A purely developmental format would alienate a lot of potential spectators. Even if we had the same kind of technology as on board boats during The Race, persons unfamiliar to sailing would no longer get the same kind of introduction to the Worrell as they do with local news casts and coverage in magazines like Sports Illustrated. Sure it would be interesting to us catsailors but somewhere along the way when somebody's rule buster is 200 miles in the lead it will get boring.

I think open formula boats are the way to go - and not one manufacturer's formula boat. An open formula format like F18 or F18ht would give sailors the opportunity to perform ~some~ experimentation and custom sail tuning within tight rules that would still provide fierce competition. Secondly, the RC should get away from being involved with the manufacturers and let the manufacturers go after the sailors. You think Nacra would want Alex and Nigel on a Nacra F18? You BET! They'll make them a sweet deal and any other sailor they want with the Nacra logo. Hobie? Jamie and Brian? You bet these manufacturers would all of the sudden be able to justify giving away a few boats. Even Billy and Bob can roll a custom boat out of their barn that will fit the formula rule independent of any manufacturer - that's good drama. Making a NASCAR analogy; the manufacturers do give incentives to race teams that choose their platform. If the race committee steps to the side a little and chooses formula, they no longer need to concern themselves with the complications in trying to obtain charter boats. Today's Worrell is at such a level that the majority of competitors already have at least one boat for the race anyway and we've seen what kind of complications can arise when the race committee tries to do too much - this is bad drama. Manage the checkpoints, make some deals with the hotels and maybe a truck rental company, set the rules, set the start and finish lines, let the manufacturers fight over the sailors, let the sailors obtain the boats, and let's bust some surf.

The prize money, that I was pretty excited about at first, now seems like a detraction and one more complicating factor that could potential cause harm to the race again - bad drama. I don't think prize money is bad but it's a hell of a burden to expect race teams to put up the anty when they are already on the outer edge of time and money. 36 teams joined up when the race cost went down for this year with the hotel/truck/boat inclusive $5000 entry fee (up from what? 18?). Now the cost goes waaaay up with the 'prize money anty entry fee' with the promise of cash at the end of the rainbow. I think that basing cash prizes on having more entries than the Worrell has ever seen (as far as I know - I haven't confirmed this) at a higher race cost than has even been had is a bit dreamy. Please Mike, take a step back, go to open formula and make it simple for yourself again. A cash prize would be a great boom to the race but make it a surprise announcement at the skipper's meeting on the first day after a sponser, not the sailors, has already put the cash in the bank - that's good drama.

I'm not a Worrell veteran but I hope to be someday - if I can ever afford it.