Sunday, May 16, 1999
By Thatcher Drew
Chicks Beach Wins Race to Myrtle Beach - 10:00 PM
Chick’s Beach extended its lead slightly, winning a hard, upwind tacking duel to Myrtle Beach. Rudee’s Rest. was second by about 6 minutes. Both crews left their boats immediately and headed for their rooms. Neither had the energy for conversation on the beach.
Pomodoro came in third after loosing a tacking duel (by 88 seconds) to Rudee’s Rest. that lasted for 40 miles. When she landed the crew discovered a 5-inch gash in the starboard hull from a collision with Worrell Bros. spinnaker pole at the start. Hans Meijer came down after a shower to inspect the damage. "We didn’t think much about the hulls at all because we figured we wouldn’t be able to hang with these guys if there was water in the hull." In fact they had shipped several gallons. Does a few gallons equal 88 seconds?
In the spirit of the Worrell 1000, Tyler Smith of Chick’s Beach was wielding a grinder and fiberglass, helping to patch the Pomodoro hull.
About the race, Hans said, "It was a beautiful sail today: Upwind, good breeze, double trapped, occasional big seas, and a lot of tacking. I lost count after 40 tacks."
The trick today seemed to be to stay near the beach in the north west wind. The seas built up off shore, and there may have been a little bit of a lift by the land. Tybee Island, who came in second yesterday, was seen taking long tacks off shore and lost the fleet.
Worrell Bros. came in fourth. They also tried to stay in shore. They were followed by Tybee Island, Lions International, Big Bros./Big Sisters. As of this writing Turtle, Outer Banks and Team Extreme were still out.
10 Boats Start at Isle of Palms
Ten boats got away at Isle of Palms. There were a few bumps in the surf. The wind was from the northwest at 10 knots under grey skies.
Five minutes into the race Rudee’s restaurant was 100 yards in front of Chick’s Beach, who rolled right over Tybee Island at the start.
Pomodoro pulled a neat trick right in the surf, rolling right over Lions International with a powered up mainsail (no downhaul) and Brian out on the wire.
At the other end of the line Peanut Johnson and John McLaughlin in Outer Banks had an excellent start after finishing last yesterday (see "The Weather Was Very Bad Last Night"). Once through the surf they had a little trouble getting their new rudder down.
Bart Hall, formerly crew chief for Michigan (they dropped out) was pushing for Team Extreme at the start. "I didn’t realize the Mystere was so heavy."
Inter 20 Boats For Year 2000 Race
Mike Worrell announced that the Inter 20 will be the only boat allowed for next year’s race. The manufacturer, Performance Catamarans, in association with the Worrell 1000 will provide 15 to 20 boats. All new competitors will be required to race them. Prior competitors will be "grandfathered" in some way – perhaps permitted to bring their own Inter 20’s to the race. Worrell said that international teams would be given some priority on the use of the race’s boats.
There were questions from the assembled participants about modifications to the "factory" boat. There were other questions about sails and sponsor participation. Mike was not yet ready to answer them, leaving those decisions till after the race. "I just wanted you to know that this was the direction we were taking. We’ll answer all those questions in June."
The sailors and crew we talked to seemed to think the Inter 20 was a good boat. It incorporates many of the modern innovations, but is untested in a race as rigorous as this one. Some had questions about keeping a level playing field. How much modification do you allow, and how do you police innovations. Sailors need fair and equal boats. They also feel a need to modify and improve the boats for a race as rigorous as this one.
Mike Worrell invited comments and ideas. He said he did not have all the answers yet and they would be addressed quickly when this year’s race is over.
Michigan Found Boat
A number of people have asked whether Michigan ever found her boat. The answer is, "yes," but they had to try three times.
Michigan, you'll remember had turtled in thunder storms on the way to Tybee Island. Their mast filled with water and finally, a 41 foot Coast Guard cutter had to pick them up at 4:30 in the morning, leaving the boat behind.
The next morning a fishing boat found the abandoned catamaran and called in a mayday to the Coast Guard. With an exact fix, Bart Hall and Adam Aldrin tried to reach it in a motor boat, but were turned back by weather. They went out again in a larger boat but couldn't find it until a spotter plane gave them new coordinates. It took four men to lift the weight of the water-logged mast into the power boat.
When they got it to land they had an immediate offer to buy the boat. They immediately said "yes" and even more immediately went and got a refreshment and a good night's sleep. Adam Aldrin followed the race to Isle of Palms and then went home. The Halls are still with the race.
