# 406 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE

Lin Mccarthy on Monday August 11, 2008 11:54AM

Racing this past weekend on the southern Bay was filled with extreme wind shifts,  T-storms, and  "dead sea" conditions.   Mother Nature was her most uppity on Sunday.  Oh, well, it's August!
 
One Design 08 378_c.jpg Meanwhile, up on the Rappahannock / Piankatank Rivers,  on Sunday, Lady Nature left racers at  Fishing Bay Yacht Club's 69th Annual One Design Regatta breathless - truly.  The sound of thunder and lack of wind sent the dinghy fleets in on Sunday with little accomplished, although, as in Hampton Roads, it  "weren't for lack of trying!"     The Annual One-Design Regatta ran Friday through Sunday, and during the first two days most classes got plenty of racing.  The Mobjack Class, for many years a very popular class on the southern Chesapeake and as far north as the southern Delaware Bay, held their National Championship and crowned Len Guenther the 2008 National Champion.  Len beat out  6 other racers. Mark Arnold, from Virginia Beach was second overall and Meg Roberts, who grew up sailing the noble Mobjack with her dad, Tom Roberts, finished third.  Meg calls West Point, Virginia, her hometown.  REGATTA CLASS WINNERS:  Albacore (6 boats) - Robert Bear.   Flying Scot (21 boats) - David Neff.     Laser (12 boats) - Eric Hesse.    Front Runner (9 boats) - Bobby Phillips.     420 (4 boats) - Tony Protogyrou.       Hampton One Design (4 boats) - Latane Montague.    San Juan (4 boats) - Hans Lassen.  In addition to the adult classes there were 17 junior sailors racing in Laser Radials and Optimist Classes.    PRO - Rick Klein.
 
CCV FOUNDERS RACE.  Thirty-seven (37) boats were on the course off Ocean View (Norfolk) Sunday, when Mother Nature threw them a serious curveball.  A violent  pop-up thunderstorm, lightning included,  appeared just west of the racers at the mouth of the James River.   Race officials stopped the racing.   Racers pulled down sails and battened down  in time to ride through Mother N's major snit.  Lots of smiles and sea stories at the traditional CCV post-race party hosted at Hampton Yacht Club. 
 
NORFOLK'S   HARBORFEST FESTIVAL  TO MOVE TO  FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND IN 2009. The change is being made in conjunction with the new Town Point Park Project.   As of now, the date change is intended only for 2009,  because of the need to complete the Town Point Park improvements / changes during the usual Harborfest time frame (early June).  Harborfest officials say they will be putting together the slip plan for Harborfest '09 in February.
 
OLYMPIC SAILING website.   Via Ken Saylor at the North loft on Bridge Street in Hampton, comes the following info on one way to get an Olympic Sailing fix.  This site takes you to the NBC website showing complete coverage times throughout the Olympic games to watch sailing
 
Chuck Eldred, Gail Force,  wins 2008 ADMIRAL'S CUP.  Fourteen (14) PHRF boats raced in the ADMIRAL's CUP on the York River on Saturday, in Saturday's cool, light air.  The event is sponsored each year by York River Yacht Club and Seaford Yacht Club.  RESULTS:  PHRF Spinnaker Class (A,B,C combined - 5 boats): 1.Mike Austin, Movin' On; 2.Steve Bowen, Dream On.   PHRF Non-Spinnaker Class (9 boats): 1.Chuck Eldred, Gail Force; 2.Dave Crossett, Gator; 3.Rachael Blake, Jade. 
 
Virginia H   Wins the Tom Brady Master's Race:  Seven (7) boats filled to the gunwales with seasoned sailors (each 55 or older) made their way around Hampton Roads Harbor Saturday, in the race that was the brainchild of Tom Brady, a long time fixture on the southern Bay.  Tom's son, Malcolm, and Malcolm's wife, Kathy, have continued to run the annual event since Tom passed on.  After the pleasant afternoon race (8+ miles, single headsail only), the top three boats  on corrected time were: 1.Andy Armstrong's Virginia H (Soverel 30); 2.Bumps Eberwine's Spray (Olson 25), and 3.Louie Lewis' Incentive (O'Day 27). 
 
RACERS AND THE RULES QUIZ:  Situation:  The Race Committee gun or horn misfires and makes no sound when the Prep Flag goes down one minute before the Start, thus causing confusion in the fleet.  Is a racer who feels he was disadvantaged at the start entitled to redress?  (Answer follows in this issue of SBRNYCU.) 
 
Steve Hunt, one of the Southern Bay's own, dropped by for a visit this past weekend.  Steve said he's  "...living his dream - sailing and racing full time  for pay and coaching a high school team in San Diego."   What a great turn of events for one of the best from the southern Chesapeake.  And, Steve looks like life on the other coast agrees with him just fine. 
 
Feather,  may have won, by virtue of sheer numbers,  the unofficial award for the Highest Aggregate Age in the Saturday, Tom Brady Master's Race.  Crewing, driving, tactic-cating, rail-meating, navigating, and generally  wrecking havoc were:  Phil Briggs,  Bill Peach,  Kirt "The Kid" Schuldt (Kirt just recently met the age 55 requirement), Bob Mosby,  Glenn Giles,  Dave Gundlach, Jim Shoemaker, Bob Martin, and Al and Gretchen Martin.  Crew privileges and grog were allocated based on seniority.
 
