“How was the racing tonight?” we asked Lloyd Burns of the J/30 Prime Mover, hoping to get a good quote. “It was cold!” answered Lloyd, as he rushed into the clubhouse. Cold and windy - enough wind for two laps to D from the Berkeley Yacht Club mark just outside the marina breakwater, even on the first Friday night in April. (D is a daymark near the Berkeley Pier).

The racers take turns being the committee boat. This week was Mike Yovino-Young’s turn, with the gang aboard his Ranger 33 Boogie Woogie. Competitors are instructed to go by GPS time, and not absolutely rely on sound and visual signals.

Three starts five minutes apart begin at 6:35 with the slower, heavier boats starting first, including the first to finish, Bill Chapman’s Catalina 27 Latin Lass (no big upset there!) The second boat in was one in the second start, Chris Kim’s Ultimate 24 Cookie Jar.

Awards are presented at the end of the evening, following a barbecue dinner at the club, but this is a very casual series, low tech series, and results aren’t posted on the club website.

The series continues every Friday night through September. June 27, July 25 and August 29 will be special races, as only boats driven by women will qualify for first place trophies and a point toward the championship.

For instructions and more, see www.berkeleyyc.org/racing. After 20 years of organizing Friday nights and Chowder races for BYC, Paul Kamen has passed the duty on to Olson 25 sailor Tom Nemeth.