CORRYVRECKAN leads the pack finishing in just under 3¾ hours . The WOLF TRAP RACE was challenging for the 18 skippers and crew who raced Saturday as part of the Fishing Bay Yacht Club Long Distance Series.  These racers beat the 26.76 nautical miles into winds in the mid teens with gusts and unfriendly seas (3’ to 4’ waves reported).  Coming back was a different story, broad reaching, as one racer put it, “crazy fast”.  RESULTS: PHRF A (7 boats) – 1.Catherine Clark, Corryvreckan; 2.Strother Scott, Loose Cannon; 3.Rob Whittet and Steve Utley, Wavelength.  PHRF B (3 boats) – 1.Miles Booth, Shenanigan; 2.David Hinckle, Elancer.  PHRF C (4 boats) – 1.Lewis Thatcher, Catitude; 2. Brad Miller, Schiehallion;  PHRF Non-Spin (4 boats) – 1.Frank Murphy, Last Boat III; 2.Douglas Anderson, Red Sky.  Principal Race Officer – Tom O’Connell

You Got THAT Right! The quote of the weekend, issued regarding the conditions on the 26+ mile Wolf Trap Race course: A racer’s wife reminded him that it is days like that which prove “sailing is a sport, not just a hobby."

TURKEY SHOOT REGATTA (October 5-7, 2012, hosted by Yankee Point Marina) – more than 50 racers have already entered the Turkey Shoot Regatta.    TURKEY SHOOT is a gathering of classic design (i.e., the design is at least 25 years old) sailboats to race, socialize, have a darned good time, and support a very, very good cause (all profits go to sponsoring Hospices). Racing is on Saturday (drop mark triangle course) and Sunday (pursuit course). Three Divisions are planned – Lightning, Flying Cloud A and Flying Cloud B – with Fleets assigned within each Division. Lightning Division boats must have a current valid PHRF rating from PHRF of the Chesapeake. The overall winner of the Lightning Division qualifies for the National Hospice Regatta. All three Division (overall) winners’ names will be engraved on the TURKEY SHOOT trophy. There will be Fleet awards also. Check-in and Welcome Party is Friday, October 5^th, 5:30pm (entertainment begins at 7:00pm). Saturday and Sunday breakfasts (7:30am) are complimentary for skippers and crew of Turkey Shoot Regatta boats. There will be post-race parties, T-shirts, awards, hats, and all things regatta. A special visitor, the GODSPEED, will be on hand and giving tours throughout the weekend. Shore side happenings will include activities for the kids, too. Entry forms and additional info available at www.turkeyshootregatta.com  Remember, to enter, make slip ressies, order regatta gear, etc., please contact Karen Knull (event chair) at (804) 462-7018.  Questions regarding the racing, courses, etc. may be directed to John McCarthy, Principal Race Officer, at (757) 850-4225. Get yourself, friends and crew to the TURKEY SHOOT – it’s a gobbling good regatta!

Regarding those new J70s.  Ron Thompson who races on Gremlin  (Greg Cutter) and occasionally on Bad Habit (Bob Archer), but also cleans up in his Laser, is taking delivery of his  J70 this month.

SEA STAR,  BAD HABIT,  ROUNDABOUT, and  BLACK WIDOW   Win in the HYC Annual Middle Ground Light Race.  Taking time out from the Hampton Bay Days Festival, 30 PHRF class racers tore around Hampton Roads harbor Saturday in near perfect breezes and under friendly skies – no rain!!  The wind built early in the day and steadied out in the mid to high teens, gusts included.  The HYC MGL Race is a race around fixed marks.  This year the PHRF A and B fleets raced for 13 nautical miles and the PHRF C and Non-Spin fleets went 9.3nm. Of course, everyone rounded the Middle Ground Light.  All 30 boats finished in good time and all thirty crews got a workout.  The awards for the race will be presented at the HYC awards soiree in December.  RESULTS:  PHRF A (7 boats) – 1.Dave Eberwine, Sea Star; 2.Sledd Shelhorse, Meridian X; 3.John and Bev Blais, Stardancer.   PHRF B (10 boats) – 1.Bob Archer, Bad Habit; 2.Rusty Burshell, Cool Change; 3.Ben Cuker, Callinectes.  PHRF C (7 boats) – 1.Alan Bomar, Roundabout; 2.Bumps Eberwine, Spray; 3.Justin Morris, The Hunter.  PHRF non-Spin (6 boats) – 1.Leo Wardrup, Black Widow; 2.Louie Lewis, Incentive III; 3.Tony Thornton, T.L. Sea.   Principal Race Officer – John McCarthy

EIGHT BELLS.  Philip “Phil” Harrison, skipper of Foxy Lady, passed away Wednesday, September 5, 2012.  A week prior to his passing Phil was working on a scaffolding which came in contact with a high voltage wire.  He suffered cardiac arrest.  Phil did not recover during his week long time in intensive care in a Norfolk hospital. Phil was a great sailor, often racing his beloved Catalina, Foxy Lady.  He had many, many friends in the southern Bay sailing community, all of whom loved and respected him.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Ginger, and those who have lost a good friend much too soon.

