At a time when most boatmen have thrown away their snow shovels and hibernated, headed for a warm bar, or returned to work, the varsity sailing team has scheduled one, last, never-say-die regatta.

The yachtsmen will meet five skippers from the Marblehead Frostbite Sailing Club tomorrow afternoon in a series of team races on snow-but-not-ice-bound Marblehead Bay. The weather forecast calls for rain and possible snow.

Sailing for the Crimson will be Carter Ford, Mike Lehman, John Marshall, Mike Horn, and Chuck Angle (in his first race of the season). Three former Harvard tars--Bill Owens, Tim Brown, and Dr. Frank Healy--head the list of host skippers.

12-Foot Dinghies

Before the series, the competitors will have to dig out their 12-foot Inter-Club dinghies, which the recent blizzard allegedly buried under more than a foot of snow. It will be a test of sorts at least for the boats--a class that the yacht club has been considering for possible purchase next spring.

The most notable members of the Marblehead outfit will not take to the water: U.S. 5.5 meter Olympic champion George O'Day and sailmaker Ted Hood. The Crimson's chief threat will probably be low visibility and freezing spray.

The series itself will consist of five races. The winner must take three; to the loser will go a hot fire.

And, like the mailmen, the Crimson skippers reportedly will sail despite most of the forces of chaos. "The only thing that will stop us is wind over 35 knots," said Carter Ford.