Fall Junior Program
The Fall Junior Program is in full swing with 2 classes left Sept 7th, & 14th and our annual Fall regatta for Optis and 420s to be held on Saturday Sept 21st.  Registration for the regatta begins at 9:30. Skippers Meeting at 10:00 with First Warning at 11:00.  A cookout social will follow racing mid - afternoon.  All are welcome to participate in the regatta even if they did not do the Fall Sailing program.  Registration is 15.00 for anyone not enrolled in Fall sailing.

September Membership Meeting

September 8 at 7:30pm
Lunar Outpost Surface Systems
Join us for a fun exploration of  NASA's lunar outpost architecture concepts.  Discover the habitation, mobility and communication systems necessary to support exploration objectives. Find out about the surface architecture required, including the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, the Orion crew exploration vehicle, and the Altair lunar lander for transport to the Moon. 
 
Bring the kids & grandkids for a night out.  Dinner in the lounge available beginning at 5pm.  Popcorn will be provided. 
 
Presented by Pat Troutman, a Virginia Tech grad, who has worked for NASA Langley since 1984. He serves as lead for lunar surface systems integration for the Constellation Program and as Exploration Systems Mission Directorate strategic analysis lead at Langley.  He lives in Williamsburg with his wife Jean and daughters Leanne & Robyn. 

HYC Wednesday Night Races
 
Wednesday race nights continue!
Information and entry forms are available in the HYC  office.
Race menu available 5-9 PM

Hampton Annual Middle Ground Light Race Postponed until Sunday September 7th
 
Submitted by Mark Wheeler
The Hampton Annual is continuing with the new format this year.  We will once again be racing around government marks on the Bay Days Saturday.  One of these marks will be HYC club member Bob Gonsoulin's Middle Ground Lighthouse.
We have added another great feature to our club signature event.  From 9:15 to 10:00, we have set up a flare exercise just outside the harbor.  As boats head out to the race course for the 10:30 warning gun, they will be able to make a slight diversion and pass through the designated area just to the west of day marker "3" and light off their old flares.  This is not only an excellent chance to gain experience in the use of your safety equipment, but also an opportunity to get rid of your expired flares.  Please read the article below carefully as strict adherence to the USCG-approved procedures is mandatory to participate in this flare exercise.
Once again this year, Lin McCarthy has agreed to do her best with her favorite boat driver John, to take a photo of every boat which races.  Her framed photos proved to be quite popular last year.  They will be presented to all race participants at the HYC Awards night in December.  Like last year, Bob Gonsoulin has invited club members who are not racing out to his Middle Ground Light House to watch and cheer the racers as they round it.  To be able to do this, you need to be able to climb a boarding ladder up about 8 steps.  If you anchor your spectator boat adjacent to the light house, please put it on the side away from the racers.  This will most likely be the NE side of Middle Ground.  Once the racers arrive back at the Club, beverages and snacks will be available on the flag deck.
Be aware that the Peninsula Track Club is running a 10K race that will start at the Air and Space Museum.  Bridge Street will be closed from about 0730 to slightly after 0800.  If you need to get to the Club during this time you will be able to come down Victoria Blvd.  Hope to see you there.  

Light Off your Old Flares
Do you have flares that have expired and not know how to dispose of them?  Here is a great way to take care of that problem and gain experience for you and your crew with their use.  We have approval from the USCG to conduct a flare lighting exercise on the way out to the Hampton Annual on September7th.  All boats participating in the Annual as well as any other boats (power or sail) from HYC are welcome.  The Coast Guard has approved this as long as we follow the below procedures.  Please pull this sheet from the Mainsheet and have it with you as a reference if you choose to participate.  Sending me an email with the requested information is mandatory.  I look for everyone to help make this an orderly and safe operation that will also be lots of fun. Mark M. Wheeler
  
Hampton Yacht Club Flare Exercise 2008
Safety Officer - Mark Wheeler (cell 757-581-0781)
 
Any boat racing in the Hampton Annual Regatta or any other HYC boat, power or sail, may participate.
 
All sailboats will have their sails lowered.
 
To participate in the flare exercise you must send me an email at mark.m.wheeler@verizon.net with the following information:
 
1.                  Boat Name
2.                  Boat Type
3.                  Person In Charge
4.                  Type and number of flares to be fired
 
The flare time window is from 0915 until 1000 on September 7, 2008
 
The location is from Hampton Bar Day Marker "3"  N 37 00.191, W076 20.523 to the safety boat "Salty Dog" located at N 36 59.750, W 076 21.282.  The safety boat will be on a bearing of 245 degrees at .75nm from Day Marker "3".
 
Each boat will check in with "Flare Safety" on channel 72 after rounding tripod "11" and before arriving at day marker "3" with their boat name.  Example - "Cool Change checking in" Flare Safety will respond with "Roger Cool Change, working north side" or south side depending on wind and any other special instructions.
 
Once cleared in, the boats shall round day marker "3" leaving it to starboard and proceed slowly single file toward the safety boat (245 degree course) and commence lighting off their flares. Handheld flares should be first.  Pistol flares should be held until well clear of the channel.
 
All boats shall round the safety boat leaving it to port and proceed south toward the Hampton Annual starting area or back to the channel.  Do not exit the area before rounding the safety boat.  No flares will be set off either prior to day marker "3" or after passing the safety boat. 

Hampton Boater Survey   
 
The City of Hampton has contracted with The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to undertake a study of both resident and non-resident boat owners in order to learn more about the economic importance of boating to the city's economy.  Information from this study will help evaluate factors that influence your decision to keep your boat in Hampton.  HYC has been asked by VIMS to assist by forwarding this information to it's members.
The survey forms and return envelopes are available in the HYC business office for those non-resident members who wish to participate.  Additionally, the survey is available on-line at http://www.vims.edu/adv/marina.html. Resident boaters who wish to participate may do so on-line at http://www.vims.edu/adv/hamptonboater.html.