reach the 1996 Olympics in Savannah, Georgia, left yesterday to take part in an Olympic Class Regatta at Kingston, Ontario.

However, while others such as Malcolm Smith, Brett Wright and Paula Lewin are veterans of such regattas, Berkeley is making his maiden voyage toward qualification for what many regard as the pinnacle of sailing.

As a sailing neophyte Berkeley would make no predictions, but was optimistic of how he might fare against some of the best Finn sailors in North America.

"My chances are good, but the competition is tough,'' said Berkeley, commodore at Mid Atlantic Boat and Sports Club. "The only way for me to get better and be able to qualify is to go overseas, because we don't have many of the Olympic boats racing here on the Island.

"I give credit to Peter Bromby, but he has only really started doing well the last two years and that's because he is constantly going abroad.'' Berkeley was with Bromby at a recent event held at the much-maligned Olympic facility in Savannah just over a week ago -- Bromby was involved in the Star class with Lee White while Berkeley tackled the Finn -- where he finished near the bottom of the fleet.

Nevertheless, the Bermudian was the subject of a feature article in the Savannah Morning News.

The story's headline read "Sailors of African descent rare on the world yacht racing circuit'' and Berkeley was highlighted as being the lone black sailor among 650 participating in the 1995 NationsBank International Regatta.

"She (Viele) came up to me the day before racing started and asked if I minded being interviewed and then started acting a bit nervous, saying that she hoped I wouldn't get mad at her because of what she wanted to ask me,'' said Berkeley, who added he found the ordeal quite humorous.

"Then she began asking me what it was like being the only black sailor there, but I told her I had no problem with it.'' Also quoted in the article was University of Colorado sociologist Jay Coakley, who suggested the reason for the lack of blacks was economics and sailing was an expensive sport.

"Certainly to the extent that black households have less income. ..blacks can't get involved in sports that involve expensive equipment or that aren't publicly supported,'' Coackley was reported as having said.

Meanwhile, for his part, Berkeley explained how conversely many blacks in Bermuda were able to not only compete, but thrive alongside whites and that he had never encountered any negative stereotyping on the racing circuit.

"If you come to Bermuda, there are a lot of black sailors,'' he said. "I've had no problems with name-calling and I've sailed all over the world.'' Following the Kingston event, which starts on Saturday and involves six races, Berkeley will make the two-and-a-half hour drive to Toronto for the Finn Class North American Championships.