I got into dinghy cruising late in life and have been doing it for a couple years now. I did an 8 day trip in the Broughton Archipelago last summer with 3 friends in two other small boats. That was the highlight of my dinghy cruising so far. We are another long trip this summer.

The Boat

I decided to get into dinghy cruising by building my own Long Steps, designed by John Welsford. It took me 2.5 years to build and I launched it April 2024. It is a cat yawl 19.5 ft long, 5.5 wide, with a lug main sail. I use 9.5 ft oars I made myself as secondary propulsion, motor.

Long Steps

Having grown up in one of BC’s finest coastal communities (never mind which one), Dylan built his Newfoundland Trap Skiff while a student at SBSS.  Having crewed aboard “Dick Smiley” in the ‘15 R2AK, and many raids since, Dylan is returning with his crew of elite seafarers whoever they may be..

The Boat

Traditional lug rigged ketch when the wind is blowing, and rice, bean and rum powered four legged water strider when it aint.

A Newfoundland trap skiff is a sturdy, open wooden fishing boat traditionally used along the rugged coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. Built for working in cold, rough North Atlantic waters, it has a wide beam for stability, a flared bow to shed spray, and a flat or slightly rounded bottom that makes it steady at rest—perfect for hauling cod traps and nets. Typically rowed by two people, the trap skiff is simple, tough, and deeply practical. It’s an icon of Newfoundland’s inshore fishery—humble, hardworking, and perfectly suited to rocky coves and foggy mornings.

Hi, sailed since I was 13 in Sea Cadets. Owned and crewed on many boats over the years with a recent focus on the Hobie Tandem Island. Looking forward to incorporating camping and raiding with you and all the crew.

The Boat

Hobie TI, is a two person sailing kayak with outriggers and a pedal drive system. Carries up to 600 lbs. Tested on the Everglades Challenge.

Emily finally has a sailboat after joining the raid for 2024 and 2025 as a boatless traveller!

The Boat

She is an oversized bathtub toy with beautiful sails and a lovely name.

This is what our AI overlords think Emily’s boat will look like…

This will be our third raid. I’ve sailed since I was 4 years old on an opti.
Reasonably experienced racer but still learning about the whole seamanship thing. Anchoring still stresses me out and I’ve been known to misread the tide table.

The Boat

The Diam 24 is a 24-foot trimaran. It was designed in France by VPLP Design and built by French builder ADH Inotec
The Diam 24 is built for speed. It regularly exceeds 14 knots upwind in good breeze and can go much faster downwind under gennaker.
However… in August there’s usually no “good breeze”, so we will likely be drifting with the current, glued to the water, struggling to make it move with our paddles.

We camp onboard by putting a tent on the trampoline. This year, I’m hopping to add a hatch so we can actually store something inside!

This is what happens when you don’t wake up for the tide…

Diam 24 One Design

This will be my third time in the Raid, but the first with “crew” on my boat. Martine is coming along this time, and she keeps talking about how she’ll likely need to tow my boat with a kayak. (She knows me too well.)

The Boat

As I submit this form, my R2AK hopes are hanging by a thread. IF I get in for 2026, then I’ll have returned from some form of R2AK adventure in this boat. If I DON’T get into R2AK, then look for me to have a metric tonne of something to prove. Prove what, I don’t know.

Anyway… the boat: It’s a Boston Whaler Supercat 17. A beach cat, it was the designers answer to the fact that Hobie 16s have a tendency to pitchpole. So these hulls are eliptical in cross section, with lots of reserve buoyancy up front.

Oh… and I’m not using stretchy standing rigging like last year’s raid. 😉

5th time Raider. This time I will do it alone and finally has my boat the way I want it . Still prefer to camp on shore but ready for sleeping on the boat at anchor. Looking forward to seeing new and old Raiders. Not a fast racer and more a dinghy cruiser but enjoy the racing with other Lug sailors

The Boat

TOKOL -O -SEA : meaning playing on the sea. Chesapeake Light craft South Wester. Balanced lug sail Dory. Home build from kit and very beautiful

Southwester Dory

The Southwester Dory from Chesapeake Light Craft is a versatile, lightweight cruising dinghy designed for both rowing and sailing. Inspired by traditional New England dories, it features a stable, flared hull that rows efficiently and handles chop with confidence. Built using modern stitch-and-glue plywood construction, it’s available as a kit or plans and can be customized with sailing rigs and simple cruising gear—making it a capable little boat for coastal exploring, camp-cruising, or harbor days under oar and sail.

Respectful of ocean (especially the shallow parts), and eager to compete against the skill and character of the world’s finest skippers. Those with cut throat strategy to cross the start on time and master the paddle. This season, SS Barnes is committed to fortitude over afternoon G+Ts!

The Boat

SS Barnes is a 1965 Wayfarer Mark I Glass Reinforced Plastic – fractional Bermuda rigged sailing dinghy. Over two thousand copies of this model were made and many are still in use through the world. She was a gift and treasured as such.

Wayfarer Dinghy
The Wayfarer is a sturdy, versatile 16-foot sailing dinghy known for its stability, seaworthiness, and adaptability. Designed by Ian Proctor in 1957, it can be raced competitively or cruised comfortably, even carrying camping gear for coastal adventures. With a roomy cockpit, forgiving handling, and solid performance in a wide range of conditions, the Wayfarer has earned a reputation as a dependable family boat that’s equally at home on sheltered lakes or open sea passages.

Therena joined her first barefoot raid 2 years ago on her father’s boat, she loved it so much she bought her own little boat, “Hard Mode”, and decided to bring her husband, Chris, along for its maiden voyage. When not floundering in the water she’s an author and artist, and her husband keeps their life afloat as an electrician. (He’s the actual expert on wind as he is a windsurfer, Therena just knows how to swim.)

Chris’ story: “I dunno, my wife is the storyteller”

The Boat

Mirage Tandem Island
The Hobie Tandem Island is a fast, versatile trimaran kayak that blends sailing and pedal power into one adventure-ready package. Built around a stable twin-seat hull with folding amas (outriggers) for extra stability, it carries a powerful furling sail and Hobie’s MirageDrive pedal system so you can sail, pedal, or do both at once. It’s quick off the wind, surprisingly capable upwind, and stable enough for coastal exploring, fishing, or even light expedition camping—yet it folds down for trailering and beach launching with relative ease.

Upwind Tak Team, We love sailing downwind and across the wind. This will our third Barefoot RAID. Our goal is to have fun and remain upright, I’m sure we’ll have fun.

The Boat:

“Ruth” is a 15 ft plywood/fibreglass Flint, designed by Ross Lillistone a Gaff-headed Knockabout Rig