SOUTHERN BAY RACE WEEK 2012 -  Everything was fine . . .  until the tornado hit.  SBRW 2012, got off to a great start:  Thursday night skippers meeting, Friday a day of perfect racing, awards presentation at the regatta headquarters Hampton Yacht Club and then  . . .  the tornado cut a swath through adjoining neighborhoods, slammed HYC, and spun along the Hampton waterfront.  By early Saturday morning it was crystal clear that there was no way to support further regatta activities.  Mercifully, no one was killed or reported seriously injured.  Literally seconds before the beast hit, racers, volunteers, the band and friends were evacuated by the alert HYC and security staff from the tent into the interior halls of the clubhouse.  The extra large party tent and all that was in it, save the people, was gone in a flash.  There are many, many photos of the property damage and the funnel cloud itself on Hampton Roads area electronic news outlet sites, facebook, etc.  Racers, visiting and local, friends, HYC members and community residents have demonstrated massive generosity and understanding of the situation during the cleanup and recovery. The overwhelming feeling is one of relief that so many were spared.  Boats and buildings can and will be fixed, and significant progress is already being made.

Thank you to all who have called and emailed their concern and support.  It is greatly appreciated.

Southern Bay Racing News You Can Use will resume regular publication Monday, June 11.

MURPHY'S LAW:  We are all thankful we are all here to recover.  There is nothing more to say.  /S/ Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.

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