"Sailboat Sinks After Colliding With Warship" That was the headline on a story in the August 7, 2003, issue of The Log, California's Boating Newspaper.  Seems a 24 foot sailboat successfully avoided a nuclear sub, but, in so doing, ended up hitting a helicopter carrier.  The sailboat sank, but the sailor and his dog were both rescued.  The incident took place at 11:30 a.m. on July 28th, just outside San Diego Bay.  Weather conditions were reported as overcast with high clouds and some sunshine with a 15 knot breeze. The message here is don't mess with the big gray ones.  (Thanks to Jean Kluttz, who spends a lot of time organizing the National Championship Hospice Regatta, for sending the info along.  You can go to www.thelog.com for the whole story and a couple of unbelievable photos.)

Blue Bus and Mabuhi Share the J24 Fleet 71 Match Racing Championship.  Among 8 teams entered Chris Johnson (Blue Bus) and Dave Banyard (Mabuhi) ended up at the top of the class.  Two days worth of circlin', huntin', and dialing' up  had them tied with a showdown race to do when a squall disrupted the sailing and blew away the last three scheduled races.  Johnson and Baynard will share the 2003 championship.  Finishing strong the second day of racing was Tripp Behm (Haywire). Haywire handed each of the tied champions their only loss and came away with a third place trophy.  Kudos to Chris Duer for organizing the event.  John McCarthy was PRO; Buk Lawrence skippered the signal boat and Bill Gibbings the mark boat.

MORE CHAMPIONS IN OUR MIDST - Henry and Doug Amthor Swept the Canadian 505 Championship Regatta.  The Amthor brothers (Hampton) won  going away - four bullets, didn't even have to do the fifth and final race.  Awesome!

2003 PLANTATION LIGHT RACE - This coming Friday, August 15.  Get out your night vision goggles!  You'll be starting at dusk (warning is at 1900), and, if you sail really well, finishing around dawn.  The race runs through the night and each of the possible courses in the NOR includes, among others,  a rounding of a mark near Cape Charles City (on the Eastern Shore), aka, Plantation Light.  This is a change of pace, something different race.  For info contact Bob Thomas (757) 898-9407.   PHRF classes.  A CBYRA sanctioned race sponsored and administered by Hampton Yacht Club.

LONG RANGE CALENDAR DATES:  Already Terra Nova Trading has announced the 2004 Key West Race Week dates - January 19-23, 2004.    And, the date for the annual CCV Racing Rules Clinic is April 6, 2004 (Tuesday evening) - that's when CCV plans to have your 2004 CCV Racing Guide available too.

The "Other" Governor's Cup:  Last weekend Virginia dinghy one-designers were hot after the Virginia Governor's Cup, but, before that, some southern Bay racers were "working" at the big boat Maryland Governor's Cup, run from Annapolis to St. Mary's College. Ken Saylor, Andrew Spaulding, and Chris Johnson, were crewing on the overall winner, Javelin, as tactician, bow, and trimmer respectively. Javelin won AO and in so doing captured the prestigious Joseph Waldschmitt Memorial Best in Fleet award (based on tightest competition in fleet) as well as the Steve Bickell Memorial "Most Improved" trophy which goes to the boat with the largest gain over last year's performance.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND RACING POSSIBILITIES:  There's a plethora of them - here are a few:
Stingray Point Regatta - race Sat and Sun and come home Monday - CBYRA sanctioned races - PHRF and MORC fleets - entry deadline is Wed, Aug 27th - contact Mason Chapman (804)741-1705 or Lori Moyer (804) 342-7404.  One of the best regattas on the southern Chesapeake!  (Fishing Bay YC host and event organizer)
NYCC Labor Day Regatta - single race on Sat -   for all PHRF fleets as well as single headsail cruising fleets - CBYRA sanctioned race (for PHRF fleets) - entry deadline is Wed, Aug 27th - cookout and keg post race social - slips and dockside rafting available by calling the NYCC dock master at (757) 286-1752; for event/racing info contact Bill Wheary (757) 423-2820.  This looks like a goodie.  (Hosted and sponsored by Norfolk Yacht & CC)
Annapolis Race Week - a major, huge  (4 venues) event that runs Sat thru Mon in Annapolis and is sponsored by CBYRA -  PHRF, MORC, and one design (keel boats) sanctioned racing -  Best source of info is the CBYRA web site at www.cbyra.org   or call the CBYRA office at (410) 269-1194.

Another Media Kudo to The Daily Press for local coverage of sailboat racing on the sports page!  Really nice article on the Virginia Governor's Cup by Miriam Stawowy and photo by Dave Bowman.  The headline was "Wheelers finish ahead for third year in a row".  Keep letting The Daily Press  know you like it - (757) 247-4630.

The rest of the Little Creek Cup results story:  Fleet winners:  PHRF A/B/C:  Graham Field, Independence (Islander 36).  PHRF NS-1:  Sonny Smith, Restless VII (O'Day 34).  PHRF NS-2: Ron and Brenda Stankavich, Miranda (Mariner 34).  Cruising 1:  Booty Baker, Klimax. Cruising 2:  George Isham, Rhumba. Miranda won the overall trophy - The Little Creek Cup.  Klimax won the Cruising Fleet award.

MURPHY'S LAW:  Special Announcement:  Murphy the Racing Beagle's official Chief of Staff announced today that Murphy will not, that's will not, enter the race for Governor of California.  There will not be a press conference later this afternoon, previously collected campaign donations will not be returned (Who could want a chewed dog biscuit back?), and Murphy will not write a book or sign a movie deal about the non-race.   Murphy said, "Why would I give up my current position  to take a demotion to an office job?" 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,