Worrell 1000: Thirteen still lucky number

Hatteras, NC (May 19, 2022) – With just three legs to go before the final finish in Virginia Beach, all 13 boats that started the first leg were lined up now in Atlantic Beach, NC, ready for a sleigh ride to Hatteras in breezes of 16-18 knots with gusts in the low 20’s, all coming from the South/Southeast.

Each team was permitted 2 pushers instead of the rule-dictated 1 and most got through and on their way with relative ease. However, Team Rocket 88 Racing became sideways to the surf and took a hefty knock, sending Jeremy Boyette off the side. Brandon Busch (the team’s skipper) tried to slow the boat as much as he dared, but Jeremy wasn’t able to catch up.

Seeing this, Brandon turned up into the surf, pulled a ballsy jibe in the middle of a roll and was able to get back to the beach and pick up his crew. Now, about 10 minutes behind the rest of the fleet, several folks from team’s ground crews pushed them back out, and by the end of the day – Rockett 88 would sail their way into a sixth place finish.

The Race Committee, knowing that this leg had its share of logistical issues for the ground crews, put three contingency plans into place. The evening before, a skeleton-crew of Race Committee was sent ahead to Hatteras to ensure that a finish line would be in place. Secondly, a few, additional Race Committee members were to take the 7:30am Ferry, missing the start, but augmenting the skeleton crew at the other end. Lastly, the start was moved to 8am to permit ground crews ample time to reach the 10:30am ferries.

With the teams now off, those that remained left had their own race by land to reach the Cedar Island to Ocracoke terminal and get in line. Regrettably, word came that the 7:30am ferry had been cancelled, and now, 40 minutes into waiting at the terminal, even more bad news came. Due to one ferry undergoing a Coast Guard Inspection and the other experiencing mechanical issues, the update was that the ferries may go out around 4:30 that afternoon.

No. Bueno.

With that, the large caravan exited the terminal line and started the very long, almost 5-hour jaunt to Hatteras, knowing that their arrival would not make it before the fleet, getting their just before the last boat finished.

Thankfully, the folks who had made it the night before, and one of the event Sponsors – Cape Hatteras Motel – was on the beach ready to enjoy the finishes. Team The Clean Sailors (Christopher Green and Matthieu Manfaing), on their Cirrus 901 came screaming onto the beach in first place, with enough velocity to sail them up on the beach and end in a 180 spin amongst the onlookers who were just able to get out of the way.

The next 10 boats were to arrive in a less Gucci fashion, but some within seconds of each other. The last two – Way of Life and Restream – had a story of their own. Mike Beuerlein and Phillipe Bettler of Restream had to receive assistance from the Coast Guard after Mike went off the back of the boat and got swept away.

Seeing what was happening, the Way of Life team of Stefan Rumpf and Andre Hauschke stopped to render assistance and stay for almost an hour – sailing around with Phillipe trying to find Mike. The Coast Guard arrived and were able to retrieve him and delivered him to his ground crew who were waiting onshore as Phillipe sailed it in safely.

They trailered the remainder of the leg, received a DNF penalty, but informed the Race Committee they would be on the start the following morning. For their Corinthian spirit – Team Way of Life were granted a 1-hour redress.

With all teams safely back at the Hotel, the Organizing Authority treated everyone with pizza from Gidget’s and beverages provided by Mendy Worrell. After the 24 pizza boxes were emptied and the beer coolers drained, it was off to a much-appreciated early snooze for all. The 10am start the next morning would see folks in decent shape. Just two more legs to go…..

Race details – Entry list – Results – Facebook – Photos

Schedule – 12 stages
• Day 1 – Monday 09 May 2022 – Hollywood, FL –> Jensen Beach, FL
• Day 2 – Tuesday 10 May 2022 – Jensen Beach, FL –> Cocoa Beach, FL
• Day 3 – Wednesday 11 May 2022 – Cocoa Beach, FL ->Daytona Beach, FL (CANCELLED)
• Day 4 – Thursday 12 May 2022 – Daytona Beach, FL -> Jacksonville Beach, FL
• Day 5 – Friday 13 May 2022 – Jacksonville Beach, FL –> Tybee Island, GA
• Day 6 – Saturday 14 May 2022 – Tybee Island, GA (lay day)
• Day 7 – Sunday 15 May 2022 – Tybee Island, GA –> Folly Beach, SC
• Day 8 – Monday 16 May 2022 – Folly Beach, SC -> Surfside Beach, SC
• Day 9 – Tuesday 17 May 2022 – Surfside Beach, SC –> Wrightsville Beach, NC
• Day 10 – Wednesday 18 May 2022 – Wrightsville Beach, NC -> Atlantic Beach, NC
• Day 11 – Thursday 19 May 2022 – Atlantic Beach, NC -> Hatteras, NC
• Day 12 – Friday 20 May 2022 – Hatteras, NC -> Kill Devil Hills, NC
• Day 13 – Saturday 21 May 2022 – Kill Devil Hills, NC ->Virginia Beach, VA

Source: Beverley J Simmons