To Fiddler's Green.  This past week Lester L. Hudgins, Jr., succumbed to cancer.  Lester was a southern Bay legend who will be fondly remembered especially for his time racing his C&C, Defiance, on the Bay and beyond.  Lester turned a lot of folks on to competitive sailing and there will be many a toast raised in his honor and his memory.

 OP SAIL coming in June 2012.   OpSail 2012 Virginia™  organizers have announced the first participating ships, including fourteen tall ships and naval vessels from eleven different countries, and more ships are expected to announce in coming weeks.  OpSail 2012 Virginia™ events will span the Commonwealth.  Affiliate ports include the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Hampton as well as the towns of Yorktown, Cape Charles,  Onancock and Tangier Island.  Many other communities will host events related to the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.  The Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival will kick off the two week long events with performances by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron.  Three Parades of Sail will be included in the schedule of events – The 1^st Annual Sea and Air Parade on Wednesday, June 6, 2012; the Friday June 8, 2012 Parade of Sail for tall ships; and the Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Parade Up the Chesapeake Bay.  Boating organizations interested in participating in these events are encouraged to contact Hank Moseley, OpSail 2012 Virginia™ Maritime Operations Manager, at Moseleyh@festevents.org.   OpSail 2012 Virginia™ is also seeking volunteers to assist with all aspects of the June, 2012 events.  An informational meeting will be held at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebrations Center in downtown Norfolk on the evening of Wednesday, December 14, 2011 from 6-9PM.  For more information about these and other OpSail 2012 Virginia™ related events, please visit their webpage – www.opsail2012virginia.com or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OpSail2012Virginia.  

FROSTBITE SERIES.    The fifth and final race of the 2011 Frostbite Series proved to be just as "near perfect" condition-wise as the previous four.  "Near-perfect" means there was wind and there wasn't any rain!  By the end of the racing there were some whitecaps, all manageable.  The series awards will be announced and presented at the Hampton Yacht Club Awards Night on December 6th.   RACE #5 RESULTS:  PHRF A: 1.Bob Mosby, Cyrano; 2.Phil Briggs, Feather; 3.Gene Thayer, Pterodactyl.  PHRF B: 1.Graham Field, Independence; 2.Rusty Burshell, Cool Change; 3.Bill Gibbings, Jonathan;  PHRF C: 1.Cary Hardesty, Lona B; 2.Pete Wallio, Not So Blue; 3.Bumps Eberwine, Spray.  PHRF Non-Spin: 1.Dave Lively, Lively Lady; 2.Bob Nunn, One O Five;  3.Louie Lewis, Incentive+.  Principal Race Officer - Brian Deibler; Signal Boat - Jack Pope.

Soon. . . The GABOON!   December 4, this coming Sunday,  is the 34th Gaboon Race.  It marks the official season end of "big boat" racing on the southern Bay. The race is OPEN TO ALL. It's a staggered start race and you must have a valid PHRF rating certificate (or a provisional one) to enter.  PHRF Equipment Category 5P is ok (most southern Bay racers have the more stringent 4P, which, of course, is acceptable).  PHRF crew number limitations are waived for this race.  Skippers, a word to the wise, be sure your insurance policy coverage includes winter sailing.  The course is pre-set (all racing is in Hampton Roads harbor) and the start / finish line is between the orange flag staff on the HYC dock and the blue rock on the Hampton University shore.  Starting times for individual boats will be posted at the registration table in the HYC Dockside Lounge the day of the race.  The earliest starting time possible is 1300 hours.  There is a time limit of 1630 (4:30pm). Deadline for entries is 1230 on race day.  For additional info and to enter, contact Phil Briggs at (757) 723-5477.  The name of the winner of the Gaboon, is engraved on the Spittoon, the first place trophy.  Hampton Yacht Club is the sponsor of The Gaboon Race. 

College Sailors - something to be thankful for!  This past summer several of the southern Bay "big boats" have had members of local college sailing teams as part of the crew.  Most have stuck to the delight of skippers, crewbies, and the collegiate racers.  College students bring a special light heartedness to a boat and that spirit is reflected by the following note written by collegiate racer, Efe Brock, W&M class of 2013,  after competing in the CNU Brennan Russell Regatta (Nov 19-20) - "After getting our team together this morning, tacking/grounding ourselves out of the CNU channel (you guys are great hosts - thanks for the mugs!) Diana being suspended on a chain link fence by her wetsuit, my last working car door jamming and trapping me inside, my roommate throwing said car keys in a tree, I got to enjoy oyster shucking and the good country life at 'Channelside' courtesy of Andy Bryan's folks - and am going to wake up to that wonderful smell that reminds me I was by a fire pit for hours last night.  Great, great day."  

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS. Photos from PHOTOBOAT.  There are 4,455 pictures of  Southern Bay Race Week 2011 action available in the PhotoBoat galleries.  Go to   www.photoboatgallery.net  and pick your regatta, pick your boat, pick your shot, and select your media.  Order by December 5th and get  15% off your order (Coupon Code - HOLIDAY11)    And,  PhotoBoat will be at SBRW 2012 - get ready!