Those of us that are a certain age got some great news last week that was a throwback to the 1970's, and frankly news we never thought we would hear again. The Worrell 1000 Sailboat race is on again after an absence for nearly 2 decades!
Catamaran Racing at Its Best
The race, which was last run in 2002 is a 1000 mile race from Florida to Virginia Beach on 16 foot catamaran sailboats. The race started this morning in Hollywood Beach, Florida. Tabbed as the "2019 Worrell 1000 Reunion race" the event has just 3 entrants in the grueling contest.
Team Australia, Team Cat in the Hat, and Team TCDYC are competing this year in the race that is a point to point race with each team spending the night at designated stopping points along the way. Jensen Beach, Florida is the first stop (tonight), but Cocoa Beach, FL, Daytona Beach, FL, Jacksonville Beach, FL, Tybee Island, GA, Isle of Palms, SC, Surfside Beach, SC, Wrightsville Beach, NC, Atlantic Beach, NC, Cape Hatteras, NC, Kill Devil Hills, NC are all stopping points before the race ends at the oceanfront in Virginia Beach in 11 days.
Teams compete on a cumulative time that is added up between way points. The world record was set by Team Alexander's on The Bay in 2002 with a time of 71 hours, 32 minutes, and 55 seconds. That turned out to be the last race held in the Worrell 1000.
The race was famously born in 1974 from some strong talk at a bar in Virginia Beach. The first race featured 4 boats, but at its height the race had as many as 15 boats compete in the 1990's.
This race was set to have four boats but a boat that was to be captained by the race's standing 4 time consecutive champion, but a last minute issue caused him to pull out.
You can keep track of the race real time tracking by clicking here.
