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Crew: Mark Dix
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Vessel: Tornado Sport Version
Class: The Wind Division
Get to know Team Water World Impending
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
I always want to become a better sailor. Entering will commit me to the process. Being singlehanded means I need to do everything myself. No cabin. No autohelm. No motor, even in an emergency. I do watersports very frequently, but I almost always choose the quick and easy activities like kitesurfing, surfski paddling, windsurfing, or SUP. Sailing my own boat requires much more time and preparation, so I almost never do it. As the starting day approaches, I’m sure I will wish I had more singlehanded practice on this thing. My abilities are sure to improve as I race, and improving is the goal. I also thought about paddling a surfski, but sailing is much more interesting.
What’s your connection to these waters?
I’ve lived near Puget Sound for most of the last 45 years, yet I don’t know so much about it.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
I am a generalist. So, I haven’t concentrated on being so “super” at any one thing.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
The Tornado is a double-handed catamaran known for its speed and maneuverability. It was the Olympic multihull from 1976 through 2008. The Tornado is among the fastest double-handed catamarans, which means that if sailed single handed in light winds, it will be even better. 20 feet long and 10 feet wide, with carbon mast, reefable fat head main, self tacking jib, trapeze, and gennaker launched from bow sprit snuffer. 155kg (342 lb) boat weight. Total sail area 50 sq m (505 sq ft) Dual recumbent bike drives that allow biking while sailing on either tack. Bikes are based on Willoughby shaft and folding prop design. Hulls modified with cargo hatches. Anchor. Tent on trampoline. Boat works best if not upside down.
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
In 2015 and 2016, successfully windsurfed R2AK Stage 1.
In 2017, entered Stage 1, solo on Tornado beachcat. Failed to make it to the start.
In 2018, entered R2AK solo on Tornado beachcat. Failed Stage1 cutoff time, but did a 3 week, 410 mile practice trip.
In 2019 R2AK, joined Team Narwhal F32 trimaran, got 7th place.
R2AK 2019 Clip of the Day–DAY NINE
In 2019, skippered Team Narwhal’s F32 on return trip Ketchikan to Seattle.
2020 and 2021 R2AK. Covid. No race.
In 2022 Seventy48, got 11th place, 13hrs 13 minutes on a surfski kayak single.
In 2022 with Team Narwhal, in a stage 1 entry, mast buckled, dismasted northwest of Point Wilson. No one hurt. With help, recovered all gear. Was back home in Seattle by evening.
In 2024, skippered Team Narrows Minded’s F25C on return trip Ketchikan to Seattle.
45 years of lots of watersports, windsurfing, hydrofoil kitesurfing, kayaking, SUP, sailing, cycling.
What is going to break?
I try to make it so everything has an equal, but very low chance of breaking, though it also depends on the risk factor. Didn’t Arnold the bodybuilder say something like “I don’t have any weaknesses, because I’ve worked on any that I had until they aren’t weaknesses.”?