The Alaska Marine Highway Service is extending the Tazlina’s schedule to accommodate the Alcan 200 snowmachine race.
“After AMHS brought M/V Tazlina back into temporary service our scheduling team discovered that by extending service a couple of weeks we could cover demand for the Alcan 200 event,” Alaska Department of Transportation public information officer Sam Dapcevich said.
Dapcevich said no one from Haines lobbied the marine highway system for the service extension. Race organizer Patti Campbell wrote a letter to Sen. Jesse Kiehl requesting he intervene on behalf of the race.
“We raised the issue, but I don’t want to take credit,” Kiehl said.
The Tazlina will extend service starting Thursday, Jan. 9 through Sunday, Jan. 19.
Tyler Ferrin, who travels from Juneau for the race, said before he heard the news, he was trying to figure out a way to transport his sled to Haines. “There’s a couple of fishing boats that are coming back and forth. I was contemplating sending it up that way and then trying to fly.”
Ferrin’s brother and fellow racer Zach Ferrin said he was trying to help organize alternative sled transport and considered using a fish tender. He said the extended service is good for the Alcan.
“It definitely helps,” Zach Ferrin said. “It’ll be a lot easier on the racers.”
Campbell was unable to comment by press time.