← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Kristina Cizas, Bill Cirino, Josh Van Natta, Jason Speich, and Nate Spencer
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Vessel: S2 7.9
Class: The Wind Division
Get to know Team Salmon Hat
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
Because it’s there, right there, where we live. The Salish sea, its arms wrapping more than 400 islands, the home of the Salishan family of speakers, the hat-wearing orcas that are its keepers. Encircled by mountains capped with snow, its courses carved from glaciers long past. These are the waters on which we sail, and it is a privilege to do so. We need no more reason.
What’s your connection to these waters?
We all live in Seattle and spend a lot of time sailing and racing on Lake Union and out in the Sound. Our training grounds… our proving grounds.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
Bill – Can (and will) identify every bird we see on the race whether we want him to or not, and as skipper possesses the enviable superpower of (so far) never having run into any hard part of the earth.
Kristina – Holds decades of song lyrics and music in her brain, with an emphasis on 80’s top 40 hits. Promises to NOT sing them if you just row, damn it! She can also negotiate with misbehaving electronics without throwing them overboard.
Josh – Can build a house, build a boat in it, then sail it away while keeping all of his fingers. He is our go-to guy for fixing nearly anything.
Jason- Will always be on guard and scan the environment for danger, obstacles, and most importantly, the potential for wordplay. He knows wholeheartedly that when a team might be at their lowest and even asks him to stop, that is when they really need a cheesy joke the most.
Nate – Says he can talk to the orcas. We shall see – we might need their help. He also possesses remarkable focus when he wants to, making him a great kite whisperer.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
It’s a tough little racer cruiser that feels bigger than she is. One did the Pacific Cup in ’98 and did very well, and another was an R2AK finisher in 2018. Iskra has had a total refit and a has new suit of sails, so she is happier than she’s has been since 1984. Our ace in the hole…? A retractable dagger board for lower wetted surface making for increased rowing efficiency. With the dagger board retracted and two rowing stations, we can easily outpace any eight-man shell dragging an anchor.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
We range in age from 27-60 (at race start) and have among us decades of outdoor adventuring experience both on land and on water. From boatbuilding to project management, sailing, rafting, kayaking, camping, and hiking in the west and mid-west, we’re a well-rounded team that works well together.
What is going to break?
Our enthusiasm for rowing, after about an hour. And of course the new electronics at the masthead, probably just when we need them the most.