Spirit of Admiralty Race

SouthEast Alaska Sailing (SEAS), is sponsoring the 2015 Spirit of Admiralty Race, the longest inland water race on the west coast of North America. Any boat over 20 feet in length that meets PIYA Category II requirements can participate.  There is a mandatory skippers meeting on June 19 at 1730 at the Squire's Rest in Auke Bay.

The first running of this challenging course celebrated the 25th anniversary of Alaska’s statehood. Now 56 years after statehood, it still represents the crown jewel of sailboat racing in Alaska. The Spirit of Admiralty Race completely circumnavigates Admiralty Island clockwise in two contiguous Legs, starting in Auke Bay the Saturday after Summer Solstice.  Leg 1 proceeds South down Stephen's Passage and Frederick Sound, keeping Admiralty Island to starboard, rounding Yasha Island and continuing north a short distance in Chatham Strait to the Finish in Warm Springs Bay.

Sailors take their mandatory layover here for up to two days and nights, finding R&R in this most ideal setting amidst the waterfall from Warm Springs Lake and towering ‘valhalla-esque’ mountains, soaking aching muscles in the warm springs, either at the public baths above the harbor or at the original spring site known as ‘The Grotto’.

Before the fleet gets restless, the race will restart on Leg 2 outside the entrance to Warm Springs Bay and proceed north up Chatham Strait and southern Lynn Canal, rounding Pt. Retreat, with the Finish back in Auke Bay.

For more information, see the race page: http://seasailing.us/spirit