VERNAL EQUINOX ON MARCH 2O, 11:02 UTC – SPRING BEGIN-ETH!

Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) was previously, and sometimes still is, referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Nine days ago, the Columbia 32 Carbon, Uncontrollable Urge, lost its rudder in the vicinity of San Clemente Island while racing in the 4^th Annual Islands Race.  The crew attempted to set an anchor and attempted to launch a life raft, but ended up abandoning the vessel to swim to shore.  One of the crew, Craig Thomas Williams (36) of San Diego, died in the incident.  Another of the six-man crew,  Ryan Georgianna, has strong southern Bay ties.  He hails from Williamsburg and now resides in California. He is a former sailing instructor at Seaford Yacht Club.  Ryan’s dad  (Dave Georgianna) sails a Nightwind 35 out of SYC. Ryan is an MD, and avid sailor. He suffered hypothermia, but is recovering.  Sympathy and prayers go out to all the crew and family of Uncontrollable Urge. [Thanks to Craig Olson (Loki) for the local information.]

SPINSHEET CREW LISING PARTY- SOUTH – Saturday late afternoon, March 30, 5pm–7pm, at MARKER 20 in downtown Hampton.  DOYLE SAILS (Jim Miller and Eddie Williams) is sponsoring the complimentary beverages.  SpinSheet Magazine offers an online crew listing every year and the Crew Listing Party-South with MARKER 20 as host is becoming a southern Bay regular happening.  IF you are looking for a ride or looking for crew, this is a good place to spend a couple of hours nobbing hobs with racing sailors of all stripes!   And, you can go to www.spinsheet.com  to register for the online Crew Listing

Last week southern Bay racers Christian Schaumloffel, Will Roberts, Tom Dwyer, Steve Taylor, and Matt Smith enjoyed a chance of a lifetime as part of the crew of High Yield, a German owned Swan racing in the inaugural Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean regatta.  High Yield finished 5^th  overall in Class B (8 boats).  A total of 16 boats raced in the 4 day regatta.  Now, according to reports, right now,  our guys, excepting Matt Smith, are delivering High Yield to Hampton. 

WORD TO THE WISE – Racers who hope to take advantage of the CROWNE PLAZA MARINA HOTEL special deal for SBRW racers, should make reservations at the earliest possible moment.  The hotel reports that they are filling fast for SBRW weekend and once the rooms are gone . . . like a cold beer on a hot day . . . they are gone!   Don’t wait – click on www.blacksealcup.com, “accommodations” and follow the instructions.

SBRW Early Bird flock growing.  Every fleet is represented in the latest group to join the SBRW 2013 entries list.  Hampton Roads racers Coeur ‘d Alene, Hank Giffin’s Crealock 37, Quantum Leap, Jay Rickles’ Beneteau 47, and Chris McClain’s and Susan Mallory’s Hunter 339, Better Together, have joined the Cruising Fleet, which races only on Saturday and Sunday of the regatta and parties at all four opportunities beginning on Thursday of SBRW at the Welcome/Check-in/Skippers Meeting!  The PHRF Non-Spin fleet has grown by two – Walt Boatright’s Tartan 37, Puff Card, and Bob Hausmann’s Catalina 30, Bobinski.  From Hanover and Richmond respectively, come two Fishing Bay Yacht Club PHRF C competitors; Brad Miller brings his Beneteau First, Schiehallion, and Paul Wash returns to SBRW with Cheeky Monkey, S2 7.9.   George Jones, who resides in Williamsburg and sails out of York River Yacht Club,  is back with his quick Wavelength 24, Poco Loco, racing in PHRF B.  And, the SBRW PHRF A fleet has gained two J Boats; Craig Wright’s J109, Afterthought, a former winner of the Black Seal Cup (2011) and Phil Brigg’s J36, Feather, will both be on the starting line.    Information, Entry Form, Notice of Race, Entries List, sponsors list with links, and more are available at www.blacksealcup.com  or www.hamptonyc.com (lick on event logo), or contact Lin McCarthy at 757-850-4225 or email mcbear@earthlink.net   Y’ALL COME RACIN’ !

Neuse River Yacht Racing Association (NRYRA) hosted the Murphy Rules Seminar, presented by John McCarthy, at Blackbeard Sailing Club, Saturday.  70+ North Carolina racers attended the morning seminar, ate pizza for lunch in the Blackbeard Sailing Club’s newly refurbished clubhouse, and then headed out to sail on the glorious 78 degree day. Spring do indeed cometh!

Collegiate update.   Old Dominion University sailors went in three different directions this past weekend.  Monarchs finished 13^th in the abbreviated (dearth of wind on Saturday) Truxtun Umsted in Annapolis.  ODU took 3^rd in the Pirate 3-on-3 (1^st-St Mary’s, 2^nd-Cornell)  and another group finished 15^th overall at the St. Mary’s Regatta.  ODU will host the Aaron Szambecki Regatta this coming weekend.  Christopher Newport University hosted the CNU Women’s Regatta and put two teams on the water.  The Captain’s took 2^nd and 3^rd   overall after 14 races.  Cornell won the regatta and William and Mary, Columbia, and George Washington also were represented.

MURPHY'S LAW:   Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, is searching, searching through the post-St Paddy’s Day green fog for both pairs of favorite sailing socks which were “misplaced” last evening.  Sock burning is this week/weekend.  The sailing gods expect your very best, most significant, sailing socks for your sacrifice – the socks with the best down wind finish or the best mark rounding or the best post-race party in their history.  Ahooooo!   /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.