎好些。我准备用二天时间来横渡这个海湾。
以前曾有 R2AK 的小船在这片海湾中被风浪打翻过，要海岸卫队来救，我特地开车去看了看这片海域，现在还好，但这儿的天气不可预测，预报不能全信，只能作为个参考，从风平浪静到狂风巨浪也就是几分钟的事，否则也不会被人叫做 ”太平洋的坟场“ 了
如果我没听错的话，那个参加 R2AK 的加拿大海军告诉我，这儿也许会发生的最坏的实际天气，要预报的风速乘以 3 到 4。当时我似乎不太信，但之后碰到过一次，差点回不来，之后觉得他说的非常对！
地头蛇的话，是要信的。
以下是 R2AK 的官网：R2AK.COM
要想看更多视频，只要在油管上搜 R2AK，会有非常多的信息
以下是我的文字面试：
Hometown: USA, Singapore, & China
Race vessel: Hobie Tandem Island Kayak
LOA: 18′ 6″
Human propulsion: Pedal
Connect: website
Solo racer Xia Huang is the latest person to decide that R2AK-ing in a Hobie Tandem Island is a brilliant idea. We think it’s the nautical equivalent of entering the Iditarod with a chihuahua. But if anybody can mush the TI to glory, it might be this guy
INTERVIEW WITH TEAM MR. X
Can you share the story behind why you chose to join the R2AK?
In 2022, after I posted an article on a website about the Golden Gate Bridge to Farallon Island by my TI Kayak and Solo, one person from the forum introduced R2AK to me, encouraging me to join this R2AK event. But I didn’t think I was ready. So in 2023, I used my TI from Golden Gate Bridge to San Diego to prove I am ready for R2AK. In 2024, I applied to join R2AK and was accepted.
And, I just like R2AK. It’s doable by kayak, not like from the US mainland to Hawaii, which is impossible for a kayak.
Why did you decide to use a Hobie Tandem Island for the race, and how do you think it will handle the challenges ahead?
I have an AI (Adventure Island) and a TI (Tandem Island). The TI has more space than the AI, so I chose the TI for a long-distance trip. The TI also has a sail on it, and I can put it on top of my car easily, so it is easy to transport. I feel like everything is under my control at a reasonable cost. I like this controllable and freedom feeling.
TI has a shortage compared with real sailboats. It is light, and cannot handle big swells and strong wind, but most of the time the R2AK is inside channels. So I can handle kind of bad weather, also I will use current and wind in my favor. When the current or wind helps me, even at midnight, I will keep moving my TI to my destination.
Can you walk us through your preparation process over the past few months? What have been the key steps and milestones?
Actually, a lot of stuff. I already got ready one year ago when I traveled from Golden Gate Bridge to San Diego, like a dry suit, safety stuff like a radio, PLB, and life jacket. The biggest concern for me is the cold and wet weather. I used to live in warm or hot areas, like San Jose and Singapore. I hate cold, so in the last few months I bought some clothes to prepare for the cold weather
The key step for me is to prepare some stuff to let me sleep on TI. No need to land, so I can save time and to avoid the bear risk.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge during the race, and how are you preparing to overcome it?
Based on my estimate in advance, the biggest challenge during the race will be the cold. The second is the wind—the wind flow direction is almost 80% against me. Third is that there is no cell phone signal in some areas, and I cannot get the weather forecast information.
How to handle the cold? I will prepare more clothes. How to handle the wind against me? Use zig-zag technique. How to handle the no-signal area? Write down the weather forecast before entering the no-signal area
Do you have any funny or interesting stories from your training that you’d like to share?
I’ll share one exciting story about when I reached San Diego from Santa Catalina Island. I had never been to San Diego before—where will I land my TI? I used Google Maps to find a ramp, but Google Maps never said it was a military base. When I traveled to that ramp, there also was no sign that said it was a military base. After I landed, I dismantled my TI and moved every part to the road, then called Uber but Uber never came. I called Uber a couple of times and waited there for 2 hours, but still no car came. I felt it was strange and unusual, so I found a street cleaner and asked her whether she knew the reason why the Uber never came. She told me this was a military base, and no Uber would come here. She drove me to the office, and lots of things happened consequently, but long story short, after the military police management discussed, they gave me two choices. One: Report my case to court, which will be very troublesome to me. Two: Leaving from where I am landed, and they will give me some information on where I can land legally. I chose the second choice.
What part of the race are you most excited about, and why?
Traveling on the water in the natural area where I have never been before. This is very exciting. Sometimes I feel my soul is thirsty and sleeping. Only in that wild natural area where I have never been before with certain risks which I can handle, my soul will be filled and my heart will wake up and I will feel like I am really living…….
How do you keep yourself motivated during the toughest training days, and what keeps you going?
My dream is on the horizon, the place where the sun sets, where it’s mysterious and eternal. It’s calling me, echoing in the deep of my soul. I will never stop, never tire of finding them.
Can you describe the most beautiful place you’ve seen while training in California, and what made it stand out to you?
The sunset when I came back to the harbor in Half Moon Bay. That time there was no wind with a small and slow swell. The half sea surface was colored by the blood-red sunset glow, and seabirds were flying above the sea surface. I felt so peaceful, so beautiful, and I felt time stop. My soul merged into that space, something touched the bottom of my heart, and I almost cried silently.
What’s your favorite snack to keep your energy up during long training sessions?
Beef jerky, black chocolate, and I also fish and eat the meat.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to do the R2AK solo? How should they prepare both mentally and physically?
My advice is, if you like, just follow your heart and apply R2AK. I always tell people: Life is short, listen to your soul calling, follow your heart, set a goal, prepare for it, and then just do it.
Preparation is important, it includes equipment, mental, and physical. For equipment, we don’t need to say. For mental, the adventure mental, can be innate, but it also can be postnatal training—like watching or reading more adventure movies, books, building your interest, only you like it, you will enjoy it, and practice it with happiness. For physical, I think there is no need to say as well—gym, and running are all good.
Last but not least, I like to watch and read nature adventure movies and books, like “Into the Wild,” “Perfect Storm,” “True Spirit,” and “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.” I imagine someday I will have similar experiences, but I am still going to be alive.
For this R2AK 2024 with a kayak, I won’t be the champion. My purpose is to challenge myself and enjoy every moment on the way to my destination. Sometimes I think I don’t want to prepare too well, I just want to make sure I can make it successful and still be alive—that is enough. If I prepare too well, then no challenge, no risk, no uncertainty, and no fun. It’s just like finishing a job, to finish a routine work. R2AK is a kind of exercise in the gym, in the swimming pool. Let’s keep certain risks, some controllable uncertain, that will make this R2AK unique and a whole life memory for me.
And, I also want to feel our ancestors’ life in the old times with R2AK. In that time there was no motor. There was no weather forecast. How did they face the wild natural world? How did they travel on the water with small and simple boats? From R2AK, I have the chance to touch their life and their spirit…… Yes, this is another major reason for me to
作者微信号：sunsetset
