I think it would offer a lot of insight, actually. Of course if someone just says $90k, maybe that doesn’t tell you much. But something like $10k hotels, $5k food, $1k gas, $5k spare parts...etc.
The teams that have successfully done this have obviously done the homework and any real data that they could provide is a lot more valuable than speculation or guessing from the peanut gallery.
sm
Worrell 1000 Reunion
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Posted: May 21, 2019 - 04:32 PM
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Posted: May 21, 2019 - 04:48 PM
+1 -
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Posted: May 21, 2019 - 06:45 PM
John, I'm looking for the "negative mocking comments". In total, I think I made five posts...
- Someone asked how many boats, I was the third person to respond and simply said, "three boats". Someone else posted, "that's lame"
- I said verbatim, "You can't trust the tracking; it isn't real time. Current data shows that Rod's tracker updated 40 minutes ago and Larry's 19 minutes ago" and then posted a screenshot with the update times highlighted. Somebody else responded, "tracking is junk..."
- Responded in jest to a picture of an ugly knot "I blame the line, Robline Dingy Control is junk...". It is, that stuff nearly got me separated from the boat in 40+ and failed in every use case that we tried it in.
- Asked about the hull layup when Larry's boat was being repaired... I don't know how thick the core is, do you?
I'm also curious about, "given three days to settle down", was I given some kind of warning for posting "inappropriate" comments? Did you warn the people that posted, "tracking is worthless" or, "I don't know what is worse, the amount of entries or the coverage"? Those comments didn't come from me. I also doubt that you were, "bummed out" b/c I know you better than that... there's only one thing that bummed you out during the race...
I guess having Chuck berate a member of our team on the beach and run him down to another team was ok. Our team was called "scared" in a video; insulting, but laughable. My skipper receiving a nasty text from an organizer because of hearsay from your anonymous "reliable source" after we had personally contacted six international and four US teams with offers of assistance trying to get them into the race. How about your treatment of Brian's sister-in-law on the beach when she made cookies and brought them give to the sailors? There wasn't a team that wanted this race to succeed more than we did; defending 2x champion and current course record holder, we wanted a real race.
If you want to quote me regarding running the boat up on the beach, at least do it right. We didn't race for a number of reasons; our decision was made five weeks before the start when there were two valid entries outside of our team. We weren't racing Chris b/c he was on an F18; a mismatched two boat event doesn't make for much of a "race" and that's what we watched happen. Don't try to tell us like Chuck did that you kept the Aussies a secret; we know that boat was offered to another big name sailor less than a week before he was announced.
Would you have burned two weeks of vacation, ~$15k in hotel, food, fuel and flights for that? Honestly, that's cheap compared to what we had already spent; two boats, a container from Europe, two sets of curved boards and bearings, three sets of rudders, spare spin pole, boom, and other parts. Should I tell you what that cost? So, no, why would anyone throw more money down that hole on a "spirit quest" when you have nothing to prove or gain?
We worked hard to prepare; I designed an adapter to fit the standard rudders to an FCS boat, but it was deemed illegal. Nacra later decided to produce new gudgeons and promised them in time for the race, but they arrived three days after the start. We weren't going to sail the course, spend more money, drill unnecessary holes in the boat and abuse it by running it up on the beach just for the sake of being there. By the time the Aussies were announced, we had pulled the plug, missed preparation deadlines and knew that we wouldn't have the parts we needed. -
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Posted: May 21, 2019 - 06:57 PM
No slight intended, IMHO Armchair Quarterbacks often have the luxury of 20/20 hindsight post event, however possibly are ignorant to the OA’s guidelines and principle mandates. Bottom line is this has always been an elitist event in every aspect; time, money, physically, etc......Those who are capable of meeting these elements will usually manage to start the race whichever platform is used. If we look back and reviewed past events and did a hot-wash on lessons learned and best practices, I think we’d see a few common denominators throughout the event.
I might be way off base in my opinion which I’m basing on firsthand witnessing at two checkpoints on 3 different years. This epic event is not for the 99% of us sailors, nor should it be. To make it more achievable to compete could most likely have detrimental outcomes and overall dilute the event. This takes a special breed of sailor whom has abilities and resources above and beyond most of the community. Hats off to all who participate and the OA’s courage and leadership. N.S
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Todd
Virginia
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Posted: May 21, 2019 - 07:47 PM
For anyone thinking the W1000 is for them, we have the Florida 300 to have a trial run, or at least get off the armchair
I was there for the Miami/Hollywood prep day with my kids -- we are keen sailors -- and met all the teams. Great time. I'm also sad that Will and his skipper couldn't make the start line, after obviously investing a lot into it.
Hopefully the next edition will give folks more time to prep, and reduce some of the prep/deadline stress.
