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Crew: Matt Pruis
Hometown: Cle Elum, WA
Vessel: Gig Harbor Boat Works Salish Voyager
Class: The Wind Division
Get to know Team
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
It’s the perfect way to spend quality time with my blistered hands, the gnawing fear of capsizing, and the confounding realization that the tide is pushing me backwards while I sail and row as hard as I can. Also, the cool people. It’s mostly because of the cool people.
What’s your connection to these waters?
As a Washingtonian, I’ve swam, dove, sailed, paddled, and rowed these waters. Sometimes in rapid succession. And sometimes, I’ve just stared at them, wondering if they know I how much I love them while at the same time doubting they even know I exist. It’s a complex, deeply dysfunctional relationship, really.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
Forgetfulness. Maybe it’s less a superpower and more a survival mechanism. I can forget the pain of blisters, the terror of near-capsizes, and the sheer monotony of rowing for hour after hour after hour. It’s basically a self-reset button for trauma and the key to returning time and time again.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
The Salish Voyager: sure to be designated the best boat of the WA360. It’s not flashy, it’s not superfast, but it is steadfast. It’s the boat you want when you’re facing a gale, questioning your life choices, and desperately trying to remember which way is north. Its forgiving nature is a testament to Falk Bock’s (the boat designer) understanding of the average human’s nautical ineptitude. Forgiving, sprightly in light wind, and seaworthy—it’s got it all. But my absolute favorite feature? The self-bailing floor. It allows me to focus on the ever-increasing sea state that’s enthusiastically filling my boat with water, rather than wasting precious energy bailing it out. Priorities, people!
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
I’ve completed the R2AK twice solo and under human power, which is basically a crash course in ‘how to not die in the waters of the Pacific Northwest.’ And I’m the proud recipient of the R2AK award for ‘Most Miles in the Wrong Direction’, which proves I’ve basically mastered the art of turning a straight line into a scenic, multi-day detour. I’ve taken the time to go places that no one has ever gone, and I daresay never will go, in the R2AK. And, frankly, that kind of experience is priceless when trying to navigate the tides, currents, and weather of the Salish Sea.
What is going to break?
Inevitably, the seal on the duct tape container.