The Worrell 1000, just those three words made hearts beat faster for many catamaran sailors around the world.

I attended the Virginia Beach meeting for the race that didn't happen, and had the good fortune to have lunch with Mike while there.

To see the passion in his eyes, to hear the enthusiasm in his voice, to share in the dream he had for his race was an inspiration.

I never got to sail the Worrell, but read the stories, and dreamed the dream.

Mike was an innovator, constantly sussing out ways to make the race better and safer, in so many ways, it was a year by year work in progress.

It was that drive to make the race bigger and better that got him in to trouble.

More than anything else, Mike was a victim of the people he trusted and believed in. If they had not let him down, that race would have happened, and most likely would still be happening

Robert Browning said, "a man's reach should exceed his grasp - or what's a heaven for?"

I am saddened by his passing, not because he is gone, but because he did not have the time to resurrect "the race"

Mike's pain on earth has ended, he is now in a place where sponsorship dollars flow freely sailors don't get hurt, and his race can be everything he dreamed it could be.

Someday, I hope to be able to push off the beach and live my dream of sailing in "His Race"

Stephen