Worrell 1000: Cocoa Beach, FL – Daytona Beach, FL

The 2019 Worrell 1000 Reunion Race brings back the beach cat contest which held 20 editions from 1976 to 2002. Beginning May 6 from South Florida, three teams take on the 1000 mile offshore adventure to Virginia Beach, VA. Here is the latest update from Beverley Simmons:

May 8: Race Leg 3 – Cocoa Beach, FL – Daytona Beach, FL (approximately a 75 mile leg)
With steady winds out of the east at 10-12 knots, mostly sunny skies and all racers accounted for – Leg 3 would start on-time – countdown clock commencing at 09:55. Teams Australia and Cat in the Hat were ready at the start line – Team TCDYC, as with the day prior, were not – repairs to their boat had caused them another delay. With the race clock counting down to zero, the two Nacra 20 teams discussed starting strategies – Rod and Larry, the two skippers, agreed that a port-tack was the best launching angle in the 3-5 foot surf.

As the final horn blew, Team Cat in the Hat launched immediately while Australia counted waves, and carefully watched Larry’s progress. When Cat in the Hat crashed through the 2nd set of breakers, the Aussies decided it was time to go too. Within 2 minutes, both teams were beyond the surf and tacked nearly simultaneously starboard for the journey north.

Team TCDYC was deliberate in their approach to repairs today, taking nearly the full, allowable time of 1 hour after the start to complete their work and dress for the day. They launched at 10:56:22 – struggled a little in the shore break, settled into a groove on port for nearly ½ a mile before making a smooth tack to chase the rest of the fleet.

The winds were steady throughout the leg, with the trackers showing a maximum velocity of almost 19 knots under jib and main on a close reach. Both of the Nacra 20 teams tried setting spinnakers, but found the angle too hot. In the end – Team Australia prevailed again, coming to the beach at Daytona 1st with an elapsed time of 4 hours, 27 minutes and 52 seconds, with team Cat in the Hat 2nd with an elapsed time of 5 hours, 9 minutes and 48 seconds. It was a tense wait for team TCDYC, as the live trackers showed them hugging the shore at nominal speed – ground crew and race officials feared they had taken on water – When they arrived with an elapsed time of 7 hours, 20 minutes and 58 seconds, the port hull was indeed – full of water again.

At the writing of this release, members of all 3 teams had been on the beach making repairs to that boat. Throughout it all – the sportsmanship and comradery shown has been inspiring. They want to ALL make it to the end – TOGETHER. Here’s to an on-time start for all 3 teams tomorrow, when we set off for Jacksonville Beach at 10:00 am.

Event details – Tracking – Results – Facebook