← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Christian Phillips, Brady Wagstaff, Michael Crisler, and Corey Swanson
Hometown: Oak Harbor, WA
Vessel: Catalina 25
Class: The Wind Division
Get to know Team Common Loons
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
Because it’s there. We could be content to sit around, eat cheetos, and talk about sailboat races. Or, we can go try it ourselves.
We are all pretty adventurous and like to try hard things. Type 2 fun is still fun.
What’s your connection to these waters?
For years, our team has wandered the quiet bays and hidden islands of the Puget Sound, where the landscape seems to whisper with the promise of more secret corners and untouched coves. The Strait of Juan de Fuca promises even more—an invitation to venture further into the wild, untamed waters of the Pacific. The Salish Sea is a truly magical realm, where dolphins glide effortlessly through your bow wake, loons float lazily by, and curious sea dogs pop their heads up from the depths to watch your passage. The sunsets, vibrant and ever-changing, stretch on for hours in the summer, painting the sky in shades of pink, orange, and gold. Every journey is filled with a sense of discovery, as if the sea holds ancient stories beneath its calm surface, waiting to be discovered.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
Christian: Unrivaled enthusiasm for adventure.
Corey: Likes to fix things.
Michael: Never gives up.
Brady: Can build anything.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
Well, it’s not fast, but it is easy to handle and just big enough for a crew of 4. Set up for single-handed sailing with a shoal draft, she should be easy to keep out of trouble. Two of the crew are intimately familiar with the boat and the other two are quick to learn. She is a trustworthy vessel and sure to keep us safe and deliver us to the finish line.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
Our team brings a combined 63 years of sailing experience and an equal amount of adventure expertise to the table, making us uniquely qualified for the WA360. With decades spent navigating challenging waters, we understand the complexities of Puget Sound. Two of us are experienced engineers, bringing technical know-how and problem-solving skills to any situation that might arise on the water. The other two are top-tier technicians, whose precision and attention to detail ensure that our equipment is always in peak condition, no matter how demanding the environment. Together, our blend of practical sailing experience, technical expertise, and passion for adventure makes us well-equipped to tackle the challenges of the WA360 and make the most of every opportunity the race has to offer.
What is going to break?
The pedal drive. It’s mechanically complex which always works against reliability.
Possibly some of the electronics – salt water and circuit boards don’t play nice.
