For 2003, the Offshore, One Design and Junior Divisions have scheduled a full slate of racing for the spring and fall, with a light summer racing schedule designed to avoid conflicts with major racing events elsewhere on the bay and beyond. Dates have been reserved for team racing events in hopes that we can use the new 420 and enlarged Flying Scot fleets as springboards to making team racing events with other clubs a regular feature of our racing programs and one in which juniors, one design and offshore racers will combine to learn and enjoy a different kind of racing. By the end of 2002, the RRS Rule 26 starting procedure adopted at FBYC in 2002, had become second nature for race committees and competitors alike. In 2003 we will be continuing to work to optimize committee boat configuration and Race Committee procedures to take maximum advantage of the flexibility Rule 26 allows.

Offshore Division events will continue the trend over the last several years to balance drop-mark short races with longer and government mark races, including a night race to Smith Point and back. The tradition of strong participation by boats from other parts of the Chesapeake Bay in the Stingray Point and Leukemia Cup Regattas is expected to continue in 2003, and FBYC will once again be host to the J-29 Invitational Regatta that has in years past drawn the best in that class from all over. Twice in 2003, FBYC will have joint events with Rappahannock River Yacht Club: in the spring at Mosquito Point, and off the mouth of Carter’s Creek over Memorial Day weekend. FBYC’s resurgent Non-Spinnaker racing fleet is forecast to continue growing, and courses specifically tailored to racing without spinnakers will again be provided for the non-spinnaker racers in all of the Offshore Series and regattas. The course board used on Mr. Roberts for Offshore events last year will continue to be used, with minor changes to improve the display of government mark courses. These changes are among several changes and clarifications made in a reorganization of the General Sailing Instructions for Offshore events, and Offshore racers are encouraged to review the newly revised General Sailing Instructions to familiarize themselves with them.

One Design events will continue to follow the multi-race day format, with series races spread out over the spring and fall and interspersed with Offshore events to minimize conflicts for the sailors who race in both divisions. One Design fleets and racing at FBYC continue to grow, anchored in recent years by the Frontrunner, Laser and Scot fleets. The steady growth of the Flying Scot fleet, the addition of new 420s, and a predicted return of the Mobjacks, all promise even greater participation this year. In August, we will host our 64th Annual One Design Regatta, and in September the Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship returns.

The Junior Division has put together a strong racing program for 2003, augmented by events designed to maximize use of the new 420s, and, at the end of Junior week, by an offshore Junior June Regatta in which Juniors will make up half the crews and do half the driving for a day of racing in the Offshore fleet. The Junior and One Design racing seasons will be capped by the Indian Summer regatta, which is growing each year, particularly in the Optimist, Byte and Laser fleets.