(Hampton, VA)- As it has evolved over the course of the past few years,
more sailors are discovering the fun time being had by those who have
participated in Southern Bay Race Week. The event was hosted by Fishing
Bay YC down in Hampton, Virginia from May 29th to 31st and features
one-design racing for J/24s and J/70s as well as PHRF handicap classes
in both random-leg and around-the-buoys course. On the one-design side of things, the J/70s fielded a compact but highly competitive fleet. After an all-out nine-race duel, it was the husband/wife duo of Jenn & Ray Wulff on JOINT CUSTODY that took the J/70 crown for the weekend. After tossing their worst race (a 3rd), the Wulff’s won with a 12 pts net scoreline— simply counting all 1sts and 2nds. Not far off the mark was Tom Bowen’s REACH AROUND, posting an equally impressive record but having to offset a first race 5th to stay in contention to grab second overall. Third was Latane Montague’s FULL MONTY, having achieved that remarkable position by winning the first race, posting some good mid-fleet scores and even finishing last one race!
The J/24s essentially survived a thorough bushwhacking from Ron Medlin’s BASH, winning all but the last race to win by a zillion points (8 pts net to be exact). A country furlong behind and caught in a three-way rat race for second was Mike Veraldi’s QUICKY. After surviving a 6th race DSQ, they hung on to grab the silver by one point over Alan Bomar’s ROUNDABOUT (Yes!?) that also suffered some ignominious scores like a RET & DNC to hold onto the bronze.
In the world of PHRF racing, a number of J/Teams sailed extremely well. On the PHRF Racing divisions, Craig Wright’s J/109 AFTERTHOUGHT took first in PHRF A class with a commanding 1-2-2-3-3.5-5 for 11.5 pts net. Other J’s that finished in the top eight included Vernon Eberwine’s J/36 SEA STAR in 6th, Sam Mitchener’s J/109 DOUBLE EAGLE in 7th and Phil Briggs’ J/36 FEATHER in 8th.
The PHRF B class saw Ben Weeks & Michele Cochran’s J/29 RUMBLE snare second overall followed by Rusty Burshell’s J/30 COOL CHANGE. In sixth was Ryan McCrillis’ J/80 HAKA.
The PHRF Cruising divisions saw Jim Chapman’s J/37 JENERAL’S LADY in 6th in Cruising I and in Cruising II it was Andrew Arola’s J/24 NU POGODI! taking the silver. For more Southern Bay Race Week sailing information
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