R2AK is the first of its kind, and North America’s longest human and wind-powered race. First place is $10,000 and second place is a set of steak knives.

The Race to Alaska (R2AK) was born in the spirit of tradition, exploration and the lawless self-reliance that defines the sea-faring journey through the Inside Passage. 750 miles. No motors. No support. All the way to Alaska. R2AK is the first of its kind and North America’s longest human and wind-powered race. First place is $10,000 and second place is a set of steak knives.

The race starting horn blares at 6am on Thursday, June 23, 2016, with public viewing areas open at the Northwest Maritime Center.

R2AK is like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, or being run down by a freighter, or being swallowed by a whirlpool. There are squalls, killer whales and tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles per hour. There’s also some of the most beautiful scenery on earth—as well as a wicked block party to kick the insanity off!

The night before, the R2AK Pre-Race Ruckus is Wednesday, June 22, 2016, from 3-8pm. The Ruckus is free and open to everyone. Beyond great food, drinks, and Seattle soul band Down North performing, the Ruckus will also feature a fire-hose rodeo, various feats of strength, free R2AK tattoos (yep, the permanent kind), and your chance to check out all the amazing race boats—including a 70’ trimaran that may very well break the world record for fastest time to Alaska! To join the fun and track the boats once they’re en route, go to www.r2ak.com.

Prepare to be swept away in a high seas adventure, populated by a monstrous man-eating octopus, flying wombats, giant sea turtles, cannibals, and buried treasure—“a story all the more remarkable because every word of it is true.”

Key City Public Theatre presents “Shipwrecked! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as told by himself), an epic entertainment by Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies opening Friday, June 3, 2016. Originally produced at the South Coast Repertory in 2007, the play made its New York debut at Primary Stages in 2009, and now, KCPT brings it to Port Townsend.

The Key City production stars Eric Ray Anderson making his KCPT debut as Louis de Rougemont with Ana Maria Campoy and Austin DeLuna (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) with fifteen roles each. Eric and Ana have performed extensively throughout Washington State. Both have recently graced the stage of Seattle’s Mirror Stage, with Eric portraying Everett K. Olson in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, and Ana as Melantho/Maid in The Penelopiad. Austin is a local actor, who despite his youth, has managed to make himself a fixture of the local theater scene, both at KCPT and at Port Townsend High School.

The adventurous Louis de Rougemont invites you to hear his amazing story of bravery, survival and celebrity that left nineteenth-century England spellbound. This audacious autobiographer and entertainer blurs the line between fact and fiction, enrapturing the audience in a story of the high seas. One part Vaudeville and one part Robinson Crusoe, Shipwrecked! examines how far we’re willing to blur the line between fact and fiction in order to leave our mark on the world. The New York Times says “The breathless story of a seafaring wanderer springs to life like a theatrical pop-up book.” Bob Verini of Variety writes, “Shipwrecked! offers a self-promoting fabulist a forum to inform and persuade, and it delights in both respects.”

Director Connor Zaft says “Shipwrecked! celebrates the magic of live theatre while revealing the ways in which we invent ourselves through story, and how our personal narratives shape the stories we tell as a culture.” A recent graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, Zaft is joining the theatre as an artistic apprentice. Shipwrecked! is his directorial debut with KCPT, and he will return in October to direct 4,000 Miles.

Shipwrecked! runs from June 2 through July 3 at the Key City Playhouse on 419 Washington Street, Port Townsend, with a preview performance on Thursday, June 2 and Opening Night on Friday, June 3. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 26 and July 3) evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees (June 5, June 12 and June 19) begin at 2:30 p.m. Tickets ($20 on Thursday/Sunday, $24 on Friday/Saturday, $10 for students any performance) are available at keycitypublictheatre.org, or by calling 360-385-KCPT. Pay What You Wish Performances will be Thursday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 5 at 2:30 p.m.

Head to the NW Maritime Center for tasty samples from 14 restaurants and dessert spots, 2 breweries, 2 wineries, and 2 cideries.

The Port Townsend Main Street Program celebrates the Tastes of Port Townsend on June 9, 2016 from 5-8pm. This delicious event will take place at the Northwest Maritime Center in downtown Port Townsend.

Tasty Samples From:

• Cablehouse Beach Canteen – Razor Clam Chowder
• Dogs-A-Foot – Hot Dog Bites
• Elevated Ice Cream and Candy Shop – Locally made Chocolates &
  Root Beer Floats featuring Bedford’s Beer Soda and Elevated Ice Cream
• Ichikawa Sushi Bar & Steak House – Miso Soup & Sushi Samples
• Port Townsend Chocolates – House made Caramel, hand dipped and sprinkled with Sea Salt & House made Caramel with Organic Pecans
• Port Townsend Food Coop – A selection of Artisan Cheeses
• Port Townsend Fudge Company – Locally made Fudge
• Sirens Seafood Bar – Puget Sound Boil — local mussels, clams and prawns in traditional Old Bay and beer broth with red potatoes and corn on the cob
• Taps at The Guardhouse – Pulled Pork Sliders
• The Belmont – Lamb Meatballs with a Basil Mint and Feta Cheese Pesto & Stone Ground Apricot Sauce
• The Boiler Room – Homemade Cookies & Homemade Chai & New England Coffee Syrup
• The OId Whiskey Mill – Caribbean Chicken Sandwich – Smoked chicken, Mount Townsend cheese curds, apricot habanero chutney and baby greens on thick sliced French bread with roasted shallot aioli
• The Silverwater Cafe – Sicilian Prawn Risotto
• The Tin Brick – Wood Fired Pizza

And Select Sips from:

• Eaglemount Wine and Cider
• FairWinds Winery
• Finnriver Cidery
• Lullaby Winery – 2009 Morning Light, Rouge de Virginie, & 2014 Carbon
• Marrowstone Winery
• Pippa’s Real Tea – Iced Tea
• Port Townsend Brewing Company – Chet’s Gold, Amber & Hop Diggidy
• Propolis Brewing – Beltane – Elderflower Saison with Brett
• Sunrise Coffee Company – Locally Roasted Reg. & Decaf Coffee

Photo by Elizabeth Becker/Seaport Photography