For the first time and as part of a sailboat contest, Ocracoke Island is set to become a stop on the Worrell 1000 race.
Fifteen two-member catamaran sailboat teams participating in the roughly 1,000-mile route from Florida to Virginia Beach are expected to arrive at Ocracoke’s lifeguard beach on May 22.
The 2024 teams are composed of one skipper and one crew member each. Participants this year are from the United States, the Netherlands, France, Australia and Germany.
There are no prizes, only glory.
Using the theme “The Spark that Lit the Flame,” this year’s race starts at Hollywood, Fla., on May 12 with 13 checkpoints and 12 overnight stops and concludes at Virginia Beach, Va.
Ahead of their Ocracoke stop, the sailboats will leave Atlantic Beach for Ocracoke on May 22, stop in Ocracoke and then sail to Kill Devil Hills the next day.
“Ocracoke Island’s inclusion in this esteemed event not only showcases our island’s breathtaking coastal charm but also highlights our commitment to fostering the spirit of competitive sailing,” said Kenny Ballance, chair of the Ocracoke Island Tourism Development Authority. “We eagerly anticipate welcoming participants, spectators, and enthusiasts to experience the thrills of the Worrell 1000 against the stunning backdrop of our island.”
The first Worrell race was in 1976 after brothers Michael and Chris Worrell of Virginia Beach made a 1974 bet that their Hobie cats could make the trip nonstop from Virginia Beach to Florida.