'ROUND THE LIGHTS was. . . challenging.    At first the right way seemed to be the left way, but it turned out that the left way was the wrong way.  And, that isn't all.  At the start the wind was supposed to be from the North and go East, but it really was from the East and went North.  About the only thing that was "as predicted" was that chop resulted from a big ebb into the face of an East breeze. . . but wait, the breeze wasn't supposed to be East, so  . . . .   See, there is more than meets the eye to sailing and doing well in the 'Round the Lights Race.   Actually, those who chose to round Thimble Shoal Light first looked pretty smart for a while, but ultimately the boats who rode the East wind to Middle Ground and  moderately ebbing current on flat water to Thimble after the wind went North had the best of the day.  Both lighthouses, Thimble and Middle Ground, got rounded unscathed and  there were spectators on the balcony of each to cheer the racers on.   Fifty (50) boats raced in this annual Old Point Comfort Yacht Club event and 41 starters finished.  FIRST 5 TO FINISH (overall):  1. Sea Star; 2.Feather; 3.Virginia H; 4.Bad Habit; 5.The Hunter    RESULTS BY FLEET: PHRF A (5 boats) - 1.Dave Eberwine, Sea Star; 2.Phil Briggs, Feather; 3.Christian Schaumloffel, Mirage.  PHRF B (14 boats) - 1.Andy Armstrong, Virginia H; 2.Bob Archer, Bad Habit; 3.Greg Cutter, Gremlin.  PHRF C (10 boats) - 1.Justin Morris, The Hunter;  2.Bumps Eberwine, Spray; 3.Alan Bomar, Roundabout.  PHRF Non-Spin (9 boats) - 1.Dave Nichol, Pelican; 2.Louie Lewis, Incentive+; 3.Leo Wardrup, Black Widow.  Cruising 1 (6 boats) - 1. Larry Baun, Base Runner; 2.Gary Prizzia, Outpost; 3.Jim Beaudry, Black Dog.  Cruising 2 (6 boats) - 1.Mike Turner, Cats' Paws; 2.John Peterson, Dream Date; 3.David Washbourne, Valcour.     RTL is a  pursuit race.

Officially, Halloween is a week from today, Monday, October 31, but you should be prepared for spooks and goblins this coming weekend.

FROSTBITE SERIES begins this coming Sunday, October 30.  This is where you chill out, literally, and enjoy racing in familiar waters (Hampton Roads Harbor) around fixed marks.   This is the final series of the year for southern Bay racers.  It's a good chance to let the crew change positions (Who will try the bow?), actually make decisions based on random comments (We need to get where the wind over there is!),  try hot butter rum as a post-race beverage, and generally extend your summer.   The series includes a race every Sunday through November.  There are 5 races in all, including the one on Thanksgiving weekend.  There are starts for all PHRF spinnaker fleets, a PHRF Non-Spin fleet (double headsails are allowed), and a cruising fleet.    The first warning each Sunday is at high noon - quite civilized.  And, there is Sunday buffet available at the HYC lounge for a modest cost.   Pull out your CCV Harbor Marks List and the General Sailing Instruction and go have a good time.   Entry fee is $70 for the entire Series; $30 for individual races.  For info and to enter, contact Dick Boykin at (757) 89--0093.  This is a Hampton Yacht Club sponsored event.

Southern Bay and beyond racers headed for J24 East Coast Championships:  heading up the Bay to Annapolis this coming weekend for J24 championship racing are:  Mike Veraldi, Quicky (Virginia Beach, HYC/BBSA);  Francis Ford, Rocket J  (Hampton, HYC);  Ron Medlin, Bash (Carolina Beach, NC); and, Chris Jankowski, Street Legal (Richmond, FBYC).  Keep your fingers crossed for our racers!

Racers'  Vocabulary:  Jack Lines - "Hey, Baby, wanna go racing?"    and   Estimated Position - A place you have marked on the chart where you are sure you are not.

Flying Scot Invitational at RRYC-   Results requested, but not available as of publication.

