← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Kiel Reijnen, Derek Reijnen, and EmmyLou Reijnen
Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA
Vessel: Olson 911S
Class: The Wind Division
Connect: Instagram
Get to know Team Unicorns With Pretty Horns
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
Four years ago, at the age of 4, EmmyLou made up her mind that she wanted to tackle the WA360.
Why, you ask, did a 4-year old decide this, we will never know…. But, she happened to have a Dad
and a Grandfather (Opa), that were crazy enough to help see her through the challenge. Dad and
Opa, didn’t need much of an arm twist, as both are avid sailors and love racing their family boat
“Amicus” around the Salish Sea. After a proper vetting and lots of re-fitting all three generations
were put to the test, but successfully finished the last WA360. Four years later lots has changed
and other things haven’t. Team Unicorns With Pretty Horns decided it was time to get back in the
ring. We expect to find a whole new set of challenges out there on the course, but if it wasn’t hard
the three of us probably wouldn’t be interested.
What’s your connection to these waters?
Derek (Opa), a Canadian native found sailing in his 20’s in the Bay Area and met his wife (Omi)
while sailing up from Santa Cruz to Port Townsend, he has sailed in these waters ever since. Kiel (Dad) has been sailing on these waters his entire life, born in Port Townsend into a sailing family
and raised on Bainbridge Island. Hardly a day goes by that Kiel isn’t down on the water working or
playing on boats. EmmyLou, born and raised on Bainbridge Island, has been on the water, cruising,
racing and crabbing since she was two weeks old. At the age of three she knew when it was time
to swap the #2 genoa for the #1. She is encouraged to sail by her family, but racing has always
been her decision. She is as comfortable on our local waters as she is on shore.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
EmmyLou is the duchess of determination: I’m not sure how to describe EmmyLou’s super power
exactly, but she clearly has at least one. She is the star of the show… and she knows it, but she
doesn’t take on the challenge for attention (although she doesn’t mind it either). She has an inner
drive to push hard and do hard things for the sake of doing them.
Kiel is the universe bender: Constantly trying to bend the universe to his will, he is only successful
every so often, but the fact that it ever works is kind of surprising.
Derek is the fountain of youth: Honestly, at 71 he is doing stuff most 30-year olds wouldn’t attempt.
The other day he carried, mixed and poured 3 tons of concrete by himself.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
EmmyLou: “Well…to start she has already made the voyage once before and did a great job.
Amiucs was my first boat. Dad and I just finished re-wiring everything, varnishing and painting,
cleaning the bilge. Amicus is our fastest boat. She has even proven herself through a storm”
At 39 years old Amicus is has shown time and again the exceptional build quality that was
common for the early days of vacuum packed, Santa Cruz build boats in 1980’s. It was the “fast is fun” era.
In 39 years she has never let her family down. We take care of her and she takes care of us. And this year… she is getting a pedal drive. At a PHRF of 129 she might not be fast compared to more modern equivalents, but I challenge anyone to find a more balanced, rewarding boat to sail. Amicus is our family’s forever boat.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
EmmyLou has completed multiple 100 miles bike races with her Dad in a trail-a-bike, skippered several Wednesday night beer can races and has moved on to division and fractions in her school math.
Kiel spent 15 years as a professional cyclist competing multiple times for the U.S. at the world championships and racing all around the globe. Sine hanging up his wheels Kiel has started a new career as a firefighter on Bainbridge Island and picked up a few useful EMT skills that may come in handy.
Opa (Emmy’s grandfather) has been cruising and racing for fifty years, having started sailing in
Santa Cruz, California in the 70’s, during the “Fast is Fun” years of ultralight downwind sleds and
competitive ocean racing. He has cruised and raced all over the northwest, raced on the east
coast on a Melges 32 campaign, and cruised in Denmark, Sweden and England. Having only recently “retired” (he can still be found swinging a hammer), he remains fit and ready for long
distance races and cruising.
All three of our team members have completed the inaugural edition of the WA360.
What is going to break?
Opa’s back, Dad’s legs and Emmy’s patience in the doldrums… The boat will be fine.