BEEP-BEEP!  IMPORTANT HIGHWAY NOTICE FROM VDOT, especially for those racing in Hampton Roads!  Southern Bay Racers, especially those traveling in the Hampton Roads area, read and heed this.  At the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) all eastbound (Hampton to Norfolk) lanes will be closed from 9PM Friday thru 5AM Monday on the following weekends:  Sept 14-17; Sept 21-24; and (rain date) Sept 28-Oct 1.  And, at the James River Bridge (JRB) southbound (Newport News to Suffolk/Portsmouth) lanes will be closed from 9PM Friday thru 5AM Monday on the following weekends:  Sept 14-17; Sept 21-24; Sept 28-Oct 1; Oct 5-8; and Oct 12-15.   Get to know the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac (M&M) route, if this applies to you, and plan on heavier than usual traffic at the M&M.  There are several racing events in the area during this time – event officials may want to remind their competitors of this travel adjustment.  (Source of VDOT maintenance closure schedule – Daily Press, September 2, 2012)

Hampton Roads SUNFISH CHALLENGE and DISTANCE DINGHY Regatta.  This unique event is all set for September 22^nd, only 2 weeks away.  So far, there are 31 Sunfish signed up, 3 Force 5s, 4 Raiders, and 8 boats in the Open Class.  For details and to enter, go to www.portsmouthboatclub.org and click on the event logo. 

Collegiate fall season opens.  Old Dominion University coed sailing team won the annual Riley Cup held on the Elizabeth River this past weekend in two days of  anxious weather with cooling temperatures setting in on Sunday.  Old Dominion won the 17-team event with a score of 85 followed by Washington College (100), Navy (115), Virginia (121) and Georgetown (126).  ODU’s A-team, featuring freshman skipper Esteban Forrer and junior crew Julia Wiesner, finished first with 37 points. The alternate ODU team of sophomore skipper Jacob Spracher and junior crew Haley Garst placed fourth with 60 points in the A-team race.  In the B-team race, junior skipper Mark Miedama and freshman crew Grace Mason took fourth with 48 points while the ODU alternate team of freshman skipper Joe David and junior crew Alexa Cavalieri took fifth with 66 points.

Busy racing weekend coming up:

*** YORK RIVER CUP - Saturday, September 15^th, at the mouth of the York River. All PHRF class starts as well as a Cruising Fleet. Racing begins at 1300 at R22 on Saturday. Racers please note, the event has arranged to have some FREE slips available at Crowne Point Marina for those who want to stay over (Friday and/or Saturday). Entry fee is $25. Contact George Jones, at 757-784-3347 or Dan Fox, at 757-759-1967  or click on www.yryc.org

***FBYC Fall Series opens.  Saturday, Sept 15^th.Click on www.fbyc.net for info and to enter.

***HYC Serio Regatta.   Small boat racing for Hampton One-Designs (HOD).  Click on www.hamptonyc.com

***CCV FALL SERIES opens (Races 1 and 2) on Sunday, September 16^th – all Series races are in the Harbor. Racing members of CCV, are automatically entered, all others must enter no later than the day prior to the race day on which they intend to compete. Sunday, September 23 is Race 3, a middle distance race around government marks that also counts toward the Southern Bay Distance Racing Series administered by Broad Bay Sailing Association. Sunday, October 14, is for Races 4 & 5, and concludes CCV 2012 High Point competition. Fees for non-racing members of CCV = $30 per race day ($35 for non-USSA members). To enter: send entry form and completed check (payable to CCV) to: John McCarthy, 4401 Chesapeake Avenue, Hampton, VA 23669. For info, contact John at (757) 850-4225.

***The Armed Services related clubs are having their annual Tri-Services Regatta on Saturday, September 15. This regatta is “open to all monohull keelboats LOA 20’ or greater, belonging to bona fide members of Langley YC, Norfolk Naval Sailing Association, and Old Point Comfort YC. Entry ($25 fee) is due by September 14^th. All racing is either Non-Spinnaker (double headsail allowed) or Cruising (single headsail only). There is a Skippers Meeting 1900, Friday, Sept 14^th at OPCYC Clubhouse on Fort Monroe. OPCYC is the lead club in organizing the event this year, and details, entry forms, etc. are available at www.opcyc.org.

MURPHY'S LAW:   Ponder this. Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle,  is wondering, since it is now dark when most of us get up, what have they done with all that daylight saved during Daylight Saving Time?  It’s still oh-dark-30 at 6:30 am!  And, even darker on weekdays, i.e. workdays.   Argh!   /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.