Dennis Hannick and the crew of GOIN' won their fleet and the Halsey Memorial Trophy for the outstanding boat in the regatta at the 17th Annual Stingray Point Regatta.   If there have ever been two more perfect days for racing in the Rappahannock River area, nobody remembers it.  Stingray Point Regatta racers raced their brains out in five races over two days with breezes from 10 to the high teens each day.  Even the newly added Friday mid-distance race, which did not count in the regatta scoring, was filled with moderate breezes.  The sailors raced, ate, drank, partied, and generally had a grand Labor Day Weekend that included sailboat racing.  The beginning of the rejuvenation of the Stingray Point Regatta was clearly reflected in the result of the efforts put forth by organizers, Mike Karn and Jay Buhl, along with special support from Dave Hinckle (current commodore), Allan Heyward, Noel Clinard, and George Burke.  Kudos to the army of FBYC folks who treated visiting racers to a grand weekend.  RESULTS:  PHRF A (10 boats) - 1.Clarke McKinney, The Riddler (1-3-6-1-1);  2.Bob Mosby, Cyrano (3-4-2-2-2);  3.Leroi Lissenden, Voodoo 2 (5-2-1-6-3).  PHRF B (9 boats) - 1.Dennis Hannick , Goin' (1-1-1-2-2) - also winner of the Halsey Memorial Trophy;  2.Bob Archer, Bad Habit (2-3-3-1-1);  3.Jerry Latell, Chupacabra (3-2-2-3-3).  PHRF C (7 boats) - 1.Bob Fleck, Horizon (1-1-2-2-1);  2.Lud Kimbrough, Prophet (2-2-1-1-2); 3.Brad Miller, Schiehallion (3-3-3-4-4).  J105 (6 boats) - 1. Cyane Crump, She Crab Soup (1-1-1-1-1);  2.Mike Karn, Inevitable (2-4-2-2-2);  3.David Clark, Corryvreckan (3-3-4-3-3).  J24 (5 boats) - 1.Tom Chapman, Hot Air (1-3-1-1-2);  2.Drake Johnstone, Cat's Pajamas (3-1-2-2-1);  3.Neil Ford, Rocket J (2-2-3-4-4).  PHRF Non-Spin (8 boats) - 1.MD Riley, Turbo's Tub (1-1-2-1-2);  2.James Whited, Whiskers (2-2-1-2-1);  3.Dick Cole, Nutcracker (4-4-5-4-3).   Principal Race Officer - David Lee;  Race Officer (Friday Race) - John Wake.  Official Scorer - Jim Black
 
There is a competition within the regatta competition at Stingray Point among yacht clubs with boats participating at the event.  The winning club is awarded the venerable POTTS TROPHY.   This year Hampton Yacht Club, represented in the competition by Leroi Lissenden's VOODOO 2 and Bob Mosby's CYRANO, successfully defended it's grip on the trophy.  Southern Maryland Sailing Association and host Fishing Bay Yacht Club were the other two clubs contending.   One other special award was given at the regatta, the Sportsmanship Award, which went to George Burke, who raced in the regatta (Reveille) and was in constant motion in support of the shoreside activities. Regatta Chief Judge, John McCarthy,
 was asked to make the actual presentation to George.
 
Dink Vail Regatta & NY&CC Dinghy Regatta - results not available as of publication.  Please check with Norfolk Yacht & Country Club event organizers.
 
 HAMPTON ANNUAL - MIDDLE GROUND LIGHT RACE -  THIS COMING SATURDAY, September 10, 2011.   OPEN TO ALL.  This is the same Saturday as the hometown festival HAMPTON BAY DAYS.   Bring the family to enjoy the festival in downtown Hampton during the day and the everyone will enjoy the fireworks in the evening.   In order to race you must have a valid 2011 PHRF certificate.  There will be starts for all PHRF fleets; double headsails are allowed for PHRF Non-Spinnaker boats.  The race is open to all and counts toward the CBYRA high point standings.  Racing takes place in the Harbor, using the CCV General Sailing Instructions and CCV Harbor marks.  One of the posted marks will be Middle Ground Light, hence the name of the race.  There is a 1600 time limit, so everyone can race and still be in for the Bay Days festivities.   Entries are due no later than Friday, September 9.  Entry fee is $25  ($30 for non-USSA members).  For info and entry, please contact John McCarthy at (757) 850-4225 or email at  mcbear@earthlink.net
 
Also, on September 10th on the Rapp Rivah:  Fishing Bay Yacht Club runs their Wolf Trap Race - www.fbyc.net   and Yankee Point Racing and Cruising Club has its Fall Singlehand Race - www.yprcc.org
 
MOTH BOATERS, aka, Moth-ers, Moth-ists, etc. . . . Classic Moth Boats Association National Championship will be held the weekend of September 16th-18th of September in  Elizabeth City, NC.  The NoR for that event will be posted at  www.mothboat.com   Check it out and get entered.

