Wild Card

Wild Card is a Santa Cruz 27 built for speed and simplicity—light enough to accelerate quickly, strong enough to take real water, and responsive in a way that makes long days feel possible.

For R2AK, that balance matters. When the wind is up, we can sail fast. When it isn’t, the boat’s efficiency and low drag help every pedal stroke count.

Rescued from a cow pasture in central Oregon in 2017, Wild Card, a Santa Cruz 27, was transformed into a racing vessel for the 2018 R2AK under the team name Wild Card. The crew removed and replaced damaged and rotting deck coring, replaced rigging, installed electronics, and generally brought her back to life. She completed the R2AK again in 2024 and the WA360 in 2025. Equipped with five sails and upgraded solar power system, battery storage and electronics she’s in great shape but there’s still work and repairs to complete in preparation for June 2026. If boats could talk, she could regale us with some salty sea tales.

We’re building on that legacy—learning from what worked, upgrading what didn’t, and keeping the systems as repairable as possible.

The pedal drive is our engine when the wind disappears. We’re focused on comfort, reliability, and repeatability—gear that can be serviced quickly, with spares that fit in a small box.

Our goal is sustained, steady power: not heroic sprints, but the ability to keep moving for hours in calm stretches.

In a race like R2AK, the boat isn’t just equipment—it’s a teammate. We’re learning her sounds, her habits, and the small tells that help you stay safe when you’re tired.

Wild Card is the platform for our best days on the water. We’re grateful to race her, and determined to do right by her miles.