Worrell 1000 returns in a big way

A smoke-filled bar, cocktails flowing, a group of friends and family smack talking up a storm.

The perfect scenario to brew up a hair-brained wager.

And so it was, when Michael Worrell accepted brother Chris’ challenge to sail a small, twin-hulled Hobie Cat from Virginia Beach to Florida.

The two owners of Beach hotspot Worrell Brothers had, unknowingly, started what would turn out to be one of the most iconic adventures in sailing.

Back in 1974, Michael and friend Steve McGarrett left the sands of Virginia Beach on a journey where they skirted around two hurricanes and hit the beach for needed rest and countless repairs to their Hobie 16.

The two decided they had had enough when they finally reached Fort Lauderdale 20 days after starting.

Worrell, always the consummate dreamer, returned home with an idea.

The Worrell Brothers Coastwise Race was born two years later with four teams sailing from Florida to Virginia Beach. With different partners, Worrell won the first three “official” races.

This year’s running starts May 9 in Hollywood, Fla., with a scheduled finish May 21 at the Oceanfront. It will feature 17 teams from six countries – with Team Rudee’s being the only Hampton Roads team. Team Outer Banks is the next-closest to the finish line competitor. This year’s event features two of open sailboat racing’s greats in Randy Smyth of Team Rudee and Rod Waterhouse of Team Australia. The two have combined to win 10 Worrells.

During its infancy, the Worrell was run non-stop, through the dead of night, through unseen weather and encounters with hull-busting sea turtles and floating debris. At certain designated weigh stations, the teams would make necessary repairs, maybe trade out a crew member and call home to check in with their times.

There were none of today’s modern technologies to help along the way.

It was a keep-the-land-on-the-left, find-the-winds and go-the-fastest event.

Worrell knew it could be much more.

Worrell saw considerable market value in his race.

So in 1983, he switched the format to overnight stays at each check point, with the winner declared by overall time.

“This allowed people to come to the beach to see the launches and finishes,” Worrell told The Virginian-Pilot’s Lee Tolliver in 2001. “Sponsors would have more eyes on their logos and TV stations would be able to do remotes during their news casts.

“The value of the race exploded.”

So did its popularity.

In 1986, National Geographic Explorers filmed a documentary.

Worrell passed away in 2010 and it appeared the race had run its course with no events held between 2003 and 2018.

Dubbed the “Reunion Race,” the Worrell showed back up on the scene in 2019 with three teams – just enough to spawn renewed interest.

Scheduled for 2021 – the new owners will hold the event every other year – the race was put on hold because of Covid-19.

Now back with one of its biggest fields – there were 25 teams in 2002 – the return will witness beach festivals and parties at every stop.

News organizations from all along the coast will be covering it. Modern technology will allow people to track the race from home or on mobile devices. The internet has provided outlets for teams to keep their followers up to date on just about everything.

Yep, times have changed plenty since that night at Worrell Brothers. But somewhere from above Worrell is smiling as his dream lives on once again.