BLUEWATER RACING:  Marion-Bermuda Race Update:  Mark Wheeler, our embedded crew/e-mailer on Pete Savage's Oyster 62, Venture, reported that as of yesterday morning (Sunday, 1000), they were 290 miles away from Kitchen Shoals Light (a mark north of Bermuda).  They were experiencing a nice ride in the Gulf Stream, but expected to abandon it soon.  By the 0300 report today Mark said they were "...working through the favorable side of a cold eddy south of the Stream."  By now they have less than 200 miles to go.   This is the 14th running of the "every other year" race that runs from Marion, Massachusetts, to Bermuda.  There are 78 boats entered this year.  The race started Friday, June 20.

COCK ISLAND - Great sailing conditions; great party conditions!   The 16th annual race [from and] to Cock Island (Portsmouth, Virginia] was as good as ever.  FLEET WINNERS:  PHRF A: Skip Amory, Woof; PHRF B: Mike Nestor, Glory Days;   PHRF C: Bob Old, Beowulf; PHRF Non-Spin (1): Robert Burnell, Solas; PHRF Non-Spin (2): Ed Andrews, No Problem;  CRU (1): Alex Gemmell, Return; CRU(2): Bruce Clarke, Celerity; CRU (3): Joe Barrecca, Betty Lynn; CRU(4): Ed Biller, Luna Sea.  PRO: Dick Boykin  For complete results check PortsEvents web site at   www.portsevents.org/cockisland.html   Better give them a day or so to get it all posted.

Block Island Race Week racing starts today and there seems to have been some name pilfering going on.  In the Farr 395 fleet there are two names that are unusual as boat names, but well known among Chesapeake Bay racers.  There is an Avalanche and a Scherherazade. Sledd Shelhorse races his Taylor 40 Scherherazade in our PHRF A fleet and his OD35 carried the Avalanche moniker when that fleet was hot on the national and international circuit.

Today, Monday, while we gnaw on our lunches, two up and coming young sailors from the southern Chesapeake Bay, Chris Behm and Will Halliday will be getting ready for Race #1 (1130 warning signal) at the US Youth Sailing Championships, hosted by the Milwaukee Yacht Club in Wisconsin.  Chris and Will are among 143 top US sailors 19 and under competing in the double handed fleet (Club 420s).  The single hand competitors are sailing Lasers in this championship event.  So, cross your fingers for the kids until Thursday afternoon, when the final race is done.

IMPORTANT PHRF RATING CHANGES:  The June 13, 2003, PHRF Valid List reflected some changes that impact several boats racing in the southern Bay immediately.  Here is a down and dirty summary: Item 1 -  IN REGION 4 (that's us) ONLY, boats rated as J-30 ODR (there are at least a couple in the York River area and more in the Hampton Roads area) took at 3 second hit, dropping from 144 to 141. Note: ODR, one design rating, means the boat is configured as the one design class requires - the notation is included on the certificates as well as on the valid list.  Item 2 -  BAY WIDE, boats rated as J-105 SD UCAS (there is at least one in the Hampton Roads area), took a  3 second hit dropping from  90 to 87.  Other J/105s listed as J-105 SD ODR got a rating bump from 93 to 96.  There are at least 5 in this group in the Fishing Bay/Rappahannock area.   The above information is published for convenience only;  for official data race officials and racers must go to the PHRF Valid List (dated 6/13/03 or later) or contact the Region 4 chief handicapper, Rusty Burshell. Phrf web site is   www.phrfchesbay.com

Remember, any racers experiencing a rating change, up or down, must notify race chairmen and scorers of their rating changes  immediately.

THIS COMING SUNDAY, JUNE 29 - HYC ANNUAL "BIG" BOAT REGATTA.  This is a southern Bay racers' favorite.  CBYRA sanctioned race, all PHRF fleets. You must have a current PHRF certificate. Rendezvous for the start in the Bay off Buckroe Beach area (CCV Bay Mark "Z" - tall range light).  Post race social = keg and steamed crabs (nobody knows why they are so mad) for all competitors at HYC.  For info contact  Dick Boykin at (757) 890-0093   This event is open to all racers.

More racing canine crew on the way!!  Casey, A lovely Lab who is part of the Virginia H (Soverel 30 owned and raced in PHRF B by Andy and Virginia Armstrong)  is about to give birth to 6 junior racers.  Her doc is Greg Peake, a human member of the Virginia H gang.

CHRIS BEHM WITH CREW CARA MAGOON TAKE CLUB 420 ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIP.     Club 420 skippers and crew raced in light air (4-8 knots) in Annapolis weekend before this past one to determine the 420 ACC.  the Behm-Magoon team from Hampton brought the championship back to the southern Bay.  Chris and Cara had finishes of 1-1-3-1.  CONGRATS!

The Turkey Shoot Hospice  Regatta (October 10-11-12) on the Rappahannock River, has named local author Larry S. Chowning of Urbanna as honorary chairman.  Chowning has written four Chesapeake area related books and has a new one soon to be published.  Chesapeake Bay Buyboats is 392 pages with more than 280 photographs.  Cornell Maritime Press (Centreville, MD) will release the book.

BBSA Annual (Dinghy) One Design Regatta - Saturday, June 28th.  At the Old Dominion Sailing Center (Norfolk) - Registration 0830 - 1000;  Skippers Meeting at 1000.  For info contact Jean or Jerry Pattenaude at (757) 543-3029 or email at  jpattenaude@cox.net

The MOTH Class (dinghy one design) is well know for its innovative designs - lots of latitude allowed in individual boats. Word is that in addition to the Classic Moths there will be a couple of MODERN MOTHS with retracting poles and asymmetrical chutes at the BBSA event on Saturday.  Better watch closely - if there is any wind, these babies will be full and by-by!  One of the Moth-ers, Joe Bousquet, may be boat/sail testing around Hampton Bar Wednesday evening.

WHY NOT CONSIDER A RACING SUMMER TOUR?  Do the VOLVO LEUKEMIA CUP (July 12 - in Deltaville/Fishing Bay), then move on up the Bay for SCREWPILE in time to check in on Saturday, July 19, and

For an unknown reason our copy of #157 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE was truncated at this point....