There's a new racing sailboat in town and it got off to a hot start last weekend.

The Zap 26, Angry Hillbillies II, co-owned by Avery Stewart and Paul Moore, won all three races to take first in class in Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club's VCORC random leg regatta.

With sailmaker Deke Klatt aboard, Angry Hillbillies II won each race easily to take first in the Spinnaker B class.

Other winners were John Thawley's XS in Class A, Tom Warshauer's Quiet Times in non-spinnaker C and Harry Caporuscio's Lizzy Anne in non-spinnaker D.

Fifteen boats competed. Each of the four classes sailed three races.

Results:

Class A: 1—XS, John Thawley (2-1-2); 2—Funatic, Rod Abbott (-3); 3—West Wing, Dennis West (3-2-2); 4—Superluminal, Jerzy Poprawski (dns-dns-4).

Class B: 1—Angry Hillbillies II, Stewart & Klatt (1-1-1); 2—Blue Star, Larry Spencer (2-2-2); 3—Perfect Balance, Richard Sharpe (3-4-3); 4—Fusee (4-3-6); 5—Rambunctious, Michael Lorenzen (5-5-5); 6—Zuma Jay, Kevin Dickmann (6-6-4).

Class C: 1—Quiet Times, Tom Warshauer (1-1-1); 2—Alcyone, Gary Goodman (2-2-2).

Class D: 1—Lizzy Anne, Harry & Elizabeth Caporuscio (1-2-2); 2—Rosie, Joe Jenson (3-3-1); 3—Velero, Brent Swanson (4-); 4—Freedom Too, Mike Delaney (2-4-4).

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A big fleet has checked in for this weekend's Hardway Race from Santa Barbara to Ventura.

Actually, it is only hardway for a few boats that are choosing to race from Santa Barbara round Santa Cruz Island to Ventura. Most of the 35-boat fleet will be racing the coastal route rather than the often stormy course around the island.

The race is co-hosted by Pierpont Bay Yacht Club and Santa Barbara Sailing Club.

Only three boats have signed up for the hardway course around the island: Alex Blankfield's Santa Cruz 50, Deception; Dan Chepley's Tripp 40, Colt 45, and Bill Guilfoyle's Santa Cruz 52, Prevail.

All the other boats will be racing less strenuous in-shore courses.

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"Sixteen Ways to Keep Your Lover" is the title of Saturday's sailing adventure lecture, presented by the Ventura Maritime Foundation. The lecture and slide presentation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St. The cost is $15.

The lecture highlights ways for sailors to help their significant others to gain confidence, feel more comfortable aboard and gain competency before setting sail.

For more information, contact Dean Prophet at 794-1747.

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Ventura County High Point Standings:

Velero, Islander 29, Brent Swanson, 34; Funatic, Choate 48, Rod Abbott, 32; Rival, J-35, Dick Velthoen, 30; Deception, Santa Cruz 50, Alex Blankfield, 25; Quiet Times, Hunter 37, Tom Warshauer, 24; Colt 45, Tripp 40, Dan Chepley, 23; Perfect Balance, Olson 30, Richard Sharpe, 22; Fusee 21, The Source 19, Blue Star 18, XS 18, Fifty One Fifty 17, Zuma Jay 16, West Wing 15, Maine Squeeze 14, School's Out 10, Jaded 10, Tortoise 10, Hillbillies II 10, Coyote 9, Wind n Sea 9.

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Upcoming sailboat races:

n Saturday, Hardway Race. Hosted by Pierpont Bay Yacht Club, this popular race starts at Santa Barbara and ends at Ventura and is one third of PBYC's Island Series. The more adventurous skippers and crews opt to sail in the "Hardway" class around Santa Cruz Island. Other classes take coastal routes.

The race scores double points in the Ventura County High Point Standings. The skippers' meeting is at 10:30 a.m., with the race starting at noon. For more information, contact Richard Countess at 818-889-2669 or e-mail him at rcountess@aol.com.

n Saturday, May 31, Anacapa Island to port. Hosted by Anacapa Yacht Club, this is the first of its Anacapa Island Series. The other races are the Platform A Race on July 5 and the Wes Golemon Memorial (around Anacapa to starboard) on Aug. 9. The skippers' meeting is at 8:30 a.m. and the race will start at 11 a.m. outside Channel Islands Harbor. Entry fee is $75 for the series or $30 for individual races. For more information, contact Gene Beville at 985-7921.

n Sunday, June 1, J-24/PHRF regatta. Hosted by Ventura Yacht Club, this is a one-day regatta for J-24s and for a PHRF class. It is a good opportunity for Olson 30 skippers and crews to tune up for the Olson 30 Nationals, which will be held at Channel Islands Harbor in July. The skippers' meeting is at 9 a.m. and racing will start at 11. The entry fee is $40 for the full series of regattas or $10 per regatta. For more information, contact Stan Whisenhunt at 659-1464 or e-mail him at Swhisenhun@aol.com.

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2008 Ocean sailboat racing schedule:

Saturday, PBYC, SBSC, Hardway Race, Land Rover 1 (double points).

May 31, AYC, Anacapa to Port (Anacapa 1).

June 1, VYC, J-24 & PHRF regatta

June 7, CIYC, Cooke Memorial Double handed 3

June 14, VYC, Governor's Cup (double points).

June 21-22, CIYC, Channel Islands to Del Rey

June 29, VYC, Commodore Class Revival 2.

— Fax your race announcements, results and other information to Stan Whisenhunt at 659-3058 or call him at 659-1464. His e-mail address is Swhisenhun@aol.com.