CCV RACING RULES CLINIC:  Tuesday, APRIL 1, The Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia, 6:30 pm.  Open to all. There is no charge for this clinic.  Guest clinician is Steve Hunt, world class racer and US Sailing Team 470 #1 skipper.  US SAILING TEAM head coach Gary Bodie will be at the Clinic too. This is also when the 2003 CCV Racing Guide will be distributed.  Here is a top notch event for racers, both skippers and crew. This is an opportunity to meet our Olympic Team contender and world class racer, Steve Hunt who, with crew Mike Miller, skippers the number one boat on the US Sailing Team in the 470 class.  Bring your Racing Rules of Sailing book - Steve will have great tips for all levels relating rules to tactics.

J/29 One Designers heading for the Fishing Bay Yacht Club Invitational (April 18-20) - Two things: Avoid a $50 late charge by getting your entry in no later than March 15, this coming Saturday, and remember - crew weight limits apply (1500 max).  The first weigh-in period is Thursday, April 17.  So, for the coming month, forget the cheesecake desserts!  For info see FBYC To Host 2003 J29 Invitational Regatta April 18-20 on this site or contact Case Whittemore at   whittemorec@hotmail.com  or  (804) 285-4632.The southern Bay racing fleet bottoms are mostly prepped and ready for the paint, wet sanding, and if really dedicated, bronze wooling. Feather (Phil Briggs), Sea Star (Bumps and David Eberwine), Excalibur (Buddy and Dairene DeRyder) Vagabon-De (Lester Knight), Miss Anne Thrope (Richard Payne), Bad Habit (Martin Holland), and Sea Slipper (Bob Wagner) are hanging out (literally) at the Bluewater Yachting Center yard.  Yankee Point Marina is so chock-a-block full, you can't begin to see who's who and other yards around the shoreline of the Bay are beginning to buzz.

The lounge/bar of Hampton Yacht Club, a favorite watering hole for Hampton Roads area racers, will soon have a new look.  The venue has been "gutted" and the serious refurbishment/remodeling has begun.  Hopes are that it will be racer-ready in early Spring.

Word is J/24 Fleet 71 has a probable core of 8-10 in an early nose count for the coming season.  They get underway for the early birds on March 30th.  For info contact Alan Bomar at  asb@widomaker.com   or  Chris Duer at   chrisduer@yahoo.com  or   j24@cox.net

Do you have a spare $585,600 laying around?  If so, think about using it to cover your entry fee for the next America's Cup.

NOAA has issued new editions of two very popular charts of Hampton Roads:  the 61st edition of chart #12245 (Hampton Roads) is dated January 2003 and the 43rd edition of chart #12222 (Cape Charles to Norfolk Harbor) is dated February 2003.

More getting ready:  Yankee Point Yacht Club, event honcho-ed by Dwight Timm, hosted 43 racers Saturday for John McCarthy's "Racing Rules Made Easy" presentation, while Old Point Comfort Yacht Club continued their series of gatherings with a video/discussion of racing rules and tactics put together by Jeff Rogers.

When you race PHRF, ya gotta show your colors!  Now is the time to get your fleet flags (one for the bow and one for the backstay).  Here are the southern Bay 2003 PHRF fleet splits and proper flags: A Fleet:  ratings up to 109 (Code Flag 9);  B Fleet: ratings 110 to 160 (Code Flag 6);  C Fleet: ratings 161 and above (Code Flag 7);  Non-Spinnaker Fleet: all ratings (Code Flag 5).  Single headsail non-spin fleets are usually Code Flag 5 with a white flag underneath and Cruising fleets are usually a white flag only - check your sailing instructions for each event.

LAST REMINDER - This Saturday!  CCV - HYC RACE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR:  Saturday, March 15, Hampton Library (Main Branch - Victoria Boulevard), 9:30 am - 1:30 pm.    For information and to pre-register, or directions contact: (757) 850-4225 or email    mcbear@earthlink.net.

MURPHY'S LAW:  Hey, speaking of flags, don't forget the Coors Light flag for after the race!  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,