← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Bill Gifford, Lee Warnecke, and Samuel Hendrix
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Vessel: Montgomery 17
Class: The Wind Division
Connect: Facebook
Get to know Team Excellent Adventure
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
Among us, we’ve done two R2AKs, and over seven Seventy48s. Now we want to see what the WA360 has to offer. Skipper Bill is only 360 miles away from earning himself that 1180 Award and you better believe he’s going to Flavor Flav it around the Tacoma Yacht Club.
What’s your connection to these waters?
Skipper Bill grew up in Seattle and has been sailing these waters off and on for over sixty years. Crewmen Sam and Lee only took to Puget Sound so they could marry Bill’s daughters.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
Skipper Bill doesn’t quit. Lee can small talk you into a trance. Sam can row for 360 miles if that’s what it takes to avoid small talk.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
Our little Monty 17 has completed the R2AK twice.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
Two R2AK finishes, several more Seventy48 completions. Bill has an adventurer’s spirit and his son-in-laws support his aim to complete all three Northwest Maritime adventure races.
What is going to break?
Hopefully not the rudder. That already happened twice on the R2AK. We’ve got a strong one now that worked great in the second R2AK. Three people in such a small boat will be a challenge; hopefully one of us doesn’t break.