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Crew: Dewayne Cowles and Chris Cowles
Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA
Vessel: Martin 244
Class: The Wind Division
Connect: Facebook, Youtube, Tiktok
Get to know Team Dewww It
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
We are racing the WA360 to test our seamanship, resilience, and bond as a father-son team. The challenge of navigating 360 miles of tide-ripped, weather-shifting Puget Sound waters under our own power and sail is exactly the kind of purposeful. The adventure we’ve been looking for. It’s not about winning: it’s about finishing something extraordinary together.
What’s your connection to these waters?
Our connection to these waters runs deep across decades, hulls, and generations. There’s an old photo of us in a Snark when Chris was just weeks old, bundled in what was probably the smallest life jacket ever made. Dewayne grew up sailing and fishing the Great Lakes for Pacific salmon, but found his true course in the tides and chop of the Pacific Northwest.
Chris learned to trim sails and read current lines almost before he could drive, and as an adult, he’s taken that early love of the water to the next level: coastal cruising, racing, and seamanship. We’ve covered most of Puget Sound together, from the glassy reaches of Case Inlet to the confused seas off Point Defiance. Now living on the Tacoma Narrows, Dewayne watches pinks leap, whales roll, and the wind fill in like a promise. These waters are where we’ve learned, grown, and found our rhythm under sail.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
Dewayne’s superpower is enthusiasm. He sees the bright side in every challenge and draws deep satisfaction from traveling by water—it grounds him in the present while connecting him to the past. Adventure is in his DNA, and it keeps him energized through long days and unexpected twists.
Chris solves problems and always finding a way forward. Fueled by curiosity, he thrives when facing new challenges, drawing inspiration from everywhere and anything. When obstacles feel overwhelming, determination kicks in: he adapts, gets clever, or simply buckles down and pushes through. When life happens he says: “My goal remains constant: to walk away with fresh perspectives, valuable insights, and entertaining stories simply begging to be shared.”
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
Martin 244 – Sea Dewww !! – is a lightweight, trailerable 24’ sloop designed by Don Martin, a Pacific Northwest legend. She’s nimble enough for tight channels, fast enough to surf the tide lines, and versatile enough to handle the varied conditions of the WA360. With a reef-able main, a secure cockpit, and solid upwind performance, she is well suited for long hauls and quick decisions. She is not a tank: she is our dance partner. We’ve modified her for human propulsion, and she’s ready to take on headwinds, slack water, and everything in between. For a two-person expedition team, Sea Dewww !! strikes the right balance of speed, stability, and spirit. She belongs in these waters, and in the Washington 360.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
We’re a father-son team with decades of combined experience on and under the water. Dewayne has captained boats from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean and once was on a crew that brought a 45’ ketch into a Bahamian anchorage without a working rudder. He’s made over 100 dives in the Tongue of the Ocean and spent years exploring Puget Sound by motor and sail. Chris grew up trimming sails and navigating currents before he could ride a bike, and now brings a sharp technical mind, calm under pressure, and a relentless drive to push past limits. We’ve both raced, cruised, and camped from boats, and we’ve modified our Martin 244 for this challenge with human propulsion and expedition gear. What makes us cool? We don’t just chase adventure: we prepare for it, respect it, and stay smiling through it. We’re capable because we’ve lived the learning curve, and we’re stoked to test ourselves here in the WA360.
What is going to break?
Something small, something critical, and something we never expected: because that’s how it goes. Maybe an oarlock bolt backs out at the worst time. Maybe the tiller extension gives up mid-gybe. Maybe we break our snack rationing discipline. We’ve prepared, tested, and reinforced what we can, but we know the real test is how we respond when something breaks: not if it does. Our tools are packed, our duct tape is ready, and our attitude is: fix it fast, laugh about it later.