ESSO BEE  WINS 2003 BLACK SEAL CUP: Greg Miller brought his Lindenberg 26 North from the Pamlico Sound and took home the Black Seal Cup from Southern Bay Race Week.  The overall Best Boat of Race Week award is determined by a formula that considered finishes and size of fleet.  A boat must win it's fleet to be considered. ESSO BEE recorded a finish string of 2-3-1-1-2 over 5 races in the three day event.  Miller won the 17 boat PHRF C fleet.  One other Lindenberg 26 also made the trip from North Carolina.  Leon Turkevich's Hummer, did not complete the regatta because of a broken rudder.

BSC-SBRW TOP DOGS:  RESULTS:  PHRF A (14 boats):  1. Sanford Richardson, Kahuna, Farr 395; 2. Sledd Shelhorse, Scherherazade,  Taylor 40;  3. Bumps and David Eberwine, Sea Star, J/36. PHRF B (16 Boats): 1. Paul Andersen, Titillation, J/29;  2. Rusty Burshell, Cool Change, J/30;  3. Ben Weeks, Cheryl Lea, J/29.  TRIPP ONE-DESIGN (8 boats): 1. Tim Dickson, Highlander;  2. Jim Bost, Huntin' Tripp,;  3.  Michele/Don Zinn, Captain Tripps. J/24 ONE-DESIGN (9 boats):  1. Chris Johnson, Blue Bus;   2. Mike Veraldi, Quicky;  3. Ron Medlin, Bash. PHRF C (17 boats):  1. Greg Miller, Esso Bee, Lindenberg 26;  2. Bob Archer, About Time, Capri 26;  3. Steve Bowen, Dream On. PHRF Non-Spinnaker: 1. Ed Andrews, No Problem, Pearson 26; 2. Dave Taylor, Insolvent, Col 10.7;  3. Jim Williams, Checks in the Mail, Catalina 38.  Check event web site for complete results www.blacksealcup.com at all 3 venues.

SPOTTED AT BSC-SBRW:  John Dodge, CBYRA Executive Secretary (and past Region 4 VP), sailed in the Tripp 26 one design fleet at Black Seal Cup-Southern Bay Race Week.  Steve Bowen, past race captain of York River Yacht Club, skippered his S2 7.9, Dream On, to a 3rd place in the regatta's largest (PHRF C) fleet.  Jay McArdle, long time official in the J/29 one-design class sailed in the regatta. Bill Wheary, instigator of the rejuvenation of big boat racing at Norfolk Yacht & CC, crewed on one of the PHRF A fleet boats. Murphy, The Racing Beagle, made a visit to the spinnaker venue on Saturday.  She was  "cruising"  on her Mariner 36, Miranda. Ron and Brenda Stankavich  feed, water, and nurture Murphy's every racing and cruising need. Allan Heyward, FBYC Fleet Captain, Phil Briggs, HYC Fleet Captain, and Rusty Burshell, Region 4 chief PHRF handicapper, all skippered their boats in the regatta.  And, there were many, many others who are instrumental in southern Bay racing on the courses for the three days.

One Design Racing in Keel Boats came to 2003 Black Seal Cup - SBRW  with the Tripp 26 class and the J/24 class.  Both are popular (and affordable) boats and offer challenging racing. Another established group gaining strength on the Bay is the Catalina 27 class.  There are approximately 200 Catalina 27s on the Chesapeake. The class  will hold its National Championships Labor Day Weekend as part of Annapolis Race Week.  Plans are to have the non-spinnaker and the spinnaker Catalina 27s all on the same one-design course - together.  Should be a great time for all. For info on the Catalina 27 Class contact: Jim Urban at    urbantree@toad.net

Don't put away your party flip-flops yet - now comes the COCK ISLAND RACE  (June 21) : Registration (and party) is this Friday, June 20.  Then the race (and party) on Saturday.  Skipper check-in is Friday from 3-7pm at North Landing (Portsmouth seawall lagoon) - Skipper meeting is 7:30-8:00pm at the Check-in Tent.  For info contact PortsEvents at 393-9933, extension 202.

Marc and Beth Patafio of Charlotte, North Carolina, won the 2004 Daytona 500 tickets and pit passes raffle which was part of a recent Hunt-Miller Olympic Campaign Fundraiser at Lake Norman (Peninsula Yacht Club, NC).
 

1999 Opti Nationals News Update:  Here's a familiar name for those in the southern Bay who worked the 1999 Opti Nationals (approximately 300 Opti kids competed) hosted by HYC off Strawberry Banks. Pat Curran, the kid who won the regatta, now competes in Lasers.  Pat will be sailing for the USA Team at the 2003 Laser Radial World Championships (July 25-August 9) in Riva del Garda, Italy.

The spinnaker classes big boat venue for Black Seal Cup-Southern Bay Race Week was just off Ocean View (Norfolk) in the lower Chesapeake Bay.  Between races on Friday of the regatta, several racers spotted PlayStation leaving Little Creek for a crew tune-up and practice.  Even the pros have to stay ready for the "right" sailing conditions.  Steve Fossett's maxi-cat is still waiting for the right moment to make a run at the 24 Hour (distance) Record.

MURPHY'S LAW:  I was on the injured reserve list this past weekend, as  most of you know.  But, things sure looked fast and furious when I stopped by the courses for a looksee.  I hear the action was even hotter at the beer truck - my favorite venue.  Living to race, racing to live. /s/ Murphy the Racing Beagle

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                 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE, Lin McCarthy, Editor