# 371 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE
on Monday December 3, 2007 08:43AM
Caribbean 1500 Update: Some are back
home from Tortola, the destination of the 1500 fleet, and some, aka the smart
ones, are still "down there". Of the 69 boat fleet, 39
approached the bluewater adventure from the racing angle. Some of the
southern Bay entries faired especially well in the 5 handicap
fleets. Phil Gillihan, who resides on Willoughby Spit
(Norfolk) and sails out of Smithfield, VA, brought his Corsair 3600 catamaran,
Parallax, in first in Class 2. Wesley
Jones, from Gloucester, VA, (FBYC) took second in Class 4 with
Valient, a Fast 40. Gordon and Eta
Johnson, of Hampton, VA, (OPYC) sailing out of Southall Landings,
finished second in Class 5 in their Beneteau 423, Didi
Mau. For details of all the finishes, check out the event
web site at www.carib1500.com
"Baby it's cold outside..." Well,
according to the Monday morning weather gurus it's gonna get cold and
especially W-I-N-D-Y - gusts to maybe 50. We'll
see. But, whatever happens, we won't have the 2 feet of snow predicted for
Maine! And, that's a good thing!
THE BIG GABOON - No wind!
More than 30 boats started the race that marked the 30th
Anniversary of the Gaboon. Phil Briggs, the man who
dreamed, conceived, and brought to reality 30 editions of this season-ending
event, was on hand to do the registering and to race his J/36,
Feather. Phil's presence was to be expected. He has chaired
every Gaboon. The wind was a gentle breeze on the nose as the 32 boats
made their way out of Hampton River. When the wind dropped completely out,
most of them were stranded near the turning mark a couple of miles up the
course. The race was abandoned when it became apparent that no one
would make the 1630 time limit. At the time of the abandonment
signal, Blue Bus, Chris Johnson's J/24, was the
closest to, but not within sight of, home. Serving as the Gaboon
race committee: John McCarthy, Buk Lawrence, Glenn Giles,
Scooter Boykin and Lin McCarthy.
Registration open for
SBRNYCU MURPHY GOES RACING -2008: "Going Faster - It's
All About the People" February 2, 2008,
hosted by Broad Bay Sailing Association at the Old Dominion University Sailing
Center (Norfolk). This clinic is geared toward Non-Spinnaker and
Cruising racers who want to improve their results on the race course. The
clinic will focus on the role of the crew (no matter how many) and emphasize
concrete skills and techniques to help your boat perform better and go
faster. IDEAL FOR SKIPPERS AND/OR INDIVIDUAL CREW. Course
instructor, John McCarthy, will cover a variety of topics including Crew Work
Upwind, Reaching Techniques, Sail Trim, Working with the Pole, The
Dreaded Double-Headsail, and more. The fee, $35 ($25 for accompanying
family member), includes morning refreshments, lunch, and all clinic materials
including the course workbook. Register by calling (757) 850-4225,
or by email to mcbear@earthlink.net (include
your name, address, and phone number and on the subj: line put MURPHY
CLINIC)
Mike McCartney and Leo Scott win inaugural
Left-Over Turkey Cup. Sponsored the Saturday after
Thanksgiving by Merry Point Yacht Club, the event drew 15 boats. The wind
was light and it was cold. It was so cold that the racers were unable to
finish all the post-race beer - they left a full 8 gallons. Maybe this
spring they could race for the "Left Over Beer Cup". Kudos to
event organizers Dave Peresluha and Barr Brooks.
Check this out: Shackle
Dogs@ Murphy says, "Yrs Truly the Racing
Beagle, no matter how famous, does not make a lot of discretionary pesos -
especially considering the brew budget (which is NON-discretionary) etc.
So, the Murphster must be frugal when gifting time rolls around. Shackle
Dogs@, are for, you guessed it, opening and closing shackles. Light
weight, easy to handle, double as racer go-go gear, and sell for about
$6." Available through APS at 1-800-729-9767. Check 'em out at
www.apsltd.com
Yesterday was only the third time in 30 years
that the Gaboon Race had to be abandoned on account of lack of
wind.
Having trouble sleeping soundly? Try
reading the court decision that decides, at this point, who is the legal
Challenger of Record for the next America's Cup. You can read the whole
thing at www.sailing scuttlebutt.com/news/07/1127.
If you are sleeping fine, bottom line: Justice
Herman Cahn has decided in favor of the Golden
Gate Yacht Club.
Bluewater ops: Word is some southern
Bay sailors are signing up to crew on schooner Virginia for her April
2008 trip to Bermuda and back to Norfolk. It's a two leg (down and
back) trip - you pick one leg to sail and fly the other. For info go to
the Virginia's website at www.schoonervirginia.org
CBYRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, this coming Saturday,
December 8th, 0900 - 1200, at Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis,
MD. Club delegates who are not able to attend should let
our Region VP, Tom Roberts, know who has the proxy - contact Tom
at tjroberts2@cox.net
Lunch will be available after the meeting. To make lunch
arrangements, please contact Beth Kahr at (410-269-1194)
immediately. For directions to EYC, you may contact Lin McCarthy at
(757) 850-4225.
MURPHY'S
LAW: What? A bunch of racers let a full keg of
[leftover] beer get away from them? Yrs truly, Murphster,
The Racing Beagle, stands ready to help out at Merry
Point. Put my name on the return address label on next
year's kegs for the "Left Over Turkey Cup". Left-over beer - that's an
oxymoron! /S/ Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit
in us all.