ST PETE NOOD:  Final Results are in for the southern Bay contingent in St. Pete.  In two of the one design fleets, area boats finished close 2nds. Christian Schaumloffel (Mirage) was 2nd in the 6 boat Hobie 33 fleet, just two points out of first (4-3-1-2-2-3). Case Whittemore (Patriot) was 2nd in the 10 boat J/29 fleet, missing first place by only 3 points (2-1-5-2-2-1).  Also racing in the J/29 fleet, Paul Anderson (Titillation) took 4th overall and Jay McArdle (Fast Lane) 6th.

World class racer Steve Hunt will conduct the CCV RACING RULES CLINIC - APRIL 1.  Steve and his teammate Michael Miller are in the  #1  470 spot on the US Sailing Team and strong contenders for the Olympics in 2004. The CCV Racing Rules Clinic is an annual happening, FREE, and open to all.  It is also the distribution site for the CCV 2003 Racing Guide.  The Mariners Museum (Newport News, Virginia) will host the event.  Planning to attend - bring your Racing Rules of Sailing  2001-2004.  If you do not have a copy of RRS, a limited supply will be available for purchase at cost ($11).

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PHRF HANDICAPS:  Southern Bay area chief handicapper, Rusty Burshell, says that the handicap board is preparing a list of boats' ratings to be reviewed in 2003. Racers may appeal their own ratings or a competitor's rating.  The deal is that to do either, you must fill out an appeals form and send it to the handicapper assigned your club. Rusty requests that appeals forms be submitted no later than February 22nd. The appeal form and handicappers list is available at the PHRF web site www.phrfchesbay.com  Contact Rusty Burshell at (757) 898-2887.

Remember Fatal Attraction, Gray Kiger's Farr 39?  Well, Kiger sold her well over a year ago and she's been sailing under the name of Farr Out.  Now, she has another owner and is on her way to Acapulco, Mexico.  And, Kiger's other previous Fatal Attraction, the Tripp 40, sailed in Key West Race Week as Chutzpah.  Chutzpah makes her home port in New Orleans now and finished 5th of 12 boats in her KWRW PHRF fleet.  This information comes from a highly placed SpinSheet source.

Times they are a'changin' - Have you signed up for the National Geographic special swimsuit issue?  Is that like Stuart Walker publishing a book titled Sail Nude To Go Faster?

HELP!!  SCHOONER VIRGINIA PROJECT NEEDS WHEELS: The Project desperately needs a full size pickup truck to be used by the yard staff to pick up supplies from around the surrounding communities.  Used is fine - just needs to be in good working order.  Need the truck for about 18 months.  Of course, in kind donation recognition will be given.  The need is urgent, so the sooner the better.  Call Don Maynard or Capt. Bob Glover at (757) 627-7400.

Watch out for a couple of red boats on the southern Bay this season.  Bill Bounds along with parts of the old Woodwind gang, the bunch that terrorized the Willoughby Racers circuit a few years back (they were in remission from serious racing on Chris Hall's Quick Silver), has a "new to him and Angie" red Andrews 27.  Bill found Wham Bam in Annapolis in the MORC fleet.  And, Sonny Smith has purchased "used to be" Litigator and given her a new look - she has become red and Restless.  Will there now be a run on the red sock market? Check with your broker.

Getting Ready to Race:  Norfolk Yacht & Country Club hosted 45 racing sailors at John McCarthy's "The Start Comes First" seminar on RRS starting rules and tactics.  Commodore Bill Ripley and Regatta Chairman Bill Wheary were the event honchos.

GOTTA DO LIST FOR RACERS:  Less fun than wet sanding in a northeaster is getting your racing paperwork right.  But, having it right early makes for a great season from beginning to end.  Here's the suggested essential membership list: 1. Apply for the joint CBYRA-US SAILING membership (nice discount, big time racing magazine free, eligibility for region and bay-wide high point championships, US SAILING break on race entry fees); 2. Apply for your PHRF of the Chesapeake Handicap Rating (if you race PHRF, you must have a valid 2003 rating); 3. Join CCV ( club or racing membership gets you the 2003 CCV Racing Guide, a racing membership gets you a substantial break on 8 of the 10 CCV High Point race entry fees and you are pre-registered for those 8 races, CCV counts as a yacht club when you apply to CBYRA-USSA, standing in the CCV High Point season long series gets you great southern Bay bragging rights, and they have a terrific end of the season party).  In addition, get involved in a local yacht club or sailing association and participate in their events.  After all, it's the racers that make sailboat racing so doggone much fun. Points of Contact: CBYRA-USSA Membership - Amy Chalmers at (410) 269-1194; PHRF Rating Forms-Stewart Buckler at (410) 414-3270; CCV Membership Application - Dave Taylor at (757) 723-0625

Bob and Betty Burnell will not be racing Selah this season. Instead the Burnells bring a "new to them" boat to the line, a Tartan 37, named Solas.  Talk about getting just the right name - Betty said she is a Scot (Bob is a bit of a Brit), the boat is a Tartan, and solas is a Gaelic word meaning delight.

Laser District 11 Championships  May 31 - June 1.  Contact George Panayides at  gpanayid@wrsystems.com  or  Leigh Morgan at   leigh morgan@leigh morgan@msn.com

MURPHY'S LAW:  America's Cup goes JAM!  Some non-spin racers wrongly think they are the Rodney Dangerfields of racing, but... here's proof that is NOT so.  The very first race of the America's Cup competition between Alinghi and Team New Zealand was a JAM (Jib and Main)  win for Alinghi.  Team NZL managed to break their boom, ship gallons and gallons of water, rip out a jib tack fitting and have a second jib hoist fail - all less than halfway up the first beat. So, Alinghi easily completed the course for their uncontested win in a JAM configuration! 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