WA360 Race Explained
Race start: Sunday, June 13, 2027, 12 NOON | Applications open November 16, 2026
The Rules
- In WA360, you may carry an engine in your boat – operating it during the race means you’re out.
- No outside support of any kind during the race; if a resource is available to all teams, it’s okay.
- Two race classes: The Wind Division, and The Muscle Group. First to finish in each category wins.
- Two weeks. That’s how long teams have to call themselves a finisher before we close up shop.
Test it All
Sure, you can do one thing really well. Hell, maybe a few, but how will you fare when everything is asked of you? Weather forecasting, night navigation, endless paddling and peddling, light air sailing, open water, equipment maintenance, current predictions, race tactics, endurance, patience, and the near-constant nagging desire to head to the nearest bar and call it a day.
Classes
At WA360, we’re just as loose with rules and “traditional” race management as R2AK. We’ve boiled “any type of boat” down to two classes:
The Wind Division. Using sails? This is your class.
The Muscle Group. Nothing besides grit and protein propelling your vessel? Welcome to this human-powered-only class.
© Heather J.
The Youth Bonus
It turns out that young people are just as good (or better) at sailing and paddling as anybody else. It’s also true that they’re more likely than not to be broke and can need a little help getting a team off the ground. For this reason, we’re waiving additional crew fees for racers under 18.
Even better? Any team composed entirely of youth (under 18) pay no additional crew fees and get a 20% discount on the base registration.
Prizes
Winning means something, but it doesn’t mean new cars, a miracle Instagram account with a million followers, or a personal attendant to sweep the path before you as you walk.
It does mean you met a personal triumph and overcame struggles you didn’t want or never thought you’d endure. That’s the first way to win in WA360: Finish, and finish in a way that makes you proud.
All of that participation award business aside, the winner of each class will forever be glorified with their name emblazoned upon their race class’ WA360 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BELT, which will then be theirs to steward until the next champion arises.
Race Route
In 2027, Bellingham is the starting place of WA360.
The first choice racers must make is which direction to choose: through Deception Pass or Swinomish Channel to arrive at the first checkpoint: Goat Island.
Next, teams must round Olympia Shoal in Budd Inlet.
After traveling the full length of the Puget Sound, waypoint 3 is in the ancestral home of WA360, Port Townsend.
The final waypoint before the last leg is a marker set just offshore of Point Roberts – the nubbin of America hanging like Alex Honnold off of Canada. Then go to:
Bellingham. Right back where you started.
Time Limit
Two weeks. That’s how long you’ve got before the finish line closes up shop at 12:00 noon on Saturday, June 27.
Applying, Getting Vetted, Registration
Applications open on November 16, 2026. An application is approved or denied by The Vetting Team, based on the submitted team materials. Applications close on April 1. Applications may be capped based on number of entries.
After acceptance, teams have until April 30 to complete registration. Cost is $26 per foot of boat plus $60 per each additional crew member.
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