My Adventure Story
For the TRIAK's inaugural voyage I chose Seward, Alaska to get my feet wet. A huge thanks to my wife, Michelle, (Wife of the Year) for the TRIAK and to Brian for helping with the shakedown cruise.
It was a cold day in Anchorage and looked like snow. As I left town at 7am and headed south the clouds looked menacing. Like the gray clouds could open up and dump snow at anytime.
As I traveled towards Seward things got worse. Rain started coming down and as I climbed into the pass it turned to sleet. At the top of the pass amidst white capped peaks it began snowing.
30 miles outside Seward, AK and it started to clear up. By the time I met up with my friend Brian it had stopped raining and it looked like it might actually be a pleasant day. And too calm.
There was not a wave on the ocean nor a naked branch waving in the wind. That makes for a tough sail. The main reason to have a TRIAK.
After spending longer than suspected setting the TRIAK up we hit the water about 11am. It took longer than planed to rig the lines. I know I'll get faster after a few more trips. We then paddled for an hour before finding a few puffs and I got to experience sailing in the TRIAK for the first time. Relaxing at 2mph. Exhilarating at 6.5mph.
I was having so much fun I had to let Brian in on the action. We hit the beach had lunch in the unseasonably warm weather 40+ degrees and traded off boats. He was 30 minutes of paddling before some wind finaly showed and he was able to sail. The expression on his face made me long to be back in my TRIAK. There was glee as he effortlesly pulled away in the wind powered TRIAK leaving me in his 5.8mph wake.
It didn't last long as the wind died down but he was able to cruise at 1-2mph with no effort and seemingly no wind. We traded boats again for the calm paddle back and got one last puff that carried me the last 1/2 mile.
All in all we put just under 10 miles on the boat in the afternoon but it felt like far less. Time flies when your having fun I guess.
I can not wait for a full trip, and even better, an expedition! Next summer can't come soon enough.
Check out the TRIAK, the 2011 nominated Boat of the Year here:
http://triaksports.com/
