The crew of the winning boat will celebrate with $400,000 in cash; the runner up with $200,000; and third place will claim $100,000. (Fourth- through 10th-place finishers will also come away with cash, from $60,000 to $35,000 respectively.) “I have always wanted a major cash prize for the Worrell 1000,” said Mike Worrell, race director and founder. “It was a natural progression building on the tremendous success of the turnkey format that was introduced this year.” Entry fees, which range from $8,000 to $12,000 for a fully equipped beach catamaran, will be increased by $20,000 to fund the prize purse. The fee includes a complete boat charter and sails package; 21 days of hotel accommodation for three (two crew and one support person); complete safety gear, including an EPIRB, VHF radios, signal flares, personal emergency strobes and, of course, charts; plus, the race is offering full insurance coverage, which includes liability and boat and vehicle coverage. The 2004 race, the 22nd annual Worrell 1000, will start on Sunday, May 9 and finish two weeks later on Saturday, May 22. For more information on the race, including entry deadline and race rules, visit the race website at www.Worrell1000.com.
