It's Columbus Day - sail if you can!

PUT THIS GOBBLER IN THE BOOKS!   The 2011 TURKEY SHOOT HOSPICE REGATTA  wrapped up yesterday after two and one-half days of partying, live bluegrass music, racing, and general blow-out fun on the Myer Creek - Corrotoman - Rappahannock Rivers water axis.  Saturday Mother Nature gave the racers a beautiful Fall day on the Rapp with bright sunshine and moderate breezes.  Of the 84 entries (all classic designs at least 25 years old), 79 raced and all who started finished.    On Sunday, hopeful of a repeat of Saturday conditions, racers started the traditional pursuit race in light breezes that got them up the track, but then evaporated.  Twelve (12) of the hardiest finished the race in mere vapors and the turkeys were put to bed.  Kudos go to Ken and Karen Knull, owners of host Yankee Point Marina, for their extraordinary support of the Hospice effort on the Northern Neck.  Here are the  TURKEY SHOOT FLEET WINNERS:  Fleet C: Joe and Linda Waters, Birthday Party  (Joe and Linda earned the birth in the National Hospice Alliance Regatta in St Petersburg next spring).  Fleet D: David Williams, Poe Bird;  Fleet E: Dick Moylan, Windtimidation;  Fleet F: Frank Murphy, Last Boat III;  Fleet G: Mike Chesser, Scuba Kat;  Fleet H: Bob Adcock, Felicity;  Fleet I: Ned Crockett, Ladybug.   Event Chair: Karen Knull;  Principal Race Officer: John McCarthy;  Scoring: Anna Mulvany;  Signal Boat Captain: Mike Thompson (Contessa);  Mark Boats: Tom Ashe and Mosby West (Wild Fire); Jim Young and Gary Fricke (Dwindle Down); and Don Crabtree (Jammin').

CCV FALL SERIES WRAPS UP THIS COMING SUNDAY, October 16.  Two drop mark course races in Hampton Roads harbor.  Sanctioned racing that counts toward the CCV High Point Championship as well as the CBYRA Region 4 High Point.  For info or to enter please contact John McCarthy at (757) 850-4225. 

The Turkey Shoot Hospice Regatta is a special event to a lot of folks.  For some it's their birthday weekend, for some it's a return to a favorite place, and so on.  But, for Joe and Linda Waters of Columbia, South Carolina,  it's super special.  Last year (2010) Joe and Linda were married at Turkey Shoot and this year, of course, they celebrated their first anniversary.   Now, that's a way to keep track of your anniversary date!!

RAPPAHANNOCK CUP this coming weekend, October 15-16.   Sponsored by Rappahannock River Yacht Club.  www.rryc.org

The schooners are coming!  The schooners are coming!  The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race rolls down the Bay from the start on Thursday (Oct 13th) at 1330 off Annapolis to the finish in Hampton Roads on Friday (Oct 14th).  The larger ones finish off Thimble Shoal Light and the not as large ones finish at Windmill Point.  All will proceed to Portsmouth for docking and post-race affairs throughout  the weekend.  For details of schedule, a list of the 39 entries, etc, go to www.schoonerrace.org 

Attention all old Laser racers  [old  as in seasoned for at least 35 years] - CHESAPEAKE BAY LASER MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA, October 15 -16, hosted by Fishing Bay Yacht Club.  The NOR is up and you can do on-line registration (still must do check-in Saturday morning).   Go to FBYC webpage to get started - www.fbyc.net   For additional info contact  Jon Deutsch at (804) 305-1244.   There will be racing  for Apprentices (35-44); Masters (45-54); Grand Masters (55-64); Great Grand Masters (65+).  

The 'Round the Lights Race" sponsored by OPCYC, October 22, is on the near horizon.  This race is a southern Bay favorite.  It's a pursuit race (slower boats start first) and racers get to round the lighthouses (Thimble and Middle Ground) in whatever order and from whatever direction they decide.  So, get out your charts, find a current table, check the wind predictions, and, for heavens sake, read AND HEED this message from the Thimble Shoal Light Keeper!   THE KEEPER of THIMBLE SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE, Pete Jurewicz'  IMPORTANT MESSAGE  to  ". . .inform you of the safety hazard at the Thimble Shoal Lighthouse.  Hurricane Irene damaged the deck and canopy supports and gutters on the North-East side.   I have installed guy wires to suspend and keep the gutter intact. However, it would not take much for a boat running its rigging down the side to get hung and potentially pull several thousand pounds of cast iron down onto the boat."    So, to enter or for more details on the race, contact Steve Ritz (757) 218-2775) or Jeff Rogers (757) 449-2931.  And, remember, don't think you can even kiss either of the lighthouses!  They are concrete and/or cast-iron,  there is rip-rap at their bases, they are cold and wet, they are immobile, and, on this day, they will be a mark of the course!! 

Flying Scots are invited!!!!  Flying Scot Fleet 185 Annual Invitational at Rappahannock River Yacht Club, October 22nd.   Made to appeal to Scots - there is $0 entry fee for this event.  It's a one day affair..  Entries (you do have to enter, but there is no fee) are due no later than Wednesday, October 19th.  Check-in and Launch is from 0900-1000, then racing, then lunch on the water, then racing, then a casual dinner at  1730 (5:30 pm).  For details and to enter, please contact Fleet Captain  Burke Johnson at (757) 812-9635.   Remember, you SAVE MONEY by entering this event - there is no, zero, zilch, nada entry fee!   

MURPHY'S LAW:   Columbus Day has special significance to Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle.  In 1492, when "Columbus sailed the ocean blue"   there was a member of the Murphster's clan on board.  Sir Maxmillian O'Murphster stood every single one of the dog watches during the crossing.  Drank his share of drams of rum, too.   /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.