Ballard High students finish 10th in Race to Alaska sailing competition

A team of Ballard-area teenagers has completed the 2026 Race to Alaska, finishing 10th after sailing the 750-mile course from Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska.

Team Fisheries Supply Darwin’s Interns crossed the finish line at 1:12 a.m., completing the race in 8 days, 14 hours and 12 minutes.

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A post shared by Henry, Teddy, Oliver, Odin, Isa (@r2akteam_darwins_interns)

In a post on Instagram, the team thanked “all our family, friends, fans, and sponsors for helping us make this happen.”

Race to Alaska organizers also recognized the team’s finish, noting that several members had previously competed in the race with Team Rock the Boat in 2024 before returning this year as Fisheries Supply Darwin’s Interns.

“The last time Nomad with Team Rock the Boat finished Race to Alaska, the inside of their boat looked like the aftermath of teenagers being left unsupervised for 750 miles,” organizers wrote. “Two years later—a couple of them returned as Team Fisheries Supply Darwin’s Interns, skipped finals, and kept the inside of the boat surprisingly civilized, and became the 10th team to reach Ketchikan.”

Organizers described the team as “a little wet” and “a lot exhausted,” adding that they completed “a really well-sailed race” with “no catastrophes” and “no dramatics.”

The crew consisted of Ballard-area high school students Odin Bjorklund, Henry Thomas, Isa Ford, Teddy Dodd and recent graduate Oliver Laskowski. KUOW reported that the group spent months preparing for the race while balancing school, raising money to purchase a 27-foot sailboat, and modifying it for the journey.

Race to Alaska is an annual 750-mile race from Port Townsend to Ketchikan for boats powered only by wind or human power. The event prohibits engines, outside support and requires teams to navigate the Inside Passage through two mandatory waypoints before reaching Alaska.

Photo: Team Darwin’s Intern’s GoFundMe Campaign