SEA STAR, COOL CHANGE, ROUNDABOUT, and CHECKS-IN-THE-MAIL finish first in CCV Spring Series:  Three Sunday races over a four week stretch brought out the best in skippers and crews as cold to cool and mostly cloudy conditions prevailed for the series.  When all was said and done, an average of 36 PHRF boats raced each of the 3 race days, covered a fleet total of 135.5 miles (as the crow flies), and ate-nobody-knows-for-sure-how-many hotdogs.  Series Provisional Results:  PHRF A:  1. Sea Star, J/36, Bumps and David Eberwine;  2. Cyrano, Frers 36, Bob Mosby;  3. Battlewagon, Pearson 37, John Hanna. PHRF B: 1. Cool Change, J/30, Rusty Burshell;  2. Rhumb Line, J/30, Bill and Lynn Chandler;  3. Independence, Islander 36, Graham Field.  PHRF C: 1. roundabout, J/24, Alan Bomar;  2. Surprise, Alerion Express 28, Bill Peach;  3. Incentive, O'Day 27, Louie and Barbara Lewis. PHRF Non-Spin: 1. Checks in the Mail, Catalina 38, Jim and Barbara Williams;  2. Hunter, Hunter 26.5, Justin Morris;  3. Impulse, Catalina 34, Tom Peddy.NOOD J/30 FLEET WINNER - CONGRATULATIONS! are in order for formerly Ulysses crew and skipper Dave McConaughy, who, along "with some help from their friends" ( Ken Saylor and Rusty Burshell were aboard too) slammed the NOOD J/30 fleet in Annapolis this past weekend.  The southern Bay contingent led the 17 boat one design fleet all three days of racing, putting together a string of 2-2-4-2-5-2, to finish 4 points ahead of the second place finisher. Bob Rutsch, Bebob, an avid J/30 racer and current CBYRA president, took third place (25 points).  Plans are for the boat, as yet un-named #90, to be home in time for Southern Bay Race Week - Black Seal Cup (June 13-15).

NOOD-ie Notes: Also sailing in other NOOD fleets, were Stardancer  (John Blais, finished 3rd in the 7 boat Pearson 30 fleet), Don't Be Blue (Dave Alexander/Pete Wallio, finished 29th among 49 J/22s),  and Rocket J  (Bert Johnson was 22nd among 29 J/24s). Sistah, Scott Batchelor did not compete further after the first race in the J/22 fleet.

Another J/30 has arrived on the southern Bay.  John Boon's Salsa Verde is in her new home - she'll be sailing out of York River Yacht Club.  John's getting her "race ready" after her relocation from Charleston, SC.

Sail Hampton Roads Community Sailing Center - OPEN HOUSE - Saturday, May 10.  Call (757) 651-4273 for directions and info. The Center is located just off Hampton River on Jones Creek on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Hampton, between Strawberry Banks and Hampton University.

So, next time you are "surfing the web" might be a good time to check the PHRF web site and look up your own rating on the Valid List.  The Valid List is updated every Friday during the racing season.  If there is a discrepancy 'tween what your certificate shows and what the Valid List shows (this seldom happens), you need to get in touch with PHRF right away.  Web site address is  www.phrfchesbay.com

Port Security Status Hotline: For port safety, closure, and opening information, you can dial the US Coast Guard Maritime Safety Operation Information Line at  1-800-682-1796.
These days this is good info for any event or RC chairman to have handy - especially in the Hampton Roads area.

The National Weather Service has extended hurricane tracking time, when, in the words of Buffett, "It's time to close the shutters, it's time to go inside...."  NWS says hurricane track forecasting technology has improved to the point they now can show a 5-day track prediction as accurately as they used to show a 3-day track.  Extra time to get the boat to the hide-ie hole.

J/29 Bunny Babes:  The all women crew of Paul Andersen's Titillation has a history of legendary witty stunts and often is the center of good fun at regattas.  According to Case Whittemore (The Log, May, 2003) ,at the recent J/29 Invitational Regatta on Easter weekend, which Titillation won convincingly, the crew served everyone a pancake breakfast, ... each wearing Easter Bunny ears.

The Cape Henry Cup, BBSA sponsors this distance race, is set for Saturday, May 17.  Entry forms and fees are due no later than Friday, May 16.  This is the race where the course, weather permitting, starts off the Buckroe Beach area  (near Navy range mark Q4), goes out the Chesapeake Channel opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and finishes off Fort Monroe.  The folks at BBSA restrict the non-spinnaker and the cruising classes to a single headsail.  Note:  The CBYRA sanction number appears on the master race schedule as #404; racers should confirm this info with race organizers. For info contact:  Scott Almond at (757) 467-2123, or email him at  AnejoShot@aol.com

Dinghy One-Designers- The HYC Trapeze Invitational Regatta is set for Saturday-Sunday, May 17-18.  For info contact:  Leigh Morgan (757)726-9640, or email her at  leigh.morgan2@verizon.net.

Meanwhile, on the Rivah, as in Rappahannock, May 17, is day 4 of the Fishing Bay YC Spring Series and a 2-race day at Yankee Point YC for their Spring Regatta.  For info on the Yankee Point event, contact YPYC racing fleet captain George Currie at (804) 462-5121 or the club web site at www.ypyc.org. For FBYC contact John Wake at (804) 673-6007 or go to the club web site at  www.fbyc.net

Hunt-Miller at Hyeres:  Our homies raced hard and ended up tied with 2000 Olympic medalist Forester in points, but lost the tie breaker decision.  Good show guys!  Now, it's on to the Netherlands for the Spa Regatta later this month.

OPTIMAN, Kenneth Andreasen, guru and coach of the USODA National Team, is giving the two-day OPTIMIST COACHES SEMINAR on June 7-8 at Fishing Bay Yacht Club.  The event will provide a wealth of information for coaches, instructors, and CIT's as well as parents who volunteer as coaches with club OPTI racing teams.  Cost is $75 per participant.  For info contact Ruthanna Jenkins by email at  ruthannaj@juno.com.  Do it now - there is a May 20 sign-up deadline.

MURPHY'S LAW:     Been seeing a lot of information about these racers who are out there racing around alone on great big boats.  Many of the stories tell how the lone racer concocted some amazing repair of a life threatening breakdown in order to survive.  For their ingenuity they deserve kudos.  But, being a "pack" animal, and knowing how many others want to go racing, ... I'm thinking, maybe they ought to consider springing for some sandwiches and an extra case of brew to entice crew! 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