CONGRATULATIONS to GABOON RACE Fleet Winners:  Phil Briggs (Feather), Ben Cuker (Callinectes), Mike Veraldi (Quickie).  The 25th edition of the annual Gaboon (rhymes with spittoon) ran in perfect conditions yesterday - sunny, moderate breeze, and everyone beat the finish deadline.  The grand Spittoon Trophy will be awarded tomorrow evening at HYC. Fleet TOP boats: PHRF A: 1. Phil Briggs, Feather; 2. Skip Amory, Woof. PHRF B: 1. Ben Cuker, Callinectes; 2. Rusty Burshell, Cool Change; 3. Mike Nester. Glory Days. PHRF C: 1. Mike Veraldi, Quickie; 2. Dave McConaughy, Ulysses; 3. John Blais, Stardancer.  A total of 27 boats raced.Here's a holiday present idea. For the Tall Ship lover in your life Schooner Virginia special medallions and coins are now available through the official Project office. The silver coins and medallions go for $100 each.  The medallion has a small loop attached so that it may be worn on a chain as jewelry.  Project admin assistant, Lisa Baker, said plans call for gold plate and solid gold coins and medallions to become available too (at a higher price, of course).  Captain Bill Johnson is responsible for the design of the token which bears the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia on its reverse side.  Contact Lisa Baker at (757) 627-7400 or email  adminasst@schoonervirginia.org.

There is talk of a J/24 match racing regatta in August in Hampton Roads.  Chris Duer is planning the event.  Contact  him at (757) 537-4205.

America's Cup Challengers Series - Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinals underway - well sort of... wind problems again last night. OneWorld will be be penalized (again) for having broken the regatta rules (again) regarding misusing other teams' confidential design material.  They will take a one point hit  in the current semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton, and if they advance, in the LVC finals, and if they advance, in the America's Cup match.

NZ Bound:  Steve "Bardo" Bardwell (crews on Battlewagon, About Time, and in the past, WoolyBully, among others) is heading toward the land of the America's Cup regatta for a 30 day visit.

GRRRS Feedback:  After the report of the superb showing by Steven Hunt and Michael Miller in the recent Olympic Pre-Trials regatta in Houston, a number of GrassRoots Racing Readers asked how to send donations to help support the Hunt-Miller Team.  Contributions are tax deductible and may be sent to:  US Sailing Foundation, 15 Maritime Drive, Portsmouth, RI  02871.  Make your checks payable to USSF and note Hunt/Miller Olympic Campaign in the memo section so that it is credited to our guys.  Now's the time if you want to beat that IRS donation-credit deadline!

Joe Hallissy was given special recognition at the annual CBYRA Meeting in Galesville, MD, Saturday, for personal excellence in race management.  Outgoing CBYRA president, Joe Krolak, made the announcement. The actual presentation will take place on January 18th at the CBYRA Region 4 Awards Presentation (and dinner) to be held in Fishing Bay. For additional information on the January 18th event (open to all), contact your club's CBYRA delegate or Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225.  Watch the first January issue of SBRNYCU for detailed information.

There are 2 New Years Day races on the southern Bay schedule:  2003 New Years Maddness Race is co-sponsored by HYC and OPCYC.  The race starts in Hampton Creek and ends in Mill Creek. NOTE:  There is a mandatory skippers meeting at 10 AM in the HYC lounge where skippers will receive a courtesy trip to the breakfast buffet and crew also may partake for a nominal fee.  Awards will be presented at the post-race party hosted by OPCYC at Fort Monroe. For information contact:  Allen Overstreet (OPCYC) at (757) 465-2503 or Phil Briggs (HYC) at (757) 244-5477.   Seaford Yacht Club host their New Years Day Race for the mid-southern area of the Bay.  This is a long standing event that brings out the heartiest of those in the York River, Seaford River, and nearby environs. For information contact SYC at (757) 898-8439.  Neither of these races is a sanctioned event, but both qualify as New Years Eve Party hangover cures!

Long time "friends of racing" Rob and Andi Overton were in the country on a break from their cruising habit and sailed with Rusty and Naomi Burshell on Cool Change in the Gaboon Race.

For those looking for a boat shopping fix in early January, Sail Expo comes to Atlantic City, NJ,  January 9-12, 2003.

MURPHY'S LAW:   Have a Merry Christmas, a rockin' New year and boatful of holiday happiness! Living to race, racing to live.  /s/ Murphy the Racing Beagle

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Dear Readers:  SBRNYCU will take a holiday break until January 6, when issue #133 will ring in the new year.  In the interim may visions of race boat goodies dance in your head throughout this joyful time.