# 429 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE
on Monday February 2, 2009 08:22AM
PUNXSUTAWNY PHIL ... well, depending on
where he sails on the southern Chesapeake Bay today,
he may see his shadow (6 more weeks of winter weather) or he may not
(early spring). It's another advantage of our area - we can take our pick
. Early polls indicate most racers (99.9%) took the early spring
option! HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!
SOUTHERN BAY RACE WEEK fleet is building:
The first Maryland boat is in - Norman
Dawley's custom 48, PURSUIT, is
entered. Norm sails out of Southern Maryland Sailing Association
and makes his home in Lusby, Maryland. And, Brad
Miller's Beneteau First, SCHIEHALLION, is the
first PHRF C fleet boat to enter. Brad is returning to SBRW, sails out of
Fishing Bay Yacht Club, and makes his home in Hanover, VA.
More KWRW notes: Southern Bay's
Kenny Saylor (North Sails, Hampton) did the Lauderdale to
Key West Race on L'outrage (Bruce Gardiner, Annapolis) and
L'outrage won the PHRF class and fleet, the Navigator Trophy,
and best performance for a boat over 25 years old. From
there, L'outrage went on to finish second in PHRF 3 at
KWRW. Also, Travis Weisleder from Fishing Bay
Yacht Club sailed at Key
West in his Melges 24; he finished 12th in the
highly competitive 33 boat fleet.
DOWN THE BAY RACE - Did you
know... The record for the fastest time was set in 1974
by RUNNING TIDE, a 60-foot Sparkman and Stevens design owned at the
time by Alvan Metre (Annapolis). The exact time records have been lost,
but those who were involved during the 1970's confirm that it was around 13
hours. For info in DTB 2009 (the 60th running of
this race), go to www.hamptonyc.com/downthebay
Hampton Yacht Club and Storm Trysail -Chesapeake
Station are administering this event. Event Co-Chairmen are
Vince Behm (757) 876-7778 and Wayne Bretsch (301) 332-6773.
US SAILING RACE MANAGEMENT
SEMINAR scheduled for February 14-15, 2009, (9am - 1:30pm) at
Hampton Yacht Club in Hampton, VA. OPEN TO
ALL. Information in the course will be helpful to anyone involved or
interested in running races. The effect the "new"
rules (RRS 2009-2012) have on the race committee are covered in this
course. Also, this seminar meets the course requirements for
certification as a Club Race Officer, The certification test
will be given for those who wish to take it. The
seminar fee is $50 for US SAILING members and $60 for non-members. Lunch,
both days, and materials are included in the fee. If you wish
additional details concerning the seminar, you may go to the Hampton Yacht Club
website at http://hamptonyc.com
and click on the seminar icon, or contact Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225 or
email at mcbear@earthlink.net
SBRW "BOAT OF THE DAY" AWARD
SPONSORS: Three Hampton Roads area sailmakers,
DAN WINTERS SAILSMAKERS,Ltd., NORTH SAILS-Hampton,
and DOYLE SAILMAKERS VIRGINIA are on board
for 2009 as sponsors for the "Boat of the Day" Awards presented each day at
SBRW. There is a BOTD chosen each day for each racing circle. The
2008 winners of Boat of the Day awards were: Wairere
(Pete Hunter), Rumble
(Ben Weeks); Tenacious (Carl and Scott
Gitchell), Midnight Mistress (Jake
Brodersen), It's White (Winters, Batchelor,
Piccillo), and Millennium Falcon (Paul
Van Ravenswaay).
HAMPTON ONE-DESIGN sailors:
Remember, THIS COMING SATURDAY, Tidewater Boat Club (Norfolk) is hosting
the 75th HOD Season Kick-Off
Party Sat, Feb 7 at 5:30. Reservations
required; cost is $25/person for a great home cooked meal by the giant fireplace
at TBC. Send check for $25/person to: Charles McCoy, 500 E. Plume St,
Suite 105, Norfolk, VA 23510.
Information on what is happening on the southern
Bay: Check out www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm
It's an electronic Local Notice to Mariners, in addition to status of
aids to navigation, etc. There's interesting stuff in here, and some
of it is a little eye-popping. For instance, (The BBSA Willoughby
Racers surely all know this, some have learned it first hand): Speaking
on area Helicopter Airborne Mine Countermeasures Operations, LNM
says, "All mariners are requested to remain well clear of
helicopters, the towed devices, and the area behind the aircraft for
four hundred yards.... An area of hurricane-force winds exists within
250-foot radius around these helicopters, sufficient to blow people and objects
from exposed decks and capsize small craft." Yes, indeed,
stay well away from them thar choppers! We're not talking normal lifts and
headers around those suckers.
CBYRA REGION 4 HIGH POINT AWARDS
PRESENTATION: Awards will be presented Tuesday,
February 24, at Hampton Yacht Club. The cash bar will open at
6:30pm and the awards presentation will begin promptly at 7:15pm. Cost
is free, dress is casual, and event is open to all. For
info contact Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225 or mcbear@earthlink.net
MURPHY'S LAW: What is
a groundhog? A groundhog is a woodchuck, pure and simple. What in the
world does a woodchuck know about racing? Nothing. So, who cares
what some oversized, slumberous, lethargic, rodent fur-piece says
about Spring's arrival? And, why is a special day devoted to this
non-racing, underground dweller. Now, if it were Racing Beagle Day... that
would be meaningful! /S/ Murphy the Racing Beagle, the
sailing spirit in us all.