Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

November 18, 2004

Court in Pa. issues judgment against Beach's Worrell over sailboat-race funds


A Pittsburgh court on Wednesday issued a judgment against Michael Worrell of Virginia Beach. Worrell is the founder and director of the now-defunct Worrell 1000 catamaran sailboat race.
Brought by attorney Frank Moore of Pittsburgh, the suit sought judgment for 11 plaintiffs for a total of $65,076.
Thirty-six teams paid $5,000 each to enter the 2003 edition of the Worrell 1000, which was canceled by Worrell at the last minute. None of the teams has been repaid its entry fee.
"If I had it, it would have been paid long ago," Worrell said. "All the entry fee money was used in the course of ordinary business. I had a sponsor that left me hanging.
"I'm sorry and I've been working hard to recoup the money and pay the bills. I didn't even have enough money to go to Pennsylvania for court."
Moore, a member of Team Windy Hill, said that teams lost a lot more than the $5,000 entry fees.
"We had about $25,000 to $27,000 invested in get! ting ready for the race," Moore said.
"We had to buy a boat and get equipment and pay for all kinds of stuff that we didn't ever use. We sold our boat and lost money on it. I had sponsors and I'm a lawyer, but some of these teams lost a lot of their own money and they can't afford it."< < - LEE TOLLIVER







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Record Number: 7195074