THE Collegiate Woman Sailor of the Year is in our midst!   Corrie Clement, Old Dominion University senior, was named to receive the Intercollegiate Sailing Association award last week. Quantum Sail Design Group (Annapolis) sponsors this award.  The award will "live" in the Collegiate Sailing Hall of Fame in Annapolis, after a couple of weeks in Corrie's possession.  Corrie has raced on several occasions in the southern Chesapeake in, among others,  the Hampton One Design fleet. Anna Tunnicliffe, also on the ODU team, and Corrie were both named All-Americans.

Doug Creecy ZING [s] Hometowne Regatta: Saturday was overcast, but there was wind, and the Towne Bank Hometowne Regatta fleet of 31 (of the 40 entered) beat the afternoon squalls back to the dock and the party.  The course began off the mouth of the Lafayette,  ran out the Elizabeth to Hampton Roads and returned to the starting area - 13+ miles for PHRF A and B Fleets; 10+ for all other fleets.  Doug Creecy's Zing won his non-spinnaker fleet and the overall trophy. RESULTS:  PHRF A (2 boats): 1. Woof, Skip Amory. PHRF B (2 boats): 1. Strega, Neal Garrett. PHRF C (9 boats): 1. Beowulf, Bob Old; 2. Defiant, Bill Derr; 3. Stardancer, John Blais.  PHRF NS-1 (4 boats): 1. Zing, D. Creecy; 2. Graceful, Rob Beck.  PHRF NS-2 (8 boats): 1. Pandora, David Washbourne; 2. Seadated, Claud Nix; 3. BCNU, John Ritger.  CRUISING (6 boats): 1. Gregarious, Greg Peterman; 2. Naiad, George Corbus; 3. Freelance, Bob Werneke.  Event Organizers:  Bobby Burnell and Larry Bryant; PRO: Dick Boykin.

LET THE RACES BEGIN!    BLACK SEAL CUP - SOUTHERN BAY RACE WEEK:  OPENING NIGHT SOCIAL (6pm-9pm) and  Skippers Meeting/Check-In (7pm),  Thursday, June 12. For "big boat" racing contact Martin Holland, (757) 726-2267; for one-design (dinghy) fleets contact  Leigh Morgan by email at   leigh.morgan2@verizon.net    Racing begins Friday (big boats) and runs through Sunday (dinghies do NOT race Friday).
For regatta info check out the event web site at  www.blacksealcup.com

Women's Sailing Clinic:  Over the weekend, 18 participants attended the Women's Dinghy Sailing Clinic hosted by Hampton Yacht Club.  Kudos go to 4 women (all of whom have racing roots) who were especially instrumental in the success of this first time venture: Leigh Morgan, had the idea and chutzpah to make it happen; Carolyn Grant, head coach of the Hampton University sailing team, was the co-lead instructor with Leigh; Anna Cobb, a recent ODU grad and sailing team member and Martha Gray, a freshman at UVA, member of the University's club team, and instructor in the HYC junior sailing program, both assisted with the instruction.

Racing Rules Reminder:  When your preparatory signal goes up, you are racing and propulsion rule prohibitions apply. It does not matter where you are - you may not use your engine to get to the starting line or area once your prep is up - no matter if the wind dies, the current builds, you are late leaving the dock, etc.  (see: RRS Definitions (Racing) and RRS 42.1, "...a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed.")     Remember, we are racing sailboats.

Overheard at a recent post-race party as the skippers of the only two boats in their fleet bantered good naturedly: Ist place finisher to 2nd place finisher:  "Well, I guess that makes you last."  2nd place finisher: "Well, don't get too cocky - it makes you next to last."

COCK ISLAND RACE entry deadline:  This Friday, June 13th is the positively, absolutely last day for "cows tails" to enter the 16th annual Cock Island Race.  You will have to pay the late entry fee (actual entry deadline was May 31st), but the additional $25 should not keep you away for one of the most unique events on the southern Bay.  Contact Ports Events at (757) 393-9933.  Race Day - Saturday, June 21st.  Parties begin Friday, June 20th.

MURPHY'S LAW:      Racing injury - I have hurt my paw.  To cure my ailing foot,  my vet has prescribed an inverted lampshade to be worn around my neck. Sort of like curing seasickness by wearing those wristbands.  Go figure. Neither will slow me down at the post race parties!   Living to race, racing to live. /s/ Murphy the Racing Beagle