They are racing at Key West!  Sledd Shelhorse’s (HYC, Va Beach)  Farr 400, Meridian X,  is competing in the 9 boat High Performance Class and the two J70s from FBYC, Noel Clinard, Lunatictu, and Blake & Lud Kimbrough, Nostalgia, are racing against 37 more J70s.  Goggle Quantum Key West 2013 to follow the happenings day by day this week.

It IS [a] MIRAGE!  Christian Schaumloffel and his hearty crew, Tom Dwyer, Kevin McKee, and brothers Steve and Dave Taylor, finished 1st  IN CLASS (PHRF B) and 5th OVERALL in the 2013 Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race.  Quite an accomplishment considering the daunting weather – “rain squalls and swirly winds” followed by a storm front at the finish line.  Mirage, Hobie 33,  crossed the finish line 10 seconds before a 30 knot gust and cold rain hit accompanied by a 15 degree drop in air temperature.  In recent years this race has proved challenging for many, but Mirage came through just fine and was the only boat from the southern Chesapeake Bay there among the 25 monohulls racing.  She is now waiting in Jacksonville, FL, to be delivered via highway to New Orleans for the Hobie 33 One Design racing in New Orleans in February.    Robin Team’s J122, Teamwork, from the “beyond” part of our region (Lexington, North Carolina), turned in a great performance, too.  Sailing in PHRF A, Teamwork finished 2nd in Class and 2nd Overall.  Both Mirage and Teamwork went racing and they did it well – CONGRATULATIONS!

SBRW 2013 Early Birds -  Taking advantage of the SBRW Early Bird Entry offer and the hefty TORNADO DISCOUNT ($40 off for returnees from SBRW 2011 and/or 2012), six southern Bay boats are already good to go.  Dave Eberwine will race his J36 Sea Star in PHRF A and Bumps Eberwine (Dave’s dad) will have his Olson 25, Spray, on the line in PHRF C.  Bob Archer, Bad Habit (Pearson 30) was first to enter in PHRF B.  Ben Weeks and Michele Cochran have their J29, Rumble, all set in PHRF B, and so does Ben Cuker, Callinectes, Cal 3-30.  The first PHRF Non-Spin entry is Tim Dull’s Tartan 34C, Skymark.  SBRW 2013 offers racing for PHRF, One-Design, and Cruising classes.  And, new this year, racing will be on a different venue and in a different format each day of the regatta.  For details about the regatta, a race announcement, and entry forms and fees go to www.blacksealcup.com  or www.hamptonyc.com (click on the SBRW logo) or contact Lin McCarthy at 757-850-4225 or email mcbear@earthlink.net.   Y’ALL COME RACIN’!

LAST REMINDER, the list is building.  List your BOAT FOR SALE: The Southern Bay Racing News You Can Use FOR SALE list will be published on February 4th, issue 626. This is an annual FREE listing for southern Bay and beyond racers and readers. The goal is to keep boats on the water! To list your boat (and/or boat hardware) send your info to mcbear@earthlink.net . Your info should include: Boat name; Boat make, model, and year; Asking price; Where the boat is currently located; A very few words about the boat (e.g., PHRF rating, great in heavy air, etc.); Your name and phone number – be sure to include area code. If you have questions about the listing, call Lin at (757) 850-4225.

MURPHY'S LAW:  Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, has found literary reference to a helpful sea spirit in our midst.  The Capes of Virginia Phantom guards the entrance to our southern Chesapeake Bay and at night warns captains of the thin water at Capes Charles and Henry. Our phantom works from nightfall through the graveyard shift according to poet Theodosia Garrison -  “At first cock-crow the ghost must go – Back to their quiet graves below.”  Our phantom’s first reported gig was a warning he issued to the skipper of HMS Society in 1664.   /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.

To SUBSCRIBE directly, send an email to mcbear@earthlink.net , put SBRNYCU on the subject line, give your name, and say, "Sign me up!"  SBRNYCU is free.  If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE, send an email to  mcbear@earthlink.net  and put UNSUBSCRIBE on the Subject line OR, simply hit "reply" and put UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line. The postal address associated with this email is:  SBRNYCU, 4401 Chesapeake Avenue, Hampton, VA 23669.   You may reprint or forward all or any part of this publication as long as you give credit to:

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