Between now and then, there's a bunch of long distance races... -
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Posted: May 21, 2019 - 08:17 PM
martin, you make a good point - the Worrell is by invitation, and a team that doesn't have some distance racing experience is unlikely to have their entry accepted. folks have time to register and compete in a few races if they want to polish bona fides.
todd, i think your 99% estimate might be a little high, but your larger point is spot on, imo. any sort of distance racing is a challenge. two weeks of it in whatever weather and conditions you're dealt is a special kind of hurt. note that i've never sailed it - i enjoy distance racing, but i rely on the fact that if the forecast looks bad, i don't have to push off the beach. -
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Posted: May 22, 2019 - 08:58 AM
Was the Worrell always by invitation?
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Joshua
Texas Gulf Coast
'82 Prindle 16 (Badfish)
'02 Hobie Wave (Unnamed Project)
‘87 Hobie 18 (Sold)
‘89 Hobie 17 (ill-advised project boat, Sold)
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Posted: May 22, 2019 - 04:13 PM
They use the term, "invitation" to essentially allow them to approve or deny an entry. If you don't have the qualifications and might be a danger to yourself or others, they don't have to let you in.
I'd have to go check my old copy of the race docs, but I think it was.
Edited by wlrottge on May 22, 2019 - 04:15 PM. -
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Posted: May 22, 2019 - 04:20 PM
From the 2003 rules:
Edited by wlrottge on May 22, 2019 - 04:21 PM. -
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Posted: May 22, 2019 - 04:53 PM
I figured as much. Not really "invitational" as much as "selective".
Not that I disagree with the sentiment. I've seen a few people that shouldn't be on the line at certain regattas and/or during certain conditions. Myself included
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Joshua
Texas Gulf Coast
'82 Prindle 16 (Badfish)
'02 Hobie Wave (Unnamed Project)
‘87 Hobie 18 (Sold)
‘89 Hobie 17 (ill-advised project boat, Sold)
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Posted: May 23, 2019 - 09:17 AM
not sure if the terminology has been consistent throughout the history of the event - i certainly saw mike worrell allow teams to race that were wholly unknown or completely new to cat sailing. the new OA is incredibly concerned about risk as evidenced by the in-depth waivers teams and race volunteers signed this year, so i get that an early step in mitigating that risk is to only accept entries from teams with experience. there will be more entries for the next event (easy prediction) and it would be consistent with the OA's view of risk management if some of those entries don't meet their criteria for past experience and ability. -
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Posted: May 23, 2019 - 03:03 PM
Some years the bar was set a little lower than others. In 2003 after the W1000 cancelation and the Tybee 500 was created, the Great Texas 300 was also born. Since we had planned on doing the W1000, and had a sponsor supplied RV for 30 days, when we finished the T500, we turned west and drove to Padre Island. There was another team that was scheduled to do the W1000, but they were counting on the chartered 18HT for the event. So they drug an old Nacra 5.8 out from behind the barn and showed up in Texas with a leaky boat and only one dagger board (they figured that they only needed one board since it was supposed to be an off wind run all the way). Everyone was WTF, but the GT300 organizers assumed that since they were entered in the W1000, then they must have been "experienced ocean racers". On day one, they finished hours behind the fleet because they kept having to beach the boat and bail it out. On day 2, we gave them a 1 or 2 hour head start, and they still finished hours after the fleet. On day 3, they didn't make it the beach in time and sank. They swam ashore, a surf fisherman picked them up and transported them to the nearest pay phone. Their ground crew was dispatched to collect them, and I think that was the last we saw of them. Not sure they made it back home, the van they were living in wasn't in any better shape than their boat... -
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Posted: May 23, 2019 - 07:21 PM
Sucks that you were not able to do the race, but it sounds like you made the right decision, and sad you got slammed for it..
I know it has been asked here, and if you don't mind sharing, what sort of checkbook does one need to compete in a race like this.. ballpark figure will work..
Anyway, hope you can do it next year.. the Worrell is not on my bucket list, but I would the to take a shot at the Texel...
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Posted: May 23, 2019 - 07:36 PM
neither will nor brian were "slammed" for pulling out of the race. any criticism they received, public or private, was not related to their decision. it doesn't do anyone any good to air it out, but i won't sit by for mischaracterization or a rewrite of what went down. far better to look forward, imo. -
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Posted: May 24, 2019 - 11:16 AM
No one here would have been none the wiser on this if you didn't bring it up... is that a sign of moving forward?
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Posted: May 24, 2019 - 12:14 PM
not so, john. will brought it up and you apparently bought it. it needed to be corrected. -
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Posted: May 24, 2019 - 12:17 PM
crazy but believable -
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Posted: May 24, 2019 - 02:32 PM
Pint taken and I stand corrected.. Lets move on
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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