FISHING BAY FALL SERIES WRAP UP.  Fishing Bay finished their Fall Series Saturday in near perfect and certainly kind racing conditions - clear skies and ample sufficient wind (10+ knots).  The two J109s, Double Eagle and Afterthought, finished first and second respectively in the PHRF A Fleet , Elancer won the tie breaker in PHRF B over Shenanigan, and Horizon crushed PHRF C with Prophet taking second well ahead of other contenders.   Over the four days of racing, beginning in mid-September, there were 8 or 9 races per fleet, allowing for one throw-out.  RESULTS:  PHRF A (7 boats) - 1.Sam Mitchener, Double Eagle; 2.Craig Wright, Afterthought; 3.David Clark, Corryvreckan.  PHRF B (7 boats) - 1.David Hinckle, Elancer; 2.Miles Booth, Shenanigan; 3.Wayland Rennie, Trilogy.  PHRF C (9 boats) - 1.Bob Fleck, Horizon; 2.Noel Clinard, Prophet; 3.Brad Miller, Schiehallion.  Principal Race Officer - Tom O'Connell.

NOVEMBER RACING On THE SOUTHERN BAY.  Get out your foulies and your snuggies - it's frostbite and hot rum time!

Oct  29  Sunday    FBYC Closing Day

Oct  30  Sunday    HYC Frostbite Series - Race #1, Dick Boykin (757) 890-0093

Nov 4-5 Fri-Sun    CNU Alumni and Friends Regatta and Oyster Roast, CNU Sailing Center (757) 886-2838

Nov  5   Saturday  Willoughby Racers (BBSA) Hot Buttered Rum Race, Scott Almond, (757) 471-2663

Nov  5   Saturday  CCV Awards party and Year End Bash - Steve Taylor - 757-722-7861

Nov  5   Saturday  Fleet 71/HYC J24 Regatta,  Alan Bomar, (757) 810-4518

Nov  5   Saturday  FBYC Frostbite, www.fbyc.net

Nov  6   Sunday    DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (DST) ENDS AT 0200 - Fall back and snooze one more hour!

Nov  6   Sunday    HYC Frostbite Series - Race #2, Dick Boykin (757) 890-0093

Nov  7   Monday    Caribbean 1500 starts from Hampton, www.carib1500.com

Nov 11  Friday      VETERANS DAY

Nov 12  Saturday  PHRF of Chesapeake Annual  Meeting (Fredericksburg) 410-414-3270

Nov 12-13 Sat-Sun  HYC Fall Fling & 5o5 Region Two Championships-Leigh Chapman (757) 726-9640

Nov 13  Sunday    HYC Frostbite Series - Race #3, Dick Boykin (757) 890-0093

Nov 20  Sunday    HYC Frostbite Series - Race #4, Dick Boykin (757) 890-0093

Nov 24  Thursday THANKSGIVING DAY

Nov 27  Sunday    HYC Frostbite Series - Race #5, Dick Boykin (757) 890-0093

Dec  4   Sunday    HYC Gaboon Race,  Phil Briggs (757) 723-5477

MURPHY'S LAW:  Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle,  has the perfect Halloween costume in mind - going Trick or Treating as a squirrel.  The Murphster will get the dingy gray color by rolling in the dirt under the beer truck and the fluffy rear appendage by blow drying the normally sleek beagle tail.  Should be good for plenty of candy-covered milk bones!     /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.

FOR SALE - Chesapeake -  converted from a Sail Master 22 to a rather traditional looking cutter rigged gunk holer adding 22” to her transom with tumblehome and added  bow sprit. From the rub rail up is all new; current owner reconstructed.  Also, added a Yanmar 9 hr Diesel that pushes her along a 6 knots. Has been cruised up and down the Chesapeake and down to North Carolina.  Photos available.  Asking $22k  Please contact Bob Means at  (804) 832-0185 (Urbanna) 

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SOUTHERN BAY RACING NEWS YOU CAN USE,  Lin McCarthy, Editor