#228 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE

Lin Mccarthy on Monday December 6, 2004 08:50AM

Schooner Virginia christening set for this Friday, December 10, 11:45 am, Otter Berth, next to Waterside at downtown Norfolk.  The Virginia has been under construction for just over two years, but the progress from dream to vision to reality has taken a lot longer than that.  NOW SHE IS REAL.  Governor Mark Warner and the State's First Lady Lisa Collis will be in Norfolk along with Gary Jobson and Capt. Bill Pinkney.   You need to be at this historic event too. The christening will be a traditional ceremony. There will be exhibits and demonstrations Friday and Saturday.  Visit our schooner.  For detailed info check the web site at www.schoonervirginia.org or call the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation at (757) 627-7400.
GABOON SPITTOON GOES TO BEN WEEKS' J/29, RUMBLE.  Rumble did just that. She rumbled across the finish line of this annual classic with 26 seconds to spare before the deadline of 1630.  Ben Weeks' J/29 led the fleet home after a staggered start (pursuit race) that sent 29 boats out Hampton River and around a course in Hampton Roads before finishing at the HYC docks.  The first boat had to beat the deadline in order for the rest of the finishers to be scored.  In winning the overall trophy, the famous Gaboon Spittoon, Rumble also, of course, was first in B Fleet.  Mirage, Christian Schaumloffel's Hobie 33, was the first PHRF A fleet boat to finish (2nd overall), and Bob Archer's Capri 25, About Time, was the first PHRF C fleet boat in (8th overall). The second place boats in A, B, and C respectively were:  Feather, Phil Briggs, J/36;  Rockette, Chuck Monsees, J/29;  Quicky, Mike Veraldi, J/24.  Finishing 3rd in A, B, and C respectively were:  Polar Express, Pam Burdett, J/105; Cool Change, Rusty Burshell, J/30; and Callinectes, Ben Cuker, Cal 30-3.  Event chairman:  Phil Briggs.
 
The Belle of Virginia, Hoen Hudson's Island Packet 380, won her class in the Caribbean 1500.  And, she came in 7th overall in her fleet of 24.  Crewbie, Blaine Liner, reported that they experienced  "...gusts of 45 knots [during] 36 hours of 35 knot sustained winds right off the stern after passing through the Gulf Stream."  Blaine said the boat hit 11.4 knots (hull speed is 7.5).  In short, they had a great trip.  Belle and her skipper and crew hail from Rappahannock River Yacht Club.
 
REMIND YOUR CLUB'S SCHEDULER:  CBYRA Region 4 Scheduling Meeting Wednesday, December 15th, at HYC, 7:00 pm.  This is where the heart and soul of the 2005 "big boat", i.e. PHRF, MORC, COD, schedule is established for 2005.  Make sure your club representative is there with your club's/organization's wishes and desires for dates for your events.  For additional info contact:  Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225  or email at mcbear@earthlink.net.
 
The Traveler, CBYRA's newsletter has struck a partnership with SpinSheet Magazine.  CBYRA will communicate with sailors baywide through monthly publication of news and notices in SpinSheet.  Feeling among organization officials is that this, combined with the organization's website at www.cbyra.org , will prove especially effective and user friendly for members.  John Dodge and the 2004 executive board deserve credit for having pursued this effort at improved communication with the membership. Check out page 82 of the December issue of SpinSheet. 
 
This past weekend at Gibson Island Yacht Club, one of the Bay's most notable racers, Ham Palmer, celebrated his 90th birthday.  Mr. Palmer, in his younger days, was a resident of Newport News and then Hampton and is well know to many southern Bay homies.  The attendees at the CBYRA annual meeting honored Mr. Palmer with a "Happy Birthday" serenade.  He replied with  a good natured aw shucks saying, "Anybody can get to be 90, if you live that long!"
 
CBYRA Annual Meeting -  The annual meeting went as planned at Gibson Island Yacht Club Saturday.  Within the southern Region (Region 4 = south of the Potomac and part of North Carolina),  Tom Roberts, moves into the Region 4 VP seat vacated by Lin McCarthy, and Lin moves to "big boat" scheduler for the region.   Here are your 2005 CBYRA officialsCBYRA President, Todd Lochner; Vice President for Region 4 is Tom Roberts; Scheduler for Region 4 (Handicap Classes) is Lin McCarthy; Tom Roberts does double duty for CBYRA serving also as One-Design (small boats) Scheduler for the entire Bay.   Executive Vice President is Angelo Buscemi, Treasurer is Richard Emmett, and Secretary is Gilbert Renault
 
There is a new (to America) handicap system receiving some attention of late.  The IRC handicap system is being tested at some of the higher end regattas.  There are more than 9,000 boats racing under this system outside the USA.  One of the main administrative differences between this system and PHRF is that there is no local board involved in assigning the ratings.  Unendorsed ratings, which would apply to most grassroots racers with boats that rate out in PHRF at over 100,  are based on a written application.  The rating is rendered from the main office in England.  It takes from 2 to 3 weeks to get the rating; cost is figured by the foot (around $4 per foot).  Watch current sailing publications for detailed info on the system and expect to see the IRC system given a "trial use" in more of the larger regattas in 2005.
 
Regatta Dollars:  For 2005 CBYRA has revised and improved its system of distributing funds to member organizations for regatta support.  In the past organizations had to submit their requests for monetary assistance with full documentation by April 30.  CBYRA has changed the requirement so that an organization may submit to CBYRA a written notice of intention to request funds and the approximate amount no later than March 30.  The club then has until two months prior to the date of the event to provide complete information.   
 
MURPHY'S LAW:   Great Uncle McMurphster, from whom I got my racing gene, would have loved the Gaboon Race.  He could hit a moving spittoon at three boat lengths provided it was to leeward, of course.  Red Man would have been his ammo of choice... until the Coors Light came out after the race!  Good on ya, Gabooners.   /S/ Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.
 
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