← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Dave Kovac and Keith Kovac
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Vessel: 1974 Hartley TS16
Class: The Wind Division
Connect: Facebook
Get to know Team Aqua-Haulic
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
I did the Seventy48 last year and really loved the vibe that NWM infused into the race, and, being an Inland Northwest kid, just fell in love with the tour of Puget Sound. I was going to do it again this year, but family commitments kept me busy that weekend, so rather than take the summer off I decided to step up my game and do the WA360. The initial plan was to do it solo, but my son, who I don’t think knew what he was getting himself in for, but who is also in much, much better shape that I am, decided to come aboard. Having someone to share the oar duties sounded like a great plan to me, so here we are.
What’s your connection to these waters?
I used to live on Whidbey Island in the late 80s and 90s and learned to sail in 1991 in Oak Harbor at a Skagit Valley College PE Class. Life brought me back to Spokane, but I always loved Puget Sound and for the last several years have made it a point to come over and sail or kayak here every year. I love the lakes of the Inland Northwest and have a boat moored on Pend Orielle, but nothing beats the beauty and freedom I feel in the Sound.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
The Old Man – Superpower: Tenacity! (or perhaps blindness?) The ability to look at any challenge and say, “How hard can it be?”
The Youngster – Weirdly Superhuman Endurance. He says (and we are going to test this out) that he would be happy, HAPPY!! to row our little 18’ Hartley the whole way with a smile on his face. We shall see!
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
Alright, let’s talk about why our Hartley TS16 is the coolest boat in the WA360. First off, this little wooden beastie was originally designed in Australia and is still a big hit down under in the racing scene. It’s got a reputation for being fast in good winds and actually planning at about 12 knots or so, though I haven’t quite broken that speed barrier…yet!
This particular TS16 is no ordinary Hartley, however. Oh no, someone went full-on mad scientist with it. (Wish I knew who, I’d love to thank them!) A bowsprit was added for some extra sail power and mast stability, there’s beefed-up chainplates to handle whatever the Sound throws at us, and even stretched the back end by two feet for better stability and more storage making it an 18-footer. Double rudders? You bet. And let’s not forget the fancy upgraded electrical system that keeps us in the 21st century.
Sure, taking an 18-foot wooden sailboat with a set of homemade 12-foot oars that I built in my garage might sound like a terrible idea. But that’s exactly why we had to do it. It’s unique, it’ll be a challenge, and maybe a touch insane. Should make for good sea stories though.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
The most recent adventure I had was participating in the Seventy48 last year. The process of selecting and preparing our craft, provisioning, and passage planning was a true challenge, and finishing that race stands out as a highlight in my life (even though my back might have disagreed). I’ve also spent decades in whitewater rescue, navigating many rivers throughout the Northwest. My crewmate (son) and I are both professional firefighters, accustomed to rigorous training and being prepared for adverse conditions, which I am sure we will experience in this race.
What is going to break?
Well, I decided to go old school with our human-powered propulsion and built a set of 12-foot oars in my garage. This boat wasn’t really designed to row, so I’ve had to try to figure out how to mount the oars and seat as best I can. So, guaranteed, that is what is going to break. But, it’s all wood, I have spare parts (if not a spare oar) so it’s all fixable.