SOUTHERN BAY RACE WEEK – They came. They raced. They partied.   SBRW racers gathered in Hampton for three days of competition that tested the full range of racing skills. On Friday, a lightly rainy, semi-dreary day weather-wise, they raced in Hampton Roads Harbor; on Saturday, a bright sunny, blustery day, featuring NNE breezes in the high teens and low 20s and accompanying seas, they raced one another in a distance race off Bukroe; on Sunday they squared off in multiple windward-leeward races off Ocean View, again under sunny skies with perfect, steady, racing wind. When all was said and done, Neil Ford and Lis Biondi (J24, Rocket J) won their fleet and the coveted BLACK SEAL CUP, thus proving they owned the Bay, no matter the racing skills required or the existing conditions. A new award presented at SBRW 2014, was the regatta Sportsmanship Award, which went to Lou Lewis, who sailed his O’Day 34, Incentive III, in the PHRF B fleet. The SBRW traditional Boat of the Day Awards, sponsored by the regatta sailmakers were presented to: Friday – WINTERS SAILMAKERS (Red Division): Rusty Burshell, Cool Change; (Blue Division): Tyler Moore, Tumbling Dice. Saturday - NORTH SAILS (Red Division): USNA Midshipmen, Gallant; (Blue Division): Bob Fleck, Horizon; ULLMAN SAILS (Cruising Division):Dave Bettis, Surely Boo. Sunday – DOYLE SAILMAKERS (Red Division): Ben Weeks and Michele Cochran, Rumble; (Blue Division): Neil Ford and Lis Biondi, Rocket J; BAXTER SAILMAKERS (Cruising Division): Larry Bryant, Whisper. SBRW 2014 CLASS WINNERS: PHRF A1 – Sledd Shelhorse, Meridian X ; PHRF A2 – Bob Mosby, Cyrano; PHRF B1 – Ben Weeks and Michele Cochran, Rumble; J-70 (one design) – Alexander Hanna, Vortex; VIPER 640 (one design) – Tyler Moore, Tumbling Dice; J-24 (one-design) – Neil Ford and Lis Biondi, Rocket J; PHRF C – Bob and Lisa Fleck, Horizon; PHRF non-Spin – Jake and Pat Brodersen, Midnight Mistress; Cruising – Larry Bryant, Whisper. Regatta Principal Race Officer and Red Division – John McCarthy; Race Officer Blue Division – Brian Deibler; Signal Boats – Bill Brown (Eleanor Susan) and Jim Shoemaker (Shoestring); Mark Boats – Bill and David Gibbings; Dave Hamilton, Joe Lupton; Marshall Findley and Rich Wilcox; Tom and Jane Fowler; Jim Strang. Event Chairman – Jack Pope. There were 89 SBRW entries in 2014 (the exact same number as the previous year). For complete details of overall and individual race results click on  http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=981

Especially Tight at SBRW:  Two classes at SBRW at the end of racing on Sunday had two boats tied in points for the top of the overall standings.  In PHRF A2 Bob Mosby (Cyrano) and Phil Briggs (Feather) went at it everyday, every race.  It came down to the last race of the last day and the tie was broken when Cyrano finished ahead of Feather in the final race of the regatta. In the Cruising Division Larry Bryant, Whisper, won the tie breaker, by having a better string of finishes, over Bob Howell, Cymru.   AND, in the J70 one-design class, Alexander Hanna sailed the Vortex boat, Vortex, to a one point overall win over Latane Montague, who was racing his J70, Full Monty, for the very first time.  

2014 Cock Island Race (June 13 – 14): Portsmouth Boat Club is deep into party and race planning for this year's event.  The "warm up" party will be the evening of Friday, June 13th after the Skipper's meeting at Portsmouth's North Landing Park.  The race will start on Saturday morning June 14th, with the course from the Portsmouth Seawall heading down the Elizabeth River and back.  The awards ceremony and post-race party will be Saturday evening.  Live music, liquid refreshments, and food provided by Roger Brown's restaurant will be features of both parties.  For info click on  www.portsmouthboatclub.org.

A couple of new race boats on the southern Bay have arrived. A Landing School LS-30 - Mitch Doughtie (Portsmouth Boat Club) brought this beauty from Boston, Massachusetts, and has her stashed at Ocean Marine where the North Sails Loft is setting her up. Mitch hopes to have CORKER ready to go for the Cock Island Race (June 13-14). Mitch said he spent two years on his boat search. From the looks of the find, time well spent! And, Latane Montague actually broke out his J70 (#589), FULL MONTY, at SBRW this weekend. The break out would have to be termed very successful since he took second place overall in the SBRW J70 class!
YIKES! CORRECTION: In the Down the Bay Race, Tony Parker’s Morris 47, REINDEER, was actually the first monohull across the finish line. She finished at 04:55:35. Tony hails from Washington, DC. Southern Bay sailors on the crew included Graham Garrenton and Mark Wheeler. Graham said Mark “. . .put his supreme navigation skills at work!” Thus, they had a quick trip!

Southern Bay 505 racer, Henry Amthor, finished 14th out of 39 competing at the International 505 North American Championship at Santa Cruz Yacht Club over Memorial Day weekend. Howard Hamlin won the regatta and the title by one point over Mike Martin. The 505s sailed 9 races to determine the NA champion.

The Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation, Schooner VIRGINIA, is offering a five day summer camp program here in the Bay, June 30 - July 4 for 11-15 year old students. for more information go to - http://www.schoonervirginia.org/youth-program-schedule/  .

COMING UP THIS WEEKEND:
38th Annual Norfolk Harborfest® (Fri, June 6 – Sun, June 8) at Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront. The entire weekend is stocked full of FREE, distinctive, family-friendly FUN on land and sea! The Downtown Norfolk Waterfront transforms during Harborfest® to include tall ships in the Parade of Sail, the largest fireworks show on the East Coast, local, regional and national entertainment, family activities, unique and unusual performances, water activities and much more. Festival hours: Friday, June 6th from Noon – 11 pm, Saturday June 7th from Noon – 11 pm, and Sunday, June 8th from Noon – 6 pm.

Double Handed Race (Sun, June 8): Hampton Yacht Club, contact Rich Wilcox (757) 773-6292. OPEN TO ALL. Skippers Meeting is at high noon (1200) on race day at Hampton Yacht Club. Boats must have a current (2014) PHRF rating certificate. Life jackets must be worn at all times; no spinnakers allowed; and no autopilots. Awards will be presented in December at the HYC Annual Awards Night. Entries are due by 1130 on race day. $20 for USSA members; $25 for non-members. Submit entry forms and fees to: Race Committee (Double Handed Race), Hampton Yacht Club, 4707 Victoria Boulevard, Hampton, VA 23669.

MURPHY'S LAW: Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, had the best time ever at SBRW seeing old friends, making new ones, and racing the brains out. If you hear stories, Dear Friends, about the Racing Beagle getting cozy with the Black Seal, . . . just don’t go there!! What happens at SBRW, stays at SBRW. Ahhhooooooo! /S/ Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.