STINGRAY POINT REGATTA had 49 boats racing in mostly moderate to light breezes.  PROPHET, Noel Clinard’s Sonar, sailed by Blake Kimbrough, John Wake, and Matt Braun, won the Brent Halsey, Jr. Memorial Trophy.  The 2012 Stingray Point Regatta (SPR) at Fishing Bay Yacht Club ‘tween the banks of Jackson Creek and Fishing Bay in Deltaville, provided a great racing and partying opportunity over the Labor Day Weekend.  FBYC hosts the two day regatta on Saturday and Sunday with the preceding Stingray Light Race on Friday.  SPR divided their 8 fleets between two courses and everyone got in 5 races over the two days.  RESULTS:  PHRF A0 (6 boats) – 1. Afterthought, Craig Wright; 2.Pursuit, Norman Dawley; 3.Double Eagle, Sam Mitchener.  PHRF A (7 boats) – 1.Cyrano, Bob Mosby; 2.Feather, Phil Briggs; 3.Stardancer, John and Bev Blais.   J-105 (5 boats) – 1.Inevitable, Mike Karn; 2.Loose Cannon, Strother Scott; 3.Corryvreckan, Catherine Clark.   PHRF B (8 boats) – 1.Goin’, Dennis Hannick; 2.Bad Habit, Bob Archer; 3.Mad Hatter, Bob Fleck.  J24 (5 boats) – Gray Ghost, Hunter Davidson; 2.Cat’s Pajamas, Johnstone/Halsey; 3.Roundabout, Alan Bomar.  PHRF C (7 boats) – Prophet, Noel Clinard; 2.Play It Again, Sam Marshall; 3.Cheeky Monkey, Paul Wash.   PHRF Non-Spin (6 boats) – 1.Juggernaut, Mike Dale; 2.Back Porch, Kenny Cobb; 3.Red Sky, Douglas Anderson.   Cruising (5 boats) – 1.Desperado, Sharon Bauer; 2.Rampage, Carol Hume; 3.Anneleise, Roger Gaby.   Event chairman – David Hinckle; Event PRO and West Course – David Lee; East Course Race Officer – Allan Heyward/Lud Kimbrough;  Official Scorer – Paul Wash.

Special Stingray Point Regatta awards were presented Sunday after the racing.  The Brent Halsey, Jr. Memorial Trophy was awarded to the FBYC NYYC USQS team Blake Kimbrough, John Wake, Matt Braun - see item below - who sailed Prophet in the PHRF C class this weekend. In the Potts Cup competition, Fishing Bay Yacht Club boats won all of the three designated fleet individual competitions. The Potts Southern Bay Challenge Cup was awarded to Afterthought, Craig Wright (PHRF A0), Goin', Dennis Hannick (PHRF B), and Cat's Pajamas, Johnstone/Halsey (PHRF C/J24). The Stingray Point Regatta Sportsmanship Award was awarded to Matson Roberts, who sailed Onward this weekend.

New York Yacht Club US Qualifying Series for the NYYC Invitational Cup begins today. If the FBYC team is successful in the NYYC USQS Regatta, FBYC will sail in the very prestigious NYYC Invitational Cup.  You can follow the event, which runs from today through Saturday,Sept 8^th  at www.usqs.org .  It is interesting that NYYC has selected the new J70 as well as the Sonar as the boats for this regatta.   Cross up your fingers for our southern Bay racers!

Another new, HOT boat in production.  There are now J70’s on the race course and so far, racers seem to like them.  Former CBYRA president and Region 4 (southern Bay) vice-president, John Dodge, raced one recently and he commented:  I got a first hand look at the new J 70 , racing in the CRAB fundraiser. . . in Annapolis. For a 23 foot boat going up hill was surprisingly quick, but nothing prepared the new owners when we turned the corner, popped the kite, and headed back down hill. Screaming well over 20 kts, we were flying down the course in a sea of spray and laughter. She was a thing of beauty and I believe soon to be one of the fastest growing One Designs around.   Southern Bay racer Noel Clinard already has dibs on his, and, in fact, expects to take deliver late this month.

The DINK VAIL REGATTA, which in the past has occurred on Labor Day Weekend Saturday, has made a permanent move to the Sunday of Columbus Day Weekend – this year that is October 7^th.  For info on the regatta and to enter, please contact Richard Waters at 757-489-0921.  Norfolk Yacht & Country Club sponsors the Dink Val Regatta, and it is counted in the BBSA administered Southern Bay Distance Racing Series.  DVR 12 – Sunday, October 7, 2012.

