This is how I would "organize" a "training session" Worrell 1000-style "race". This would be something to give your average-joe sailor a taste of long-distance catamaran adventure-sailing.
First, I'd run the whole thing in the Gulf of Mexico. This means not having to deal with large waves and cold waters. The point is to make this a relatively easy event to complete. I'd start it in the Panhandle... say Gulf Breeze, and run it along the coast until we got to Key West.
#1- Gulf Breeze to Panama City Beach ~88 miles
#2- Panama City Beach to Appalachicola ~70 miles
Finding a place along the coast within 100 miles of Appalachicola that has decent facilities is pretty difficult. This section of the coast is mostly State-Owned and has only small towns with large beaches. RV parks and campsites would be the most likely accomodations. I chose Keaton Beach for no particular reason, and guesstimated the distance...
#3- Appalachicola to Keaton Beach ~80 miles
#4 Keaton Beach to Cedar Key ~80 miles
#5 Cedar Key to Dunedin ~110 miles
#6 Dunedin to Venice ~77 miles
#7 Venice to Marco Island ~113 miles
#8 Marco Island to Key West ~100 miles (straight across Flordia Bay!)
Total Mileage ~718. I'd say give-or-take 50 miles.... I did this using Map Quest and some common sense.
You could sail the entire Gulf Coast of FL in barely over a week. Spring would probably be the best season, when Fl gets steady winds and the Yankees are starting to thaw out. The week of Spring Break (March 22nd) would be ideal for allowing the largest number of people to make (and see) the event, but then the accomodations would most likely be full or at peak rates and there will be a lot of intoxicated idiots on the water.
Ideally each team would be 3-4 people. Two sailors and ground crew, which could rotate between sailing and driving if desired or necessary. Being the cheapskate that I am, I'd most likely try my hand at camping out each night. A sleeping bag on the trampoline makes a very comfortable bed, and a pickup with a camper shell can sleep a couple in relative comfort. I'm sure the older people would prefer real beds with a real roof over their heads, but then they can afford the luxury.
I'm not sure wether I'd run it as a race or a regatta. Like the Worrell, the main goal would be to complete the event. Not running it as a race cuts out a lot of logistal problems (race commitee's are hard to come by, insurance issues, etc.) and allows the sailors to enjoy it more and not feel forced to push their boats and their bodies so far beyond the safety level.
I for one would definately like to have at least one large multihull sail the course behind the fleet in case of an emergency. Something like a MacGregor 36 that would just about be able to keep up with them, and have aboard some people with decent medical knowlege (good first-aid experience). Of course, if there were enough "micro-multihull" class boats to make their own fleet, that would be really cool too.
