Don Wilson and the crew of Convexity came from behind to win stage one of the 2016 M32 Series North America in the Great Sound yesterday.

Wilson and his team-mates trailed Sally Barkow, the former Olympic sailor and Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, and crew of The Magenta Project for the lead at the top of the five-team leaderboard on a tie break after the first day of racing was completed.

However, the Chicago-based skipper struck form when it mattered most on the final day of racing to pip Barkow by a solitary point.

Charlie Enright, the Volvo Ocean Race skipper, and crew of 11th Hour Racing rounded off the podium in third.

Conditions throughout the regatta ranged from 20-14 knots, which kept the racing fleet on their toes.

Wilson and Barkow each posted six bullets. However, Barkow’s fourth place finish in the eighth and final race on Saturday proved decisive as it gave her rival just enough room to go on and claim early bragging rights in the 2016 M32 Series North America, which is being held in Bermuda for the first time this year.

“What a great event the M32 Series Bermuda turned out to be,” read a post on the M32 Series Facebook page.

“A huge thanks to the organisers, the volunteers, staffs, umpires, race committee and more that make the M32 Series Bermuda a success.”

Organised by the M32 North America in conjunction with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the 2016 M32 Series North America comprises of four stages that will run from January to April with one event per month.

The fleet will return to Bermuda next month for the second stage of the series to be held February 19-21.

The third stage runs March 11-13 and fourth and final stage April 15-17.

The M32 Series was formed to create a professional sailing series on a regional level and is contested in 32-foot open, one-design catamarans sailed by a crew of four or five.

The first M32 was launched in local waters last October during the World Match Racing Tour sanctioned Argo Group Gold Cup.

Among the field for next month’s second stage of the M32 Series North America is Ian Williams and GAC Pindar, the past Gold Cup and five-times WMRT champions.