← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Laurence Baxter
Hometown: Liberty Lake, WA
Vessel: VanDestadt and McGruer Siren 17
Class: The Wind Division
Get to know Team Lost Cat
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
Because you end up where you started. I find the R2AK Intriguing, but too far for me and my little boat. The WA360, on the other hand, offers a goal within reach.
What’s your connection to these waters?
I learned to sail on Hood Canal with an 8 foot pram. I have sailed a Ranger 12 and an O’Day Daysailer around Hartstine Island, circumnavigated the Kitsap Peninsula, Cruised with the Salish 100, and sailed in the first WA360.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
I have a broken Circadian clock. I got it working 20 years, on call 24/7, in train service. I have witnessed many a sunset and sunrise, usually in that order.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
It’s Canadian. However coaxing it to turn around when it gets within sight of home waters, and sail the last 70 miles back to Port Townsend, may be a challenge.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
Last year I sailed Lake Chelan. The strong winds kept the forest fire smoke away, and made for some challenging sailing. The year before, I sailed from the lower to upper Priest Lake in October. After the docks had been pulled up on land, and before the lake froze.
What is going to break?
The roller furling jib better not break this time. It came unstiched circling the Kitsap, I repaired it. The furler broke during the WA360, and the sail came apart again on Lake Chelan. I ordered a new jib from Precision Sails. What else will break? I’d like to know. I have a tub of tools, line, stainless wire, sail tape, oar deals, etc. And oars to get me to the nearest hardware store.