ANNAPOLIS RACE WEEK – 125 boats raced over the three days of this annual Labor Day regatta. Complete results of all three courses are posted at www.cbyra.org, click on Annapolis Race Week in the left column.

Race your way around HAMPTON BAY DAYS -  2012 HAMPTON ANNUAL MIDDLE GROUND LIGHT RACE,  this coming Saturday, September 8^th.  Starts for all PHRF spinnaker fleets and PHRF NS (double headsail allowed).   One-Design starts may be considered depending on the number of entries in the class.  Racing is in the Harbor and Middle Ground Light will be one of the marks of the course.  First warning is at 1030.  Entries are due this Friday, September 7^th.  There is a time limit, 1600 hours,  so everyone can partake of the fun of Hampton’s BAY DAYS celebration.  Also, there will be post-race keg and refreshments on the HYC dock for racers and friends. Submit entries to: HYC, Race Committee, 4707 Victoria Blvd, Hampton, VA 23669.  For information, please contact John McCarthy, (757) 850-4225.  

REMINDER:  FBYC Wolf Trap Race  - go to www.fbyc.net for details, and YPR&CC Fall Singlehand Race – www.yprcc.org  for details, are both scheduled for this coming Saturday, Sept 8^th.

BEEP-BEEP!  IMPORTANT HIGHWAY NOTICE FROM VDOT:   Southern Bay Racers, especially those traveling in the Hampton Roads area, read and heed this.  At the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) all eastbound (Hampton to Norfolk) lanes will be closed from 9PM Friday thru 5AM Monday on the following weekends:  Sept 14-17; Sept 21-24; and (rain date) Sept 28-Oct 1.  And, at the James River Bridge (JRB) southbound (Newport News to Suffolk/Portsmouth) lanes will be closed from 9PM Friday thru 5AM Monday on the following weekends:  Sept 14-17; Sept 21-24; Sept 28-Oct 1; Oct 5-8; and Oct 12-15.   Get to know the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac (M&M) route, if this applies to you, and plan on heavier than usual traffic at the M&M.  There are several racing events in the area during this time – event officials may want to remind their competitors of this travel adjustment.  (Source of VDOT maintenance closure schedule – Daily Press, September 2, 2012)

YORK RIVER CUP  - Saturday, September 15^th, at the mouth of the York River. All PHRF class starts as well as a Cruising Fleet.  Racing begins at 1300 at R22 on Saturday.  Happy hour with beer, margaritas, wine, soda, munchies, and more begins around 5:30pm; then comes a "Mexican Fiesta" theme dinner followed by awards at our Crown Pointe Marina facility.  Racers please note, the event has arranged to have some FREE slips available at Crowne Point Marina for those who want to stay over (Friday and/or Saturday).    The race entry fee is $25.  For entry, general info, party details, and/or SLIP ressies, please contact George Jones, at 757-784-3347 or  Dan Fox, at 757-759-1967   Official NOR is up at www.yryc.org.    This is a great chance to try something different at a different “nearby” venue. 

CCV FALL SERIES opens (Races 1 and 2) on Sunday, September 16^th – all Series races are in the Harbor.  Racing  members of CCV, are automatically entered already,  all others must enter no later than the day prior to the race day on which they intend to compete.   Sunday, September 23 is Race 3, a middle distance race around government marks that also counts toward the Southern Bay Distance Racing Series administered by Broad Bay Sailing Association.  Sunday, October 14, is for Races 4 & 5, and concludes CCV 2012 High Point competition. Fees for non-racing members of CCV = $30 per race day ($35 for non-USSA members).  To enter:  send entry form and completed check (payable to CCV) to:  John McCarthy, 4401 Chesapeake Avenue, Hampton, VA 23669.   For info, contact John at (757) 850-4225. 

The Armed Services related clubs are having their annual Tri-Services Regatta on Saturday, September 15.  This regatta is  “open to all monohull keelboats LOA 20’ or greater, belonging to bona fide members of Langley YC, Norfolk Naval Sailing Association, and Old Point Comfort YC.  Entry ($25 fee) is due by September 14^th All racing is either Non-Spinnaker (double headsail allowed) or Cruising (single headsail only).  There is a Skippers Meeting 1900, Friday, Sept 14^th at OPCYC Clubhouse on Fort Monroe. OPCYC is the lead club in organizing the event this year, and details, entry forms, etc. are available at www.opcyc.org.

MURPHY'S LAW: There’s an old Norwegian saying (Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle thinks it’s Norwegian)  that says, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”  Racers finding themselves off the lower Peninsula on Sunday night learned the truth of that adage.  Time to get specific on those holiday gift suggestions.  /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