Hi Mary -
Popped his up on the old forum too ,-but thought it might be a timely addition to the discussion from a real life perspective-

Not sure about night legs this year in 03 ,-will double check also and find out, --would hate to wake up early and shove off the beach by myself ,---{joking }

: : Talked to Davis M last evening in St Croi. where its 85 and sunny ,-If your in a Northern climate this may help get you through to spring and the return of sailing season.

most people when they ask questions about the Worrell 1000 ask about the night legs -

Night Sailing -Isle of Palms Leg
Team "Sail for Sight"--Written during the 2001 Worrell 1000
First, many thanks to our excellent ground crew -Bill Wallace and his son -Dave Wallace -from St. Simmons Island GA, THE Surf Sailors, and to David Lennard sailing a great Worrell 1000 race this year .We sailed in some fairly tough conditions during last evenings very fast night leg with gusts into the 20 s and very short steep irregular seas .
- We flew the chute off the beach, leaving Tybee Island GA. around 6 p m, to the sound of bagpipes, and arrived on the beach in Isle of Palms around 12-30, to the sounds of the local night spots blasting music over the waves, this leg was a fast run reaching speeds of up to 22 to 28 on the GPS.
- Through the daylight left we raced along with several good teams including Kirk and Glen, - Team Key Sailing, happy to be in good company going into the darkness and potential dangers of several hours racing ahead.
-Night sailing is unusual in that your sense of sight is largely eliminated, and use of your other senses have to take over, It was overcast, with storms and numerous lightening flashes hitting the water surface illuminating your surrounding area for brief seconds then leaving one temporarily unable to see until the pupils dilate back to the limited light of shore lights miles distant and overcast night. We had one boat close for about an hour during part of the leg to leeward who's silhouette would appear with each flash, --then disappear-We latter learned it was Brian and Jamie who flipped shortly after, but still managed their usual first place leg finish .
-We finished 4th after starting in 10th -we saw several other teams sail very well for the time we stayed close but generally sailing a higher course at higher speeds with a lesser vmg. -Several teams had damage - some loosing their spin halyards, some striking fish turtles or other objects and loosing their rudders, Team Outer Banks with John at the helm and Charles as excellent crew was one--but again not being able to see sea turtles or other objects to take avoiding action as also happened with other teams, -- luck is part of the Worrell race.

-On a humorous note, David caught a fish last evening, it flew up, bounced off Dave and landed on the trampoline nice foot and a half long fish flopping around for a minute before he could catch him and through him back in, seconds later another fish flew up, bounced off Dave’s life jacket and back in off the port side, though I don’t think it was the same fish trying to get back aboard. -Kind of startling when you’re flying along with the chute up at 20 plus at night.
The psychology of night sailing may be the most interesting aspect, the potential for collision plays on your mind, -an unlit channel marker, another boat, or competitor may appear in front of you with only seconds to react, it can be very intense for several hours at 20 plus, steep seas, spray flying, bows stuffing into waves, all while your trying to keep the boat moving at top speed and stay upright, which many teams including Jamie and Brian on Alexander's did not do last night. . -Team Castrol also sailed a great night leg following the lead boats moves finishing 2nd, 3rd was Brendon and Jim,team Lexus Nexus who in a gutsy navigational strategy went out some 12 miles offshore and one gibed to the finish, just as they did the previous year to an excellent leg finish. -Team Tommy Bahama -Alex and Nigel ,also sailed fast to a 5th place night leg finish .We headed for the room and warm dry clothes then back out to the balcony overlooking the beach on Isle of Palms with Brendon Jim and crewc sharing a pizza, and to watch the rest of the fleet finish shortly after , except for 3 with damage and a collision.
- All teams out here are very good and fast, as any that can sail 1000 miles in the open Atlantic have proven themselves to be.
The best advice to any contemplating the race to prepare would be to simply practice sailing at night,
-Set a destination, inform others and contact them by phone when back in safe. Night legs and night sailing are not all like last evening, some night legs are very beautiful with stars, the moon shinning, warm water and smooth seas.
-The night legs are potentially very dangerous , though strangely an element of the Worrell 1000 race I enjoy, high winds seas lightning storms and all.
As Dave can tell you while sailing the night legs keep an eye out for the flying fish and many other potential dangers of this very challenging aspect of distance racing in this crazy extreme race called the Worrell 1000!
-Wish us luck in tonight’s night leg through some big surf around the cape and up to Myrtle Beach, and a safe journey to all.
-All the best -
Carl Roberts