Long Beach Team -Signs first major sponsor for Worrell 1000 in 2003
For immediate release:
October 17, 2002
Long Beach, California
The Team at the Sailing Pro Shop is excited to announce it has signed a deal with Gill North America to sponsor our sailing team in this year's upcoming Worrell 1000 which begins May 4, 2003. Gill North America has negotiated to be the sole gear provider for sailing suits, drysuits, footwear, gloves and team pit crew gear. You can learn more about the great products from Gill North America by visiting their website at
www.gillna.com or by visiting your local Gill dealer.
We welcome Gill aboard our team and are very excited about wearing the latest in sailing technology from the world leader in sailing gear.
For more information about how you can participate with the TEAM SAILING PRO SHOP 2003 Worrell 1000 TEAM send us an e-mail to:
sailingproshop@aol.com or call TOLL FREE and ask for Mark Michaelsen 1 (800) 354-7245.
About the Worrell 1000-
It began as a bar room bet over a couple of beers in Worrell Bros., the Virginia Beach resort restaurant that was owned by Michael and his brother Chris. The bet; that one could not sail a 16-foot catamaran from Virginia Beach to Florida.
On October 1, 1974, Michael and crew Steve McGarrett shoved off from the beach in front of the restaurant bound for Florida. After 20 days, two hurricanes, and numerous boat repairs, they made it as far as Fort Lauderdale before their catamaran succumbed to the rigors of the bet.
Intrigued by the challenge of the rugged trip, Worrell, who as a surfer, lifeguard, and later in business, had always been around the ocean, decided to raise the ante and create a radical, new type of sailboat race.
In May 1976, four other teams were also inspired by the challenge and entered the inaugural *Worrell Bros. Coastwise Race. For that first race, limited to 16-foot Hobie Cats, the rules were almost fewer than the sailors. Sail day and night, come ashore and phone the restaurant once every 24 hours. The first boat to the finish wins. To take advantage of the prevailing winds the course was reversed with the start in Fort Lauderdale and the finish in Virginia Beach.
At 3:10am of the 11th day, Worrell and crew Guerry Beatson, the only team to finish, came ashore on the beach across from the brothers' restaurant, where with a little imagination one could almost hear the original bet being placed.
