The 2003 Offshore Spring Series at Fishing Bay Yacht Club got things underway this past weekend.  In the MORC fleet Thin Ice (Landau/Hope) and Mojo (Mark Wensell) each recorded 2 wins out of 5 races; Brass Monkey (Jason/Will Angus) won Race #5.  In PHRF A, Wavelength (Rob Whittet) took 2 first in 3 races, and Chilcoot (Alex/Donna Alvis) got the Race #2 win.  In PHRF B, Sam Marshall's Night Music, Allan Heyward's La Maga, and Wayland Rennie's Trilogy shared the #1 spot over 3 races.  Dick Cole in Nutcracker won both PHRF Non-Spin races.The mega flood current, a 70 degree wind shift around the middle of the race, and fleets overlapping fleets, made for exciting racing in  CCV SPRING SERIES RACE #2 yesterday. The strong spring current announced its presence at the starting line where a number of boats found themselves pushed over early (by current and/or good competition).  "Comebacker of the Day" goes to Bert Johnson on Rocket J (J24), who even though over early, cleared and managed to work all the way back to a 2nd place in the 13 boat PHRF C Fleet.  RESULTS:  PHRF A: 1. John Hanna, Battlewagon, Pearson 37;  2. Bob Mosby, Cyrano, Frers 36;  3. Sledd Shelhorse, Scherherazade, Taylor 40.  PHRF B:  1. Rusty Burshell, Cool Change, J/30;  2. Mike Nestor, Glory Days, Cal 39;  3. Bill Chandler, Rhumb Line, J/30. PHRF C:  1.  Alan Bomar, roundabout, J/24;  2. Bert Johnson, Rocket J, J/24;  3. Bill Peach, Surprise, Alerion Express 28. PHRF NS:  1.  Ed Andrews, No Problem, Pearson 26;  2. Wayne Ward, Pearl, Morgan 24/25;  3. Justin Morris, Hunter, Hunter 26.5.  RC honchos were John McCarthy (chairman); Dick Boykin (signal boat captain and official scorer), and Glenn Giles (mark boat skipper).

RACE #3 of the CCV Spring Series is this coming Sunday, May 4, and with its conclusion, the season's first big series goes in the books.

Feather , Phil Briggs' J/36, is on the temporary disabled list and was not on the race course Sunday.  A line booger on a windy day, put her down for a (hopefully) short count - nothing a bit of glass work won't fix.  Sledd Shelhorse's Scherherazade was out for the first time this spring Sunday and took home hardware. Graham Field returned to racing action and brought his Independence , Islander 36, home for a 4th place trophy.

Junior sailing is in a special universe and high school team racing is special  within that universe.  This past weekend Randy Stokes of Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, along with a band of dedicated helpers, ran the Mid-Atlantic Team Race Championship which doubled as a Baker Qualifier.  After two solid days of organizing 11 teams of energetic, delightful teenage sailors on the water, Randy gets kudos for bringing to the southern Bay area and managing a major event for our next generation of racers.

Gary Jobson update:  For those of you who have asked for contact information, Mary Spencer (Fishing Bay Yacht Club, where Gary is an honorary member) has sent along the following:  (1) to send Gary personal messages of support or to make a donation in his honor, go to the Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta web site at  www.leukemiacup.org, or  (2)  to send cards to his office, mail to Jobson Sailing, 3 Church Circle Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.  (Please, no flowers or baskets).

The Schooner Virginia shipyard is now open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm.  Check it out. Remember, it behooves us southern Bay racers to encourage the designers and builders to make her fast, so when they meet, Virginia will beat The Pride of Baltimore.

Dave Bouchard's son Julian was on the bow of Ganar! (Santana 35) this weekend and got his bow baptism.  He was "momentarily AWOL" - i.e. swimming, but hauled back aboard and back to work instantly.  Another father/skipper - son/ budding bowman combo that had a good day of racing Sunday is the Alan Bomar - William Bomar duo on roundabout, J/24.  They whupped up on PHRF C in CCV Spring Series #2, beating the 2nd place finisher by more than 6 minutes.

Does your club's race captain have a JAVA SCORE disk for scoring races?  It is required for CBYRA sanctioned events, but can be used for other events too.  CBYRA Region 4 official scorer Dick "Java"  Boykin will send to any club that needs a copy, one of the disk, FREE of charge.  Contact Dick Boykin at   dboy2@cox.net  or call him at (757) 890-0093.

Catalina 27 skippers and crew:  You are one of the 200 and some Catalina 27s on the Chesapeake Bay.  There are 6,662 around the country according to class reps.  Class president Jim Urban said the class National Championships will be held in Annapolis this coming Labor Day Weekend as part of Annapolis Race Week.  Here's the unique part:  plans are to have the non-spinnaker and the spinnaker Catalina 27s all on the cruising one-design course - together. They are making a serious effort to include the single headsail folk in the class racing.  For info contact:  Jim Urban at     urbantree@toad.net   This could be a Catalina happening of grand proportions!

BBSA's Little Creek Sailing Association begins the 2003 season of Wednesday night races this week, April 30th.

NOOD-ies Notes: Registered racers for the Annapolis event this coming weekend include Scott Batchelor in the J/22 fleet, Bert Johnson in the J/24 fleet, and John Blais in the Pearson 30 fleet.

Hunt-Miller Update:  Our Olympic team homie hopefuls are  racing in Hyeres (France) and after the first day of racing were the first USA team and 19th out of 77 world class competitors.
Grassroot-ers are pulling for the guys!

HOMELAND SECURITY INFO REGARDING PORTS:  For port safety, closure, and opening information, you can dial the US Coast Guard Maritime Safety Operation Information  Line at 1-800-682-1796.

Laser District 11 Championships  May 31 - June 1.  Contact George Panayides at  gpanayid@wrsystems.com  or  Leigh Morgan at   leigh.morgan2@verizon.com

MURPHY'S LAW:   Racers hit the water this weekend.  The signs were good -  some raced in shorts and bare feet.  I may shed some of my winter woolies myself. It's all good!  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