Apply For WA360

The Rules for WA360 are easy to remember: 

Start at the start, hit all the waypoints, and finish at the end. In between, no using any sort of motor for propulsion. 

You may have an engine aboard, but we will tag it out – break the seal and get disqualified. (One exception: if you use your engine to provide assistance to a vessel in distress, you’ll be hailed as a hero and cheered on to the end.)

The Wind Division is the racing class for any and all types of sailing vessels. If you use the wind for propulsion, you are in this class. Even the smallest kayak kite makes you a sailor.

The Muscle Group is the racing class for folks who do not use the wind (other than the windage on your boat and your body). 

WA360 comes with hazards – some of them can be serious – and takes a level of preparation and experience to compete.

As we do for our other races, R2AK and SEVENTY48 – each team will be vetted for suitability to race. What does this mean? With your application you will be submitting adventure resumes for each of your crew members, detailing applicable experience which makes you ready to face this challenge. Remember: the Vetting Team’s job is to use the facts you give them to make a decision about your readiness – cold hard facts are better than trying to convince them with your opinion that you can do it!

After you’ve been approved by the vetting team, you’ll then be able to Register!

Cost: Registration is $25 per foot of boat length, plus $50 for each additional team member. Crew under 18 are free!

Slacker Tax: Around here, we don’t go in for the Early Bird Special. Instead, the longer you wait to register, the more the price goes up! On March 15, the price goes up by $2 per foot!

The Puget Sound is a giant changing puzzle, and during the course of the race you can and will be confronted with dead calm waters, heavy breezes, messy squalls, lumpy breaking seas, massive currents, and more. And to get through it all, we suggest you do some prep! (Note: the best prepared sailing teams have broken more than one pedal drive system before even hitting the start line.)

In addition to being awesome, there are a few actual requirements of your team, and it can be summed up like this: Follow the law!

Vessels of all types (even SUPs are considered “vessels”) have safety equipment requirements dictated by law. At some point before the race, each race vessel will be inspected for these required bits. 

In addition, all teams are required to carry at least one VHF radio (more is better, and DSC-equipped is best) aboard. EPIRBS and PLB’s for team members are strongly encouraged. A GPS tracking device will be issued to each team at race check in on June 27.

We have tried to make the policy as clear as possible, but if you need further clarification please reach out to Verity, our race registrar.

• All application fees are non-refundable.
• Cancellations received in writing (email ok) 30 days prior to the event (before May 28, 2025) are refunded minus 30% administration fee. 
• Cancellations made less than 30 days prior to the event will not be refunded.
• If NWM cancels the event for any reason except Force Majeure (or mineure) 100% of Payments can be refunded.
• Cancellation due to Force Majeure, which includes COVID-19, constitutes a race closure out of the control of the Northwest Maritime or WA360 and is conditionally refundable in four ways.
  • Fees already paid may be donated to the parent non-profit of WA360, the Northwest Maritime.
  • Fees paid can become credits used for other Northwest Maritime classes, rentals, etc. in the future. This does not include merchandise.
  • Fees paid may be credited towards racing in 2026.*
  • Fees can be refunded, minus a 30% fee. Keep in mind that if it comes down to this option, it’s gonna take a minute to roll all the refunds out the door. It’s coming, but hold on to those horses for a minute.
• In the event that a registered team is unable to compete due to a government travel restriction (read: covid), this constitutes a … Force Mineure. If, after our payment deadline, there is a national-level policy change that would prohibit your entry into the full race, you will be eligible for the same conditional refunds as in a force majeure cancellation, except that a 50% fee will be assessed by cancellations within 30 days of the event. 

Lastly, if you are on the fence about donating and you want to know more about the Northwest Maritime’s activities, email the Race Boss at raceboss@nwmaritime.org. He’ll give you a call and share his very good reasons for why he loves this organization and how your donation will help support its programs and mission.