# 436 SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE

Lin Mccarthy on Monday March 23, 2009 07:46AM

 
Good Golly, Miss Molly!   Ya burned your socks, didn't you!  SPRING IS HERE - OFFICIALLY!
 
And, now that the smoke has cleared from all the Sock Burning ceremonies, we can really begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's a signal.  Get to your baby and get her shined up and ready to go!  April 1, The Racing Sailor's National Holiday, is only 8 days away
 
Sixty (60) southern Bay racers crammed the room for  MURPHY RULES - 2 on Saturday at Hampton Yacht Club.  It was perfect rules seminar weather - too cold to work on the boat, put use fine for sitting on the balcony overlooking sailboats and the Hampton River during the lunch break.  The racers kept brains engaged and stuck with John McCarthy as they dissected and ingested the 2009-2012 Rules of Racing.  As Murphy says, "You gotta know the rules to play the game!" 
 
Mark your calendar for TUESDAY, March 31, 6:30pm, at The Mariners' Museum (Newport News)  for the CCV Rules Clinic and 2009 Racing Guide distribution.  OPEN To ALL and FREE!
 
John Martin  tore up the High Point competition in the southern Bay back in the day when he raced  Marluv and pounded all comers.  Now, he has a new claim to fame.  He and his wife Ruth have sailed around Cape Horn in their 53 footer, Moon Dog.  This past week John kept a large gathering of sailors spellbound with pictures and tales of their adventure. 
 
Christian Schaumloffel, skipper of Mirage, Hobie 33,  says there are some real deals in Wal-Mart on electronic equipment  (Coast Guard approved) that racers use.   In these cost conscious times, it may be worth a stop there before you decide to hit the "marine" stores.  Remember batteries? 
 
Here's one southern Bay racer who is  r-e-a-d-y!     Mitch Doughtie not only has his PHRF certificate in order, he is the first to be officially entered in the April 11th  CCV Tune-Up Races!  Mitch sails Old School, S-2 7.9 in PHRF B.      The  CCV Tune-Up Races  are FREE and OPEN TO ALL,  however an ENTRY FORM IS REQUIRED.  Racing (two short races)  will be in the Hampton Roads harbor.  The warning signal for the first race is scheduled for 1100.  This is a "warm-up" event; a great chance to shake down the boat and the crew. There will be a non-spin and a combined spinnaker classes fleet.  Since these are "tune-up" races, official results will not be calculated, but Order of Finish sheets will be posted in the HYC Lounge at the end of the racing.  For info contact John McCarthy, (757) 850-4225
 
The first dozen are in early for DOWN THE BAY RACE - Dixon Wilde (Williamsburg, VA) has entered his blue hull beauty, KINGFISHER, in the 60th running of the Down the Bay Race for the Virginia Cruising Cup.  Kingfisher is a C&C 99.  Jack Clayton  is bringing his Cal 31, MELANTHO, to the starting line; Jack makes his home in Virginia Beach and sails under the CCV burgee.  And, John Blais has entered his new Beneteau 367, STARDANCER, in the fray.  John resides in Smithfield, VA.  The start  for DTB is on Friday, May 22nd.  The race is non-stop from Annapolis to Hampton.  For entry and info on this event (back after a 10 year hiatus), go to www.hamptonyc.com  or call either event co-chairman Vince Behm (757) 876-7778 or Wayne Bretsch (301) 332-6773.
 
So... who owns the most recent Virginia Cruising Cup title from the Down the Bay Race?  Dan Smoker won the prestigious race not once but twice (1999 and 1998) in SMOKE.
 
A new "old softie" - Here is a truly new idea.  Colligo Marine is marketing a soft shackle.  It's made of Duneema fiber and comes in two standard sizes, 2,000 and 4,000-pound working loads.  Prices start at $29.  Talk about lightening the weight aloft!
 
Enquiring minds want to know - just who is that bionic-buff senior citizen in the Cenegenics Medical Institute advertising that is making its way to the sailing mags these days?  The ad says his name is Jerry Life (really) and that he is a 69 year-old doctor.  The ad implies you got to have cold cash for the treatment too - "no insurance or Medicare accepted". 
 
CCV Rules Clinic and 2009 Racing Guide Distribution -  The annual CCV spring gathering comes a bit earlier than usual  this year.  On Tuesday, March 31,  6:30pm,  CCV  will hold their annual Rules Clinic at the Mariners Museum (Newport News, Virginia).   At this gathering, CCV members will receive the  2009 CCV Racing Guide.  The Guide is included in the price of the membership.  CCV will take membership applications at this clinic.  The clinic is OPEN TO ALL and it is FREE!  For information contact:  Tom Peddy at (757)638-3358   When you pick up you 2009 Guide, thank Jake Brodersen;  this is his second year as editor-in-chief of the Guide project.
 
For bluewater racers - There's a Storm-Bag@ storm jib out there marketed by Banner Bay Marine.  It's a "saddlebag" arrangement, BBM has patented it - that fits at the headstay for quick deployment.  Worth checking out for those " Yikes - what do I do now!" moments.
 
It's not too early to make reservations for a slip at the 33rd Annual Norfolk Harborfest on July 4th  Holiday Weekend.  The Rendezvous Fleet will be docked, following the Parade of Sail, on the waterfront of the Sheraton Hotel.  Deadline for slip ressies is APRIL 30.  Limited space!  First come, first served - For info contact James Scruggs at (757) 441-2345.
 
MURPHY'S LAW:    Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, has found and aired out the spring foulies, burned the socks (both pairs), and hit the tanning booth.  Wonder if Wal-Mart has any Foster Grants@ ?    /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.
 
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