The Race Committee's Point of View

January 16, 2012

This story comes to us from the Berkeley Yacht Club Midwinters Race Committee:

Studies have shown that spending time on Race Committee boats helping to run races will improve racing performance. Winning racers know that from the vantage point of a Race Committee boat, one can learn many things to help improve one’s racing skills. (Please note: In the interest of truth in reporting, we don’t have the results of any such “studies."  We are simply borrowing the phrase from the advertising industry.) What has not been offered as a reason to participate in running races is what sights we on committee get to see. 

On Sunday, January 15, we thought that perhaps winter had decided to show up. There were dark, menacing clouds, the wind was cold and more robust than the day before, and there were even white caps. As the fleet was rounding the first weather mark, the sun tried to re-establish its dominance of the last three months. Suddenly, as the racers proceeded downwind, each spinnaker looked as if it had its own separate lighting system and the sight was breathtaking. The attached picture doesn't begin to capture the sparkle and surprise, but it is the best my cell phone could come up with. The real picture will continue to live in my brain.

So, to see sights as awesome as this on a regular basis, pick a series or a race, contact the Race Chairperson and come on out on Race Committee. The food is good, too.

The results of the weekend's racing are posted at www.berkeleyyc.org. It was another super weekend.

- Respectfully submitted, Bobbi Tosse & Bob Gray, Berkeley YC Race Committee people