Mary,

We all love to talk about boats, and, as might be expected, much of the thread so far has focused on which classes should be allowed in the Worrell 1000.

Beyond the best boat question, however, there's that question you asked at the end of your first post.

[color:"green"]" . . . would anybody else want to undertake the organization and running of this race under a different name?"[/color]

What do we have out there for successful models. In the case of the Worrell, we have one individual who owns the race. Would that be the likely alternative, to find another owner? Group of owners? Or, is there a non-profit organization for whom such an event could fit into their organizational mission?

Certainly, a lot depends on what the bottom line is for a race of this magnitude. Admittedly, I'm completely in the dark on that one? Does a race like the Worrell operate in the red each year? Does it ever break even? What incentive is there for an individual, group of individuals, or organization to take on the race?

If not Mike Worrell, then who?

This was the National Geographic special I think around 88, 89. Team North Carolina on a wooden homemade boat(pretty too) broke up in the surf after folding the beams at sea. Team Va Beach on a prindle 19 lost in some channels overnight around tybee or Charleston, not sure. Team Domino's on a NACRA 6.0 with Roy Seaman at the helm won the event. Team Australia second I beleive. I am going to go watch this thing and figure out what really did happen.
Anyway, my point was, open class, checkpoints, first to Virginia wins. No wussy Handicap. No battle over what one-design is the best- cause you know there's going to be a fight and it may turn into a fiasco like this year.
Just open it up to a certain length/beam and let the sailors(Worrell Competitors) decide. Sure would make it easier on everyone.

David Mosley
SEACATS

Mary,
I like the idea of the bar room bet.
Make something too commercial and is taken over by the commercialism and, the real challenge, the sailing becomes secondary.

I would hate to see teams having to put up $20,000. Put all that money together for a prize and there is only one winner and a bunch of losers sailing 1000 miles.

Make the race as cheap as possible for people to enter and raise funds some other way like TV rights.

Get the money out of it and have class or yardstick competition. Get the emphasis on completing the event and the number of winners start to increase and with this I expect the number of competators will increase also.

I would like to see the event run on any two man boat 16ft-20ft that has a handicap faster than a Hobie 18.

There be at least two prizes. Handicap and Line honours. Or a number of class prizes plus line honours.

Just the way I see it.

Phill

I agree with Phil; more classes make the event more interesting and would open up the competition. This allows those of us who probably will never participate to "cheer for our boats" as well and could generate more interest. It also could potentially serve to raise awareness for newer boats/classes for those of us "out of the loop". Have we heard from anyone who's actually participated? Obviously their opinion would weigh more heavily.
Al.

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[color:"green"]" . . . would anybody else want to undertake the organization and running of this race under a different name?"[/color]

Still hoping for some input on this question from Mary's original post in this thread. Anyone have any thoughts?

The reason the Worrell is not being run is because of money. How can the event be changed to attract more sponsors, money and TV coverage?

The event should take lessons from other forms of racing. NASCAR, America’s Cup and such. I think a formula format would attract manufactures to back and support teams. What better chance to prove your abilities as a boat manufacturer? In auto racing the manufactures support their teams. This would also promote the equipment and boat development for the sport.

Perhaps a way to gain more publicity would be for each team to be required to support a charity. Like a walk-a-thon, have a sail-a-thon. The race could be run where each mile sailed money is donated to the sailing team’s charity. Sailing clubs around the world could be associated with a team and sign up donations for each mile sailed. This will attract media coverage.

I would also think that in today’s age of reality TV one of these shows would find the race interesting.

As for sail what you brung, open the race up to have two races. One for the group sailing the entire Worrell and another one for the locals that just want to sail one leg of the Worrell. Race the second group handicap, charge an entry fee and leverage the existing racing infrastructure.

Is there a marketing executive out there that sails catamarans and could help Mike put this together?

I don't understand the money issue. Do you mean it costs the organizer too much? Or do you mean it costs the sailors too much?

The costs to the sailors I can understand -- rooms, travel, food, spare parts, etc. But I'm not sure I understand the costs for the organizer. I know it is possible to spend a lot of money organizing a race. But, in my opinion, it is also possible to do it for not much more than it costs each individual team.

Mary,
As the movie went, if you hold a good race, at a good venue, they will come....cat racers love to race their boats. A few will race a 'race specific' boat ala the past few Worrells. I'll bet most potential competitors would prefer to race their own boats against similar competition.
The issue of money has created nothing but trouble, certainly it hasn't created any races. It killed the current Worrell and threatens future ones.
In the past, even the rock stars showed up to race...the lure wasn't the money.
If you take the promoters and self-promotors out, the real racers will come and race.
And, as a side note, it appears from the carnage at the Alter Cup, everyone is fortunate that the Worrell wasn't held this year with the Bimare 18. The conditions in Clearwater were not near what awaits off North Carolina.