Leukemia Cup to Host Gary Jobson in Richmond on March 16.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society kicks off its 2014 Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta season in March with a Richmond appearance by world-class sailor and ESPN commentator, Gary Jobson.Jobson will present his candid behind-the-scenes commentary on the spectacular America’s Cup comeback by Team Oracle over Team New Zealand in the Cup races held last September on San FranciscoBay. As National Chairman of the Leukemia Cup Regattas and himself a Leukemia survivor, Jobson will also offer some valuable fundraising tips for area sailors planning to participate in the upcoming 16^th Annual Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta in Deltaville in July. The program is free and open to the public. It will be held at St. Catherine’s School, 6001 Grove Avenue, Richmond, on Sunday afternoon, March 16, 3-5 pm.  Space is limited and reservations are recommended by emailing Debbie Bridwell, Senior Campaign Manager, at Debbie.Bridwell@lls.org or telephone 804-673-5690.

NUTS & BOLTS RACE COMMITTEE SEMINAR, hosted by Rappahannock River Yacht Club (Irvington, VA) on Saturday, March 22, 0900 – 1500 (9am-3pm).  This seminar is ideal for race committee regulars as well as those interested in joining the race committee game. Whether sharpening skills or learning new ones, this is a great way to start your 2014 season.  This is a Morning with Murphy (SBRNYCU) Seminar, presented by John McCarthy, US Sailing Regional Race Officer and National Judge.  Topics will include: Getting Organized (equipment, personnel, Sailing Instructions, etc.); Starting (lines, flags and signals, recalls); During the Race (courses changes, shortening, abandoning, marks missing, etc.); and Finishing and Scoring. You will learn things you need to know, especially the “nitty gritty” of running races.  Costs - $10, includes lunch, refreshments, and handouts.  The event is sponsored by Premier Sailing.  To register, please contact Tom Linville,  Tsailor@aol.com  or 804-438-6038.  Register now to help host RRYC with planning and certainly no later than the March 15^th deadline.

CBYRA High Point [for 2013] Awards:   David Eberwine, SEA STAR, is the best  boat Bay-wide and winner of the coveted LaBrot Trophy.  Awards and standings should be available at the new CBYRA website in a few days.  The LaBROT goes to the PHRF boat with the best final score (using the CBYRA High Point  scoring formula). CONGRATULATIONS to SEA STAR, her skipper and crew!

TODAY, March 3^rd, registration will close for the US Sailing One Day Judge Seminar (Club Judge), set for Saturday, March 8^th at HYC. Open to all.  For info and to register:  Click here  http://raceadmin.ussailing.org/Judges/Seminar_Calendar.htm  scroll to the seminar (listed by date, March 8, 2014, at Hampton Yacht Club), click on “Enroll Now” and follow the prompts. Questions and/or assistance, please contact Lin McCarthy at (757) 850-4225.

In all probability the as yet unpublished new safety standards, to which US Sailing and PHRF of the Chesapeake will subscribe, will include requirements for Man Over Board drills.  So, if the sunny March day comes along and skipper and crew are on the water, use the opportunity to get’er done.  It’s a must even if the governing authorities had not developed the MOB requirement. NOTE: PHRF of the Chesapeake President, Mike Mullarky expects to have the US Safety Equipment Requirements as adopted by PHRF of the Chesapeake posted at the website in a few days or so.  These requirements replace the previous 4P, 5P, and 6P standards and include some significant changes. Instead the levels of compliance will be titled Ches Bay (old 4P) and Nearshore (old 5P and 6P). 

Perfect for Monday morning coffee.   America’s Cup 2013:  How Oracle Team USA Launches the Greatest Comeback in Sailing History – WSJ.com  A lot of southern Bay racers did not believe, going in, that they could ever get hooked by the huge cats racing on San Fran Bay.  But, most of us did.  This is a great article with pics that gives readers privy to a lot of significant insider information. Enjoy http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303393804579312803907849782  [Thanks to Barry Wickre, Manteo, NC, for sharing this.) 

Getting Ready for the Racing Season:  SKIPPERS should go to the bank and withdraw $1,000 and then light it on fire.  Repeat fifteen times before season’s end.  CREW should take ½ the clothes out of your dresser and stuff all of them into a tote bag the size of a medium pizza box. Weight of said bag should not exceed 1.5 pounds.

SBRW 2014 Update.  PHRF racers – Since PHRF of the Chesapeake most likely will soon have ready the new/revised US Safety Equipment Requirements, they soon will be able to begin issuing 2014 rating certificates.  Southern Bay Race Week officials encourage racers to go ahead and enter, even though they have not yet received their 2014 ratings.  All rating information will be reconciled as skippers receive official word from PHRF.  Joining the SBRW fleet recently are from Fishing Bay YC,  Glenn Doncaster, NANUQ, and David Clark, CORRYVRECKAN, both sailing in the PHRF A class, along with Miles Booth, SHENANIGAN, racing in PHRF B.   Leo Wardrup, BLACK WIDOW, Broad Bay Sailing Association will race in PHRF Non-Spinnaker.  And, joining the Cruising Class is Broad Bay Sailing Association’s Hank Giffin, COEUR d’ ALENE, of Norfolk.  To enter, click on  http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=981 and follow the prompts OR contact Lin McCarthy at mcbear@earthlink.net or by phone 757-850-4225.  Y’ALL COME RACING!

If you need something from the US Sailing website, be aware that it will down starting at 1700 EST on Friday, March 7 for 24-48 hours.  USSA plans to move the physical location of their servers during the down time.  If you need info, to contact someone, to update a file, etc., better do it now

The schooner VIRGINIA has an exciting schedule posted for 2014. Visit them at www.schoonervirginia to see their programs for youth and adults, as well as their 2014 port visit schedule. Make sure to sign up for their monthly e-newsletter."

MURPHY'S LAW: To most racers, this year it is a four letter word:  S-N-O-W.  And, the southern Bay is expecting more of the cold, wet stuff again today and tonight.  Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, suggests a roaring fireplace, a woolly robe, some hot, buttered rum, and a WIND movie DVD.  Get to another four letter word:  A-H-H-H ! /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.