Media Watch:    DOWN THE BAY RACE  is featured in Angus Phillips' article in Sailing World, September 2011 issue.  Southern Bay racers might puff up a bit with pride when checking out pages 40 thru 43 of the current issue of Sailing World.  Sailing writer Angus Phillips has a near perfect take on the Down the Bay Race and he does well by the southern Bay, it's people, it's attitude, and it's trademark southern hospitality.   Great pictures, story, and quotes.  Well worth the read.
 
Get the dinghy out of the garage!  - 2011 HAMPTON ROADS SUNFISH CHALLENGE & DINGHY DISTANCE RACE is coming on Saturday, September 24.   This is the vision of dinghy guys Jonathan Romero and Jimmy Schools, who have put mental and physical effort for the past three years into making this a true happening.  Picture more than 100 dinghies of all stripes racing out of Willoughby Bay, along the big ship channel of the Elizabeth River, and hanging a left at the mouth of the Lafayette River to the finish line at the ODU Sailing Center.  That's what Jimmy and Jonathan, both members of and supported by Portsmouth Boat Club, envisioned and they have made it happen.  This is the third annual rendition of the event.  This is well organized, great fun, and attended by folks from all over the Bay and far beyond.  Go to http://mysite.verizon.net/vze12qukq  for details and to register. Contact event co-chairmen:  Jonathan Romero and Rodney Paice at (757) 285-6017 or email romeroarms@cox.net   So, get your dinghy ready and be part of the fun.   Do it now, the Elizabeth River can only hold so many dinghies - you wanna be one of them!
 
RACERS AND THE RULES QUIZ:  What a glorious day - 10 knot breeze and you are heading to the line for your start.  Oops - you are about 10 seconds early.  So, two of your crew get to the leeward rail and drag their  feet in the water to slow the boat.  It works and you get a great start.  Did you break a rule?  (Answer follows in this issue of SBRNYCU.)  This quiz and the answer are from Dave Perry's Racing Rules Quizzes.
 
Sometimes HURRICANE WINDS have a silver lining.  Be sure to check with your sailmakers, riggers, boatyards, and all the other folks who help you run your racing program about special discounts or extensions of early Fall sales, etc.  It doesn't hurt to ask if there is an Irene Rebate.
 
CCV FALL SERIES - Races 1 & 2 - Sunday, September 18.  This is the annual Fall Series opener.  Two races are scheduled in the harbor.  Racers who hold a CCV Racing Membership are entered automatically; all others must enter no later than Saturday, September 17.  For details, contact John McCarthy at (757) 850-4225.
 
Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta (October 8-9, 2011) update:  Regatta Officials have tapped John McCarthy to serve as Principal Race Officer for this year's event.  John will stand in for Phil Denvir, whose unexpected passing in July is still fresh in everyone's mind.  Revised Sailing Instructions will be posted very soon at the regatta website.  "Karen Knull, event chairman, and all the Turkey Shoot folks are working very hard to make this regatta successful for the Hospice it supports and easy for the racers to enjoy," McCarthy said. "We all loved Phil and want to make it a fitting tribute to his memory."
 
The folks at Broad Bay Sailing Association (BBSA) have added a small boat (dinghies) race component to the long established NEPTUNE'S ATLANTIC REGATTA  (Saturday, October 1, 2011).  The big boats information remains the same as posted - start at Little Creek inlet and finish off the Old Coast Guard Station on the Virginia Beach oceanfront,  but there is separate and very different info regarding the small boats.  Dinghy sailors should call Greg Lanese at (757) 425-0131 or go to   www.broadbaysailing.org and follow the dinghy and/or events prompts for the NOR.
 
Answer to RR Quiz Question:   Yep, you broke RRS 42.1, Propulsion, Basic Rule.  The rule states, with some itemized exceptions,  ". . . a boat shall compete by using only wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed. . . "  So, keep the crew body parts where they are supposed to be, and if you know you are OCS, get yourself back and re-start.  This quiz and the answer are from Dave Perry's Racing Rules Quizzes.
 
Three events coming up on Saturday, September 17th:
Fishing Bay Yacht Club Fall Series begins;  Tri-Services Regatta hosted by Norfolk Naval Sailing Association; and Rappahannock River Yacht Club offers the Commodore's Cup.
 
MURPHY'S LAW:   Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, is calling for a united racers'  hex on Hurricane Katia. "Stay away!  You are NOT welcome here!  Buzz off!"    /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.