Annals of Adventure–The Atlantic 1000: “Iron Men In Plastic Boats.” That was the motto of the Worrell 1000, a 1000 mile pain-fest that had catamaran sailors in 20-foot boats racing from Florida to Virginia. They did it in stages, every day launching and then eventually sailing back through some big surf. Sunburn. Seasickness. Blisters. Peeing in wetsuits. Broken boats. The Worrell had it all. But the Worrell is no more, and this summer it was replaced by the Atlantic 1000. What’s it like? Well, two of the sailors, Duncan Ross (RSA) and Roberto Pandiani (BRA)–TWC featured them last year when they sailed a Hobie Cat to Antarctica–have posted an inside account at Sailing Anarchy. Ross and Pandiani finished second, but it wasn’t easy:

“The breeze goes from 10 knots to 25 knot in a few minutes. The sea is still flat and we take off on a huge double trapeze reach – probably the fastest I have ever been on a small catamaran. Roberto and I are both on trapeze and the boat is just flying. We start to drive in underneath Team Oz. I am nervous as there are shallows closer to the coast. I shudder to think what would happen to us (and the boat) if we were to hit a sand bank at 25 knots. The first few miles are adrenalin pumped – after that – all we want to do is finish. My hands are killing me. Sometimes the waves wash my feet off the boat and I am upside down with my head dragging in the water. We are on the absolute limit – it’s all or nothing. Any mistake and we would be upside down and the race would be over for us.”

Harken, one of the race sponsors, also has some good coverage and pictures. And a video, which is cool despite the repetetive porno music soundtrack. Whatever the name, Worrell 1000 or Atlantic 1000, this is one of the great Wetass races…



“Hey man, you’re not puking already, are you…?”

(Photo: Edge Ventures)