# 428 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE

Strother Scott on Monday January 26, 2009 07:58AM

DOWN THE BAY RACE BUZZZZZZZZZZZ:  Early information on the re-instituted DOWN THE BAY RACE FOR THE VIRGINIA CRUISING CUP (May 22 start date) is buzzing around.  This will be the 60th rendition of this old, old event where racers will compete non-stop from just below the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Hampton Roads.   The course will cover the 120 mile distance from Annapolis to Hampton on the Chesapeake Bay. Classes include IRC, PHRF A,B,C, Non-Spinnaker (double headsail), and any one-design classes with 5 or more boats entered.  The first warning signal will be at 1030, Friday, May 22, 2009.  The website is building at www.hamptonyc.com/downthebay    Hampton Yacht Club and Storm Trysail -Chesapeake Station are administering this event.  Event Co-Chairmen are Vince Behm (757) 876-7778 and Wayne Bretsch (301) 332-6773.
 
JUNIOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS:  Please note that David Houck is the CBYRA Junior Division Chair for 2009.  He can be reached at (202) 365-2255 and his email address is  davidhouck@yahoo.com 
Ninety-plus (90+) southern Bay racers spent Saturday at the MURPHY RULES-2009 hosted at Norfolk Yacht and Country Club.   John McCarthy led the  filled-to-capacity seminar that included racers from more than 12 southern Bay yacht clubs and sailing organizations.  "It  was a great day and this group in particular made it a lot of fun,"  McCarthy said.  Southern Bay Racing News You Can Use is sponsoring a second session of this seminar at Hampton Yacht Club on March 21st.  A very limited number of spaces remain available.  For information, please contact Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225 or email mcbear@earthlink.net
 
BLOCKHEADS, look at this!  Every year SAIL Magazine presents their Freeman K. Pittman INNOVATION AWARDS. For 2009 one of the awards in the Racing and Safety Category went to  the new Harken TTR Airblocks.  "Titanium roller bearings...Torlon ball bearings..titanium inner and outer races... and soft strop attachments  [which] allow the block to articulate freely under load,"  is the description of this space age marvel.    Great, you say, and the crew, of course, is all for it.  Ready to stroke the check?  Better whoa up a minute - Would be purchasers are advised to "Call for custom pricing."    Just how much do you have in your wallet?!!   (see SAIL Magazine, February 2009 issue, page 41)
 
KWRW Notes:  156 boats from 22 states and 14 countries had a great Key West Race Week this year.   Of special interest to southern Bay racers:  Peter Hunter's Thompson 30, Wairere, (Kill Devil Hill, NC) took a 1st  and  a 2nd  in the last two of 10 races to move up to 2nd overall in PHRF-1.  Jeremiah Dull, who at one time crewed on Dave Taylor's previous boat, Midmorning Buzz, was part of the Wairere crew at KWRW.  Another, Tarheel State boat, Ken Womack's Beneteau 36.7, Blueprint (Oriental, NC) finished 4th overall in PHRF-2.   In the J/105 fleet, Carl Gitchell's Tenacious (winner of the SBRW Black Seal Cup in 2008) finished 5th  overall among 13   J/105s racing.  Worth Harris'  Rum at Six (Beaufort, NC) was 7th overall.    Southern Bay-ites, Pat Hillard and his wife are on a year long cruise and happened upon Key West Race Week on opening day.  They reported that they  "... had to tack twice to stay off the race course..."  but, that it was a lovely sight.  Pat confirmed it was blowing like stink, 20-30 knots, at one point later in the week. 
 
ELVIS-like appearance in Key West:  An alert racer reported to SBRNYCU a Murphy sighting from KWRC - here are his words:  "I think I saw Murphy roaming the tent and trying to squeeze into some Slam foulies... maybe it was just a rum mirage!"
 
US SAILING RACE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR scheduled for February 14-15, 2009,  (0900-1330) at Hampton Yacht Club in Hampton, VA.  OPEN TO ALL.  This seminar is designed for people who have some race committee experience,  but newcomers certainly are also welcome.  Topics include: race committee objectives, responsibilities, jobs, equipment, starting system, setting the course, mark boat operations, before the start, during the race, finishing and scoring.  There is a wealth of information that will be extremely helpful to anyone serving on a race committee.   The seminar fee is $50 for US SAILING members and $60 for non-members.  Lunch, both days, and materials are included in the fee.  If you wish additional details concerning the seminar, you may go to the Hampton Yacht Club website at  http://hamptonyc.com  and click on the seminar icon, or contact Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225 or email at mcbear@earthlink.net 
 
The Hampton One-Design class will hold it’s 75th National Championship Regatta August 13 – 16, 2009 at Hampton Yacht Club.  But the class members can’t wait that long to get the party started, so to kick things off in high style, the Tidewater Boat Club (Norfolk) is hosting the 75th HOD Season Kick-Off Party Sat, Feb 7 at 5:30.  Reservations required; cost is $25/person for a great home cooked meal.  If interested in volunteering with the 75th Regatta, in racing a Hampton this season, or just curious to see what dinghy sailors do in the winter, please make plans to attend this casual event by the giant fireplace at TBC.  Send check for $25/person to: Charles McCoy, 500 E. Plume St, Suite 105, Norfolk, VA 23510.  Make your ressies now (by February 1st would be helpful to event planners) - this is going to be fun!
AT THE TOP OF THE LIST - First to Enter!  It's official - Sledd Shelhorse and the Meridian 2 team are the first officially entered in the 2009 DOWN THE BAY RACE FOR THE VIRGINIA CRUISING CUP.  And,  Bob Archer and the Bad Habit team are the first boat signed, sealed, and entered in SOUTHERN BAY RACE WEEK.   Now, these people obviously have a racing fixation and... they're doing something to fix it!
Fishing Bay Yacht Club
Office Mail: Fishing Bay Yacht Club, 2711 Buford Road #309, Bon Air, 23235,
Clubhouse Address: 1525 Fishing Bay Road, Deltaville, VA 23043 (no mail delivery)

Phone Numbers: Club House 804-889-2327

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