| For more information: | |
| Ron Ballanti(e-mail) Rick Hauser |
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| Bear Adv./PR Dept. | |
| American Suzuki Motor Corporation | |
| (818)865-6464 |
Brea, CA – August 1, 1999 – For the first time, small, trailerable boats have gone the distance from Seattle, WA to Homer, AK. Covering more than 2500 miles, two 26-foot Glacier Bay catamarans powered by twin Suzuki 150 horsepower fuel-injected outboards traveled from Seattle, WA, through the Inside Passage to Juneau, AK. After exploring the frigid waters of Glacier Bay National Park, the boats and crew traversed the treacherous Gulf of Alaska, ending their journey in Homer, AK.
"The spectacular scenery, the wildlife, the rugged coastline, everything was intensified because we were so close," said David Greenwood, Suzuki Marine’s tech specialist, who skippered one of the boats. "Waters were icy, temperatures varied greatly, and the outboards ran up to 18 hours a day, but the Suzuki’s never skipped a beat."
The boats and crew departed for the first leg of the trip on June 19. From Seattle to Juneau, they traveled through the beautiful Inside Passage, overnighting at fishing lodges and camps along the way. With hundreds of islands and tide changes of more than 20 feet, navigational skills and timing were critical. Once in Juneau, the boats explored the many bays and fjords of southeast Alaska, dodging the "bergie-bits" and seeing first-hand the many glaciers that end their journey at waters' edge.
From Juneau, the boats traversed the Gulf of Alaska, departing on July 10 from Elfin Cove on the Cross Sound. After taking on fuel at Yakutat Bay, the boats continued another 250 miles across the Gulf, encountering 8 to 10 foot seas and winds of up to 35 knots. The boats set anchor on the lee side of Hinchinbrook Island late in the evening, continuing on to Cordova in the morning.
"Crossing the Gulf was serious business, but boats, motors and crew took on the challenge without flinching," said Larry Graf, president of Glacier Bay Catamarans and skipper of the first boat. "It was a long day, and a lot of adrenaline was pumped, but it was worth every minute."
From Cordova, the boats and crew enjoyed the natural splendor of Prince William Sound, which has rebounded from the tragic Exxon Valdez oil spill 10 years ago. After a little rest and relaxation (and some fishing, of course), the crew rounded the Kenai Peninsula, stopping in Seward and Seldovia, finally ending the journey on July 16th in Homer, AK.
"This trip was a real adventure, pitting man and machine against some of the toughest waters you’ll find anywhere," said Cam Smith Arnold, marketing director for Suzuki Marine. "It’s a credit to the people who built the boats and motors, and to those hardy souls who took on the challenge."
For more information on Suzuki’s complete line of outboard motors from five to 225 horsepower, contact: Suzuki Marine, 3251 East Imperial Highway, Brea, CA 92821. You can call them at (714)996-7040, or visit them on the Internet at www.suzukimarine.com.
For more information on Glacier Bay Catamarans, contact: Glacier Bay Catamarans, 17431 Tye St. NE, Monroe, WA 98272. You can call them at (360)794-0444 or visit them on the Internet at www.glacierbaycats.com.
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