Race Chair Bobbi Tosse reports on Berkeley Yacht Club’s 37th Wheeler Regatta, held on March 28 and 29:

Saturday, March 28th, was actually two separate events – the deep water Wheeler and the less-deep water City of Berkeley. The Wheeler was run with starts and finishes from the outer edge of the Berkeley Circle and utilized the entire Bay for the courses. The City of Berkeley was run from the center of the Circle and the courses were on the Circle. Both venues enjoyed flat water, beautiful sunshine and westerly winds up to 25. 

As Saturday’s sun set and the rowdy band took a break, the trophies were disbursed as follows:

City of Berkeley, Division B winner – Michael Yovino-Young’s Ranger 33 Boogie Woogie.

City of Berkeley, Division C winner – Richard von Ehrenkrook’s modified with a trapeze Cal 20, Can o’ Whoopass.

Overall City of Berkeley winner – Boogie Woogie.

The Wheeler had only one division and the overall and division winner was John Clauser’s modified Farr 40 1 Ton, Bodacious.

The Sunday event was a pursuit race. The wind gods toyed with our minds with a seemingly steady and light northerly. When the countdown had started, but the first starter hadn’t yet left, the wind stopped and swung to the west where it belonged. We were able to postpone, re-locate and get the gang going after only 20 minutes. The wind was less than the previous day, and again the sun was out. It was a marvelous, marvelous day.

As the time for finishing neared we saw that our racers seemed to be approaching in pairs. In fact, we on Committee were treated to a very exciting and entertaining set of match races. First up were Wicked, Richard Courcier’s bright red Farr 36 (PHRF 9), and Bodacious (PHRF 66). They rounded the leeward mark together! The next ¾ mile was a  treat indeed. Tack after tack and Bodacious still appeared to be between us and Wicked. Then, just as I swear I could see all those old dudes in the cockpit of Bodacious begin to melt, the wind shifted 90 degrees to the north leaving Wicked on the unfavored tack. The game was over and Bodacious had Wicked by 25 seconds.

Next up were Jeannette, Henry King’s Frers 40 (PHRF 60) and Stewball, Bob Harford’s Express 37 (PHRF 72). Again, we on Committee were treated to some America’s Cup style excitement. Jeannette eventually beat Stewball by just over a minute.

The 37th Wheeler didn’t draw a huge crowd, but they were rapaciously competitive! Full results can be found at www.berkeleyyc.org.

- Bobbi Tosse, Berkeley Yacht Club