Erik Soria stood up to the rough conditions to defend his 10 kilometres title in dominant fashion at the Zobec Round the Sound Swim.

Soria, a former United States Olympic Trials swimmer, set a record time of 2hr 12min 25sec in last year’s race but was understandably slower yesterday given the southwesterly winds, finishing in 2:15:44.

The 35-year-old was more than ten minutes faster than second-place Mark Loftis, of the US, in 2:25:40, with his compatriot Mike Caputo coming third in 2:25:41.

Soria moved to Bermuda two years ago after falling in love with the island after competing in the Round the Sound Swim several times as a visitor.

Described as the “Chris Estwanik of local swimming” by Nick Strong, the race organiser, Soria pulled away at the start of the race and used his experience to maintain a comfortable lead over the chasers.

“You never know which visitors or up-and-coming swimmers are going to show up,” said Soria, who first competed in Bermuda in 2010.

“I used my experience and knowledge of the course to manage the race, which was much more challenging this year.

“You can’t tell from here at the finish line, but six kilometres of this course was very, very rough with the southwestly winds. It was tough and there are some beat-up swimmers coming in today.”

Soria, who won last month’s National Open Water Championships at Turtle Bay at Southside, has encouraged more overseas swimmers to come to Bermuda and experience the “beautiful course” at Harrington Sound.

“More and more people should come from overseas,” he said. “It’s a really well-run event and the scenery is beautiful. It’s a great experience every time.”

In the women’s 10K race Eileen Mullowney, 26, held off a spirited challenge from 58-year-old Suzanne Helm in a sprint to the finish line at Palmetto Bay in Flatts.

Mullowney, a Bermuda resident from the US, finished in 2:37:28, just a fraction of a second ahead of Helm, of California.

“The back half of the race was pretty choppy and it was definitely harder than last year,” said Mullowney, who trains with Soria and whose sister, Julie Mullowney, came sixth in the women’s 4K race.

“I came second last year so it was good to grab the win in a really close finish with an amazing swimmer. She [Helm] is 58, so I have a few years on her.”

Ky Hurst, a grinder for Oracle Team USA, lived up to his billing as the overwhelming favourite in the 4K race, finishing in 47:59, exactly ten minutes ahead of second place Jack Harvey.

Brian Desmond was third in 58:05 while Peter Marshall, a former world-record holder in the 50 metres backstroke for the US, came fourth in 58:49.

Hurst, better known for his exploits as a two-times Olympian and icon of Ironman surf life-saving, said swimming remained a great way for him to stay sailing-fit as Oracle look to defend the “Auld Mug” next summer.

“It was magic,” said Hurst, who competed at London in 2012 and Beijing in 2008 in the 10k open water.

“I had thoughts of swimming the 10K but that’s a past life for me now and it’s all about the America’s Cup from here on out. I am doing everything I can to stay as fit as I can to help the cup stay in the US.”

In the 800 metres swim, Finn Moseley claimed victory in 12:08 ahead of Bella Howes in 13:19 and Mark Freyenberger in 13:23.

Sue Wagner, of New York, won the 2k in 29:14, with Nicholas Pilgrim second in 29:22 and Lynsey Palmer third in 29:26.

Gabriella Pucci was victorious in the 7.5k in 2:09:05, finishing ahead of Tess Tulley, of Pennsylvania, in 2:12:26 and Nancy Tunstall, of Maryland, in 2:15:01.

Update: this story has been changed as Sue Wagner’s time was 29:19 and not 14:39 as originally stated