← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Michael Tieman and Joshua Cooper
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Vessel: J24
Class: The Wind Division
Connect: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube
Get to know Team Guardian Sailing
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
Guardian Sailing is highly focused on adventure sailing, even if by racing, for the sake of our organization and building a resume that our veterans and first responders will be interested in. We are breaking new ground this year in offering weekend summer sailing and teaching new people about our programming. Additionally, we want to make a mark in the PNW and greater Pudget Sound area and be a recognized organization that is beneficial in helping veterans and first responders heal from and cope with PTSD and trauma in their lives. Sailing is the platform by which we will succeed in this process. The WA360 is an exciting next step in adventure to offer the members of our crew to experience. The R2AK was an awesome first experience for our organization and the right level of adventure we were seeking. We aim to capitalize on that here with the WA360. We are incredibly excited!
What’s your connection to these waters?
We love the PNW and all the adventure and beauty she has to offer. I call it the Caribbean of the PNW actually and island hoping the area of the San Juan and Gulf Islands are an incredible experience. One of our new crew, Joshua Cooper, has spent a great deal of time sea kayaking the area as well. If Emily Boes returns as a watch leader, she has a heartfelt connection to the area. And myself, Michael Tieman, aims to put our organization in this region and bring people to a new level with what these waters hold. We want to continue our mission status here and show the rest of the world why its so incredible in our unique way.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
Joshua Cooper wishes to have the ability to travel in time to witness all the bodacious historical awesomeness that the world has to offer. Afterall, “all we are is just dust in the wind, dude!” (Bill and Ted)
Michael Tieman wishes to have the ability to fly and be anywhere in the world quick time to take part in a new experience or adventure.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
Are you kidding me? Have you seen our badass J24? If the paint job doesn’t keep you invested the unique adventure build we have outfitted the boat with is sure to impress you. For a known legend like the J24 to be turned into a cruising boat with custom pedal drives for the sake of adventure racing in the waters of PNW is nothing short of spectacular. We understand we are crazy, but that’s what makes us special. Its light weight, easy to move around and sleep on and has a sail inventory still worthy of a race boat with asymmetrical and symmetrical spinnakers to boot. We can’t wait to test her in different ways for this race.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
Joshua Cooper and Michael Tieman are current servicemen and veterans of the Oregon Army National Guard with around 36 years of service between us. Multiple deployments and international training missions not to mention all the wonderful elements of surprise the military can toss our way to stay on our toes. We adapt to and accomplish the mission each and every day. Joshua Cooper has been taking sailing lessons by way of racing a WL24 in Eugene every Thursday for a couple years now and is turning into a formidable foredeck. His exploits in snowboarding, sea kayaking and hiking lend credibility and ability for this race. He can’t wait to feel the joy of waves and bigger wind while navigating day and night on the water.
Michael Tieman can’t get enough time on the water. While he has many races of varying degree under his belt like the Rolex Sydney to Hobart and racing Volvo 70’s in Antigua, the adventure and variables of the PNW still call to him and allow him to use a variety of sailing skills allowing him to learn a great deal more than usual. Racing around the cans on his Santana 20 and managing the veterans racing program for the city of Eugene is spectacular, but he requires more adventure to keep moving forward positively.
The variety of experiences and pressure in uniform makes accepting risks for an event like the WA360 easier to come by. We will cherish the reward in accomplishing it.
What is going to break?
Whew….good question. Michael always seems to break a nail without fail when sailing offshore. Lol. Seriously though, the boat provided by Victor Felice of Tiller and Kites in Lake Pleasant, AZ is as strong as they come. We completed the R2AK in great fashion with minimal maintenance. Our working mainsail could stand to be updated. While we don’t expect it to “fail” necessarily, its not holding very good shape and we did have to do update with some sewing in Bella Bella last year so we shall see how things go if we can’t locate a replacement with reef points. Otherwise, sail and 100 mph tape to the rescue!