FEATHER and CYMRU take CAPE CHARLES CUP!  A fleet of 87 boats, racers, cruisers, and multihulls,  left the western shore Saturday for the Eastern Shore and an overnight at Cape Charles.  There were 33 boats racing in the PHRF Division fleets, 52 in the Cruising Division divided among 3 fleets, and 2 multihulls.  The race over was a typical high summer race - delayed start due to  light air, shortened course, great party. The trip back on Sunday (Cape Charles to Hampton) was another story - wonderful breezes all day, but a mid afternoon, fast moving thunderstorm that tested skill and grit.  The Cape Charles Cup is a beautiful Weems and Plath glass and brass  lantern that is awarded to the fastest boat (corrected time over both races combined) in each division, Racing - PHRF and Cruising.  This year, Phil Briggs and the crew of Feather topped the PHRF fleet with an especially stellar performance in Sunday's conditions.  And, Bob Howell's Cymru, with a 2nd and a 1st, was first overall among all cruisers on combined speed for the event.  BBSA hosts the Cape Charles Cup and this year was the 8th rendition.  Event Chairman - Scott Almond;  Principal Race Officer - John McCarthy       See detailed results at  www.CCCup.net

The 2011 HOD National Champion is . . .  Latane Montague with crew Caroline Lamotte.  The championship really was never in doubt as the dynamic duo had a string of  [2]-1-1-1-1-1  in the three day event.  There were two 3rd generation HOD sailors on the podium:  Ian Stokes, with his dad Gordy crewing, took second place overall, and Chris Harrell and Jeff took third.  The 8 boat fleet, like many others racing in the southern Bay this past weekend, battled light air, thunderstorms, and Dismal Swamp smoke.  The Race Committee Chairman was former US Olympic Team Coach Gary Bodie, who is a long time resident of Hampton.  Hampton Yacht Club, place of origin of the HOD, was host to the regatta. 

Tom Brady Master's Race - THIS SUNDAY, August 28.  Ya gotta be  seasoned  to enter this one and so does your boat.  The skipper and all on board must be at least 55 years of age as of the day of the race.  And, all boats must be at least 10 years old.  Ya gotta have a current PHRF certificate, but equipment/safety category 5P is allowed for this race.  Neither spinnakers nor double headsails may be flown.  Entries are due no later than 1100 hours on race day.  There is a Skippers Meeting at high noon (1200) on race day at Hampton Yacht Club.  Contact  John Blais at (757) 357-0621.

DIG ON THIS!  If you are planning on going to Stingray Point Regatta  on Labor Day weekend, there is great news regarding the channel into Jackson Creek.  The dredging project is on schedule, and, likely is completely done by the time you read this.  There are plans for a permanent fix in the near future (permits, etc. in process), but, in the meantime, the channel she izzz  good for Stingray Point Regatta.   www.fbyc.net  for info and to enter.

Mobjack Nationals - Mark Arnold (Virginia Beach) won the Mobjack Nationals by 2 points over Joshua Guenther this past weekend.  The two top dogs dominated the 6 boat fleet on the course off the Old Dominion Sailing Center.

From George Albaugh, Classic Moth Boat Association Secretary comes word that the CMBA's National Championship will be held over the weekend of the 16th-18th of September down at Elizabeth City, NC.  The NoR will be posted at www.mothboat.com

A week ago today, last Monday evening, August 15, things got pretty scary on RAMBLER 100, having just rounded Fastnet Rock. You can read the entire story in SCUTTLEBUTT 3407 (August 17, 2011 issue). Here's how it began:

SURVIVING TO TELL THE STORY OF RAMBLER 100
It was Monday (Aug. 15), and the Juan K designed Rambler 100 had but 265 miles remaining in the 608 mile Fastnet Race. They had just rounded the infamous Fastnet Rock, and needed to complete a short 7 mile beat before they could turn left and enjoy the hayride home. But then, at 5:45pm UK time, the unthinkable happened: the keel bulb broke off.    Go to www.sailingscuttlebutt.com for a detailed narrative.

Rob and Andi Overton have reported in from Cartagena, Columbia, where they have been for a few months now aboard their beloved Akka.  Rob and Andi were in the Chesapeake Bay area earlier this year.  And, Rob took time out from his umpiring to race in the District 11 Laser Championships at FBYC in May.

Talk about a course course change. . . . get a BIG  "C" Flag for this one!   Because of pirates, the Volvo Ocean Race will change course for Legs 2 and 3.  Originally the boats were supposed to race from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi and then from Abu Dhabi to Sanya, China.  Because of the threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean near East Africa, the boats will only sail part way to Abu Dhabi from Cape Town.  At an unnamed, i.e. undisclosed,  safe port, the boats will be pulled and shipped closer to Abu Dhabi, put back in the water and complete the leg.  They'll do the same coming out on Leg 3 before they finish the leg to China.  

SEPTEMBER Racing Opportunities:  Use 'em, don't lose 'em!

Sept 2 - 4           Stingray Point Regatta - www.fbyc.net

Sept 3                 Dink Vail Regatta -  www.norfolkyacht.com   Richard Waters, (757) 489-0921

Sept  2 - 5          CBYRA Annapolis Race Week - information and registration go to www.cbyra.org/arw

Sept 10               Hampton Annual-Middle Ground Light Race, John McCarthy, (757) 850-4225

Sept 10               Fishing Bay Yacht Club Wolf Trap Race, www.fbyc.net 

Sept 10               Yankee Point Racing and Cruising Club Singlehand Race, www.yprcc.org  

Sept 16-17-18   Classic Moths - CMBA's National Championship Regatta - Elizabeth City  www.mothboat.com

Sept 17               Rappahannock River Yacht Club Commodore's Cup, www.rryc.org

Sept 17               Fishing Bay Yacht Club Fall Series opens, www.fbyc.net 

Sept 17               Tri-Services Regatta, Norfolk Naval Sailing Association is host this year www.norfolknavalsailing.org

Sept 18               CCV Fall Series (Races 1 and 2 of 5), John McCarthy (757) 850-4225

Sept 18               York River Yacht Club Singlehand Race,  www.yryc.org

Sept 24               HR Sunfish Challenge & Dinghy Distance Race, Jonathan Romero, (757) 285-6017

Sept 24               York River Yacht Club York River Cup, www.yryc.org                 

Sept 24               Fishing Bay Yacht Club Fall Series continues, www.fbyc.net

Sept 24               Yankee Point Racing and Cruising Club Fall Regatta, www.yprcc.org  

Sept 25               Hampton Yacht Club Singlehand Race, Marshall Findley (757) 722-0433

Oct 1                    Neptune's Atlantic Race, Scott Almond (757) 471-2663

Oct 2                    CCV Fall Series (Race 3), John McCarthy, (757) 850-4225

Oct 2                    Fishing Bay Yacht Club Fall Series continues, www.fbyc.net

Oct 2                    York River Yacht Club Frostbite Series begins, www.yryc.org

Oct 5                    CCV Octoberfest Wednesday Night Racing begins, Christian Schaumloffel (757) 496-3590

MURPHY'S LAW:  Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, is just wondering just how  undisclosed that undisclosed port the Volvo Ocean Race boats are supposed to use is ? (see item above re VOR "course change...")   And, think of the opportunities for whining this whole situation sets up:  My restaurant placemat chart didn't show the port;  our shipping container was not as fast as their shipping container;  the harbormaster was wearing camis, so we never saw him;   we lost a lot of our crew in the downtown taverns;  and,  we have an AK-47 for a flare gun, so we just sailed through 'em - do we get credit for  time saved?        /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.