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Rapid Transit, the Antrim 49 built at Berkeley Marine Center, has abandoned the race, and is making it's way back to the US mainland. The boat should be arriving in Southern California today. The crew are all safe though disappointed, according to Julie Partridge, who spoke with her husband Cree Partridge, the boat's builder, currently on board.

First indications are that the boat's innovative cassette rudder system failed on the race's third day.

We will provide more details in this article as they become available.

California Condor, the Antrim Class 40 built at Berkeley Marine Center, is continuing on to Hawaii after experiencing failure to the steering system during the 2010 Pacific Cup. The problem developed on Tuesday, July 13, and at the time, Condor was challenging for the lead in her division.

Jim Antrim, the boat's designer is on-board, and has posted the following report on his race blog:

Jim's Antrim's Pac Cup Blog

We will revise this article as additional information is available.

California Condor, the latest yacht to be built at Berkeley Marine Center, is now sailing to Hawaii as a participant in the Pacific Cup. On board the Antrim Class 40 for the race are owner Buzz Blackett, his son David, naval architect (and Condor's designer) Jim Antrim, Rolex Yachtswoman of the year Liz Bayliss, her husband and accomplished sailor Todd Hedin, and the also accomplished Tom Paulling. Condor is joined in the race by another Berkeley Marine Center product, the Antrim 49, Rapid Transit, which competes in another division.

Boat yards are interesting places to photograph. In this photo, a timelapse camera installation in our boat construction area becomes the subject of this photo. The area turned out to be the nesting location of choice for this mourning dove parent and young.

We've set up a new gallery with photos of activities around the yard, as well as albums of our boat construction projects.

View the full gallery.

Boat owners are often master do-it-yourselfers (DIY's), and Chris Letsche definitely fits the bill. Here he is preparing for a new boot stripe on his Newport 40 ketch, Owlheart. In the second photo, Chris is in front of a space-saving, 2-piece Spindrift dinghy which he built from plans.

When asked about his experience in the Boat Yard, Chris stated: "I love this place." We're happy to accommodate the boating community's DIY's.

A walk through Berkeley Marine Center this week was a reminder of the tremendous variety of boats that sail on San Francisco Bay. "It's great to see the boat yard packed with so many different types of projects," stated yard manager Karl Swartz. Boats are as varied as an Open 6.5 meter, a J22, a commercial fishing troller, a Farr 58 sailing yacht, and a 55 foot power speed boat. According to Karl, projects include engine repowers, installation of a custom, below-deck jib furling system, fuel tank replacements, and the usual assortment of fiberglass repairs and paint jobs.