Wrightsville Beach, NC
5/16/2000, 8:30 PM
By Zack Leonard
Davis Murray let out a loud whoop as he and Susan Korzeniewski surfed across the finish line.
They weren't first, and they weren't last, they were just celebrating a beautiful day on the
Atlantic Ocean. The Worrell 1000 worked it's way from Myrtle Beach, SC, around Cape Fear and
on to finish at Wrightsville beach today. The breeze was light to moderate and the fleet fought
upwind the whole way. But the contrast to the grueling night leg that finished yesterday morning
was evident. The sailors were ecstatic at the reprieve the weather offered. After the finish
competitors posed for group pictures with huge smiles that showcased the tangible kinship that has
developed in the group.
The Dutch team of Loos and Heemskerk were the big winners today. They made a 30 minute gain in the
overall standings by zigging when the others zagged. Heemskerk's plan was to pass close to Cape Fear,
but they ranged far offshore early in the leg and made solid gains. When the other teams realized
what was happening they went offshore as well. The forecast called for the wind to shift from North
to East or Southeast, so the logic was solid to head offshore. Sail off shore, take the header,
tack and lay Cape Fear. But it didn't work out that way. Smyth and Struble of Team Blockade Runner
and Brett Dryland and Rod Waterhouse of Rudee's went out looking for the wind shift, and got it,
but the boats that short tacked the shore got an even larger starboard lift and laid the Cape in
stronger breeze. Meanwhile, Heemskerk and Loos were determined to create separation from the other
leaders to try to make up time. When Blockade Runner and Rudee's came off shore the Dutch headed
in. "If they are going out, then we were going in," said Loos. Heemskerk saw clouds forming over
the shore and thought the breeze might be stronger by the beach so they tried it. The Dutch team
had a large lead at the Cape and sailed to a 25 minute victory. Rudee's, Blockade Runner and Lambert
and Livingston of Alexander's on the Bay had their work cut out for them. They rounded Cape Fear
deep in the fleet and used their speed to move forward. Rudee's worked into second by the finish,
followed by Sunnucks and Self, Team Guidant, sailed by Sandra Tartaglino and Carl Roberts, and
finally by Smyth. Smyth and Struble finished only 3 and 1/2 minutes behind Dryland and Waterhouse
to maintain a significant lead, but the top four teams are in the hunt.
Tartaglino and Roberts have been sailing quite well. Tartaglino explained their strategy "We wanted
to stay with the fleet, but they went out. We split the distance for a while and it didn't feel right
so we headed back in shore."
Will Self of team Sunnucks enjoyed rounding cape fear in the mild weather, "It was really quite a tame
rounding, but I wouldn't want to be there if it was rough." Self and Sunnucks sailed a conservative
leg and are sneaking up on the leader pack. "We were middle fadiddle like we always are," said Self.
The English duo are gaining confidence in the Inter 20 and get faster each leg.
P Yacht, sailed by Tom Weaver and Richard Deppe had a good race today. "We were just sailing along
discussing how slow we are when Smyth ducked us, we were still congratulating ourselves when he
crossed us," said Deppe. Weaver and Deppe have developed a healthy respect for their competitors,
"the top guys are so fast, it's amazing," said Deppe. Team P Yacht have put together a couple of
good legs now and seem to be catching on.
The mood of the day was clearly relief. Relief to sail a leg that didn't take 12-18 hours, relief
to sail in a moderate breeze and click away miles in the warm sun. John McLaughlin posed for a
photo with Todd Hart, Bart Hall, Susan Korzeniewski and Davis Murray. The group grinned broadly
in the metallic glow of the setting sun. As Mike Worrell walked by Murray thanked him for doing
such a great job.
"I didn't do anything," responded Worrell, "It was you who did the racing."
It's not often that you see a sailor thank someone just for creating an event, but that was what
Murray was doing. Murray was saying thank you, Mike Worrell, for conceiving of this thing that
has the power to put me through so much pain and to make me feel so good the very next day.
The mood was so good this evening that many of the sailors started looking ahead to next year.
Sunnucks and Self sought advice on sponsorship for next year. Self compared the Worrell 1000 to
the Round Texel race, the world's largest catamaran race with nearly 1000 boats. "This race is so
much better than Texel," said Self, "all that work for 2 hours of sailing [at Texel], you get a lot
more sailing for your money at this event."
On the beach Todd Hart was speaking to the TV reporter. Still wearing dry suit and goggles Hart
grinned broadly into the camera and testified, "This race is like a drug, once you've tried it you
can't stop. I'll be doing it till I'm in a wheelchair."
