The skipper of THISTLEDOWNE, Bill McClure of Troy, Virginia, and his Charlottesville area team are all signed up for the Hospice Alliance Regatta scheduled in April in St. Petersburg, FL.  Bill and his crew earned the right to compete by winning the Turkey Shoot Regatta held last Fall at Yankee Point Marina on Myer Creek, just off the Corrotomon, just off the Rappahannock River.  But, for now Bill’s concerns are focused elsewhere.  He is in St. Marteen preparing to race in the RORC Caribbean 600, which starts in a week on February 18th.  No, Bill will not be sailing Thistledowne, a San Juan 21.  Stay tuned – we hope to hear during the coming week as to exactly which boat he’ll be on.

SAILING TEAM ASSISTANT COACH POSITION OPEN AT NANSEMOND-SUFFOLK ACADEMY.  This high school team practices at Hampton Yacht Club (Victoria Boulevard, in Hampton) on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and competes in the Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association.  Looking for someone who has raced 420s & FJs, competed at the college level, and has a hankering to get back in a boat and teach - hands on, wet suit and all. A small stipend is offered.  For additional information please contact Pat Hillard,  Nansemond-Suffolk Academy,757-621-8599, or phillard@nsacademy.org

SBRW 2013 Early Birds Update: Three more PHRF A boats are returning to SBRW - Sledd Shelhorse’s Farr 400, Meridian X, Sam Mitchener’s J109, Double Eagle, and Dixon and Mary Wilde’s C&C 99, Kingfisher.  The first Portsmouth entry, Booty Baker’s O’Day 39, Klimax, is in the Cruising Fleet, and so is Barbara Saunder’s, Pearson 35, Stargazer.  Bona Dea, a Hunter 37 entered by Victoria Zimmerman and Bill Barnes, will be racing in the PHRF Non-Spin fleet.   Information about SBRW 2013 and entry forms are available at www.blacksealcup.com or by contacting Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225 or mcbear@earthlink.net SBRW 2013 - Opening Welcome and Check-in Party is Thursday evening, May 30, Racing/Entertainment/Post-race parties, and lots of good times Friday thru Sunday, May 31, June 1 & 2. Y’all come racin’!

HALF-DAY MURPHY RULES CLINICS: These clinics cover the rules changes for 2013-2016. Sign up soon. Spaces are filling.
**** February 23rd, 0900-1230, MURPHY RULES hosted by Broad Bay Sailing Association at the ODU Sailing Center (Norfolk) – proceeds go to the support of the Cape Charles Cup. For information and/or to register contact Scott Almond at (757) 471-2663. Cost is $19 per person, includes refreshments during breaks. There is a discount for on-line registration at http://www.broadbaysailing.org  OPEN TO ALL
**** March 23rd, 0900-1230, MURPHY RULES hosted by Hampton Yacht Club (Victoria Blvd, Hampton) – proceeds go to the support of Southern Bay Race Week 2013. For information and/or to register contact Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225 or email mcbear@earthlink.net . Cost is $19 per person, includes refreshments during breaks.  OPEN TO ALL
**** March 16th, 0900-1230, MURPHY RULES hosted by Neuse River Yacht Racing Association (NRYRA), New Bern, NC, at the Blackbeard Sailing Club. Check the Neuse River YRA website to registration info.

NUTS & BOLTS RACE COMMITTEE SEMINAR – March 30, 2013, 0900-1230, Hampton Yacht Club. OPEN TO ALL  This half-day seminar will cover rules changes (2013-2016) of particular importance to race committees, i.e. the changes affecting the Start, the Course, and the Finish.  Appropriate for RC Chairmen as well as all RC team volunteers (newbies too).  The emphasis is on the “how to” of RC duties.  Presented by John McCarthy, CBYRA South Region Race Management Coordinator, Regional Race Officer, and Senior Judge.  Low fee - $19 – includes coffee, pastries, and refreshments at breaks.  To sign up, email mcbear@earthlink.net and ask for Nuts & Bolts info, or call Lin McCarthy at 757-850-4225.

MURPHY'S LAW: One of Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle’s, favorite holidays is coming up.  There are always great gifts advertised for Valentine’s Day.  The best gift this year has to be the Love Bear that is 4 ½  feet tall.  Think of it – not only could he ride in the passenger seat when you need to use the HOV-2 lanes, but he could be a full time crew member.  He’d ride the rail without complaining, he could wear child size foulies and crew gear (so, less expensive), would not object to being the “real” person in the man-overboard-drills, and wouldn’t drink any of the post-race grog!  What a deal!  Ah-oooooo!  /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