Jeff Zarwell of RegattaPRO reports on that organization’s final Winter Series race of the season, held on Saturday west of the Berkeley Circle:

Sometimes it’s great when the weather forecasters are wrong!

By Friday the forecast for Saturday was light and variable. I thought, "Great, another day like last month.”

Saturday arrived and it was sunny with a slight breeze in Sausalito. We headed out, and by mid-Raccoon Strait we were in some serious fog. None of the forecasts that I read said anything about fog. Oh well. So we went over to "F" buoy in the Circle and had maybe a 1/4-mile visibility.  For the next hour I repeatedly responded to requests for our position on the VHF. My signal boat had some issues getting there as well. Once they did arrive, we got right to work. Within 10 minutes of their arrival we were ready to go.

I should mention that during this entire time, the breeze was 6-8 knots and bouncing from 290 to 310 degrees. We set the course for 300 knowing full well that, per the forecast, the breeze was going to clock to the west, but I wanted to at least start the first race. And we did. Although some of the boats had a bit of a time finding the marks in the fog, we had breeze and we had a steady direction.

By 1330 the fog had suddenly burned off to reveal a beautiful day.

Quite to my surprise, the wind NEVER changed. My support boats were looking for things to do after last month, but there was nothing to do! We were lucky and got off three races for five fleets, and I was back in Sausalito by 1600. A great way to end the series.

- Jeff Zarwell, National Race Officer

Meanwhile, over on the Circle itself:

Saturday, February 13, saw 58 boats come out to the center of the Circle to enjoy light air and a sunny afternoon. After a 20-minute delay to enhance the Berkeley YC Race Committee’s capability of seeing the other end of the line, the gang was sent on an 8-mile windward/leeward course to GOC. There were no crashes, no burns, just a pleasant and welcome break from all the rain.

Sunday the 14th was a bit ‘different’. First, there was absolutely no wind at the appointed noon start time, so a postponement was called. After about 30 minutes, a gentle breeze filled in from the west. Unfortunately, this gentle breeze also brought new and very thick fog. Since we could not see the pin, the postponement continued. We were being offered some ingenious options from a few racers. Sweet Okole offered to start at the peg and be ‘in charge’ of calling any over earlies. We were coming close to just forgetting the whole thing, when, ‘poof’, the fog lifted and we were able to start the event at 13:35. The 33 boats were then sent to FOC. This sweet little breeze never increased in strength, so a shortened course at BOC was called. Thus, all the racers were able to party with their Valentine sweeties by 1600. 

Special mention goes to Hoot, Andrew Macfie’s Olson 30. They tossed yummy Valentine candy kisses into the Race Committee’s cockpit. Thank you! (They also have 4 bullets in Saturday’s series and 4 bullets in Sunday’s. I believe this a first. Hmmm. Does candy make you go fast?)

The next Midwinter activity is the Champion of Champions and Winners Race. All the first places in division from both the Saturday and Sunday series get to go against each other to vie for the ‘coveted’ Kirt Brooks’ Memorial. In addition, there will be a start for all of the second place finishers and a third start for all the third and fourth place trophy winners. All this excitement will occur on Sunday, February 28. After this, all the season trophies will be awarded around 1700 at BYC.

- Bobbi Tosse, Co-chair BYC Race Committee

Final series results are available at www.berkeleyyc.org and at www.regattapro.com. Thanks to Sergei Zavarin for the great photos from the RegattaPRO race; see more at ultimate-yachtshots.smugmug.com.