The Cape Charles Cup Invasion Fleet is already at more than 60.   CAPE CHARLES CUP, August 23-24.   This is the point to point and back again event, where southern Bay legends are created, mostly at the Saturday night party at Bay Creek Resort Marina in Cape Charles.  On Saturday the race is from Little Creek to Cape Charles and on Sunday from Cape Charles to the finishing line off Buckroe.  Skippers Meeting and Check-in Party is Friday at Bay Point Marina on Little Creek (Norfolk) at 6:00PM  Awards will be presented at the post-race party Sunday, which is also at Bay Point Marina on Little Creek, beginning at 6:30pm.  There is racing for all PHRF classes, as well as for Cruising classes.   The race for the Cape Charles Cup is a happening.  For details and answers to questions contact Scott Almond at (757) 471-2663 or  CCCup@broadbaysailing.org   NOR and Sailing Instructions are available at  www.CCCup.net  Both races are sanctioned events for PHRF classes and are part of the Chesapeake Bay Distance Racing Series. CCC is sponsored by Broad Bay Sailing Association.  Jump on this August happening!
 
Two other Southern Bay "celebs"  Rob and Andy Overton stopped by for a visit this past week, too.  J/24 racers especially remember the Overton's when they campaigned their J/24 Speed Limit  up and down the Atlantic coast, before heading off on a lifetime dream of bluewater adventure.  They are still at it - currently meandering around northern South America.  
 
Down on the Albemarle, at E. City...   The first ever Albemarle Hospice Regatta and Party is all set for Saturday, August 23rd.   There's a welcome reception on Friday, August 22nd, with the racing and the post-race dinner on Saturday.  An area clubs (PRYC, EYC, CYC, and OYC) will be competing for the Archer Farmer Cup (based on overall low point score).  This is the beginning of a hopefully annual "good thing"!  For info contact Jim Elliott or Sean Robey at info@albemarlehospiceregatta.com  or call Jim at (252) 267-5530. 
 
When Momma Nature blew through the last day of this year's Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge Regatta, she blew some good deals toward Screwpile Racers.   CHESAPEAKE CUSTOM EMBROIDERY, supplier and sponsor of the Screwpile Challenges, offers, at reduced prices, all apparel made exclusively for the SPLC event.     They will ship them to you.  Call 301-862-4848 OR visit CCE at   www.cceink.com  Here's a chance to outfit the whole crew in regatta gear!  And, a Christmas gift opportunity, too!
 
Answer to RR Quiz Question:  No redress.  Rule 26 clearly states that the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.  Watch the flags; they are the controlling signal at the start.
 
COMING UP THIS WEEKEND:  Friday - Sunday, August 15 - 17:
 
2008 Plantation Light Race   Friday, August 15.  Race starts in Hampton Roads harbor, first warning at 1900 / 7PM, on Friday.  Be sure to obtain a copy of the courses  prior to hitting the starting line.  For info contact Bob Thomas at (757) 898-9407.  Entries are due no later than 1700 / 5PM on THURSDAY, August 14.  The PLR is sponsored by Hampton Yacht Club and is one of the nine Chesapeake Bay  Distance Racing Series races. (The Series is sponsored by Broad Bay Sailing Association.)
 
Smith Point Race, Saturday, August 16.  The first warning is at 1400 / 2PM at the mouth of the Piankatank River.  This is part of the FBYC Distance Races Series.  Racers will need the pre-determined marks of the course, so best get in touch with Mike Dale at  (804) 347-7409.
 
Heads-Up.  Remember, September 12-14, at Norfolk's Town Point Part,  VIBES - the VIRGINIA IN-WATER BOAT EXPO AND SAILFEST!
 
CCV has announced the inception of an additional Wednesday night  series - CCV OCTOBER RACE SERIES (October 1, 8, 15, 22, 2008).  The series is intended to extend mid-week racing in the Hampton Roads area.   The cost is FREE, BUT BOATS MUST SUBMIT a CBYRA Standard Entry Form.  Racing will take place in  Hampton Roads harbor.  Starting time will be 1800 / 6PM and there is a 2000 / 8PM time limit. There will be only two fleets - spinnaker and non-spinnaker.  For info contact David Taylor at (757) 344-5292.  Do it now, October will be upon us before we know it.   As a point of information, this Fall,   Daylight Savings Time ends on November 2, 2008.
 
MURPHY'S LAW:   Actually, Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle,  found yesterday's thunder squall a fine way to wash-off those foulies that have been a'moldering in the bilge all summer.  Much like an on-the-water car wash for racers and gear.    /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.
Fishing Bay Yacht Club
Office Mail: Fishing Bay Yacht Club, 2711 Buford Road #309, Bon Air, 23235,
Clubhouse Address: 1525 Fishing Bay Road, Deltaville, VA 23043 (no mail delivery)

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