Mary,
After thinking about the consequences and speaking to a few "good" sailors I must retract my initial knee jerk opinion.
I know that there is know that there is no way that the average or above average sailor can beneit from the cash purse. There are too many "rock stars" out there that will dominate the race. If Worrell needs 50 sailors to make his plan happen, at a minimum of $28,000 to get in......I think the sailor doing it on a shoe string has been snubbed. It was about guts and bragging rights...now it is cash and will attract the ones who are after the cash and can afford to go for it.
I don't think there are 50 sailors out there that think they will actually "place", therefore making the purse smaller.
I hope I am wrong, I hope this can get some media excitement.

I guess this is part of evolution.