Racing Championship for the second year running at the weekend.

Barboza (7-0), pipped Paula Lewin (6-1) to the title -- but both have claimed the final places for this year's 2000 Colorcraft Gold Cup.

Sponsored by Goslings, the two skippers and their crews will compete as Team Black Seal during the competition to be sailed at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club between October 22 and 29.

Barboza earned his title after a single day's sailing on Saturday -- Sunday's events being cancelled because of a lack of wind.

Eight skippers contested this year's championship in International One Designs (IODs) in ideal conditions -- 10 to 12 knot southerly breeze and bright sunshine. However a passing cold front on Sunday put paid to any chance of racing then.

Final results: 1 Adam Barboza 7-0; 2 Paula Lewin 6-1; 3 Andreas Lewin 4-3; 4 Glenn Astwood 4-3.

The forthcoming Gold Cup is now in its 52nd year and involved 33-foot International One Design sloops on short windward-leeward courses inside Hamilton harbour.

The event gets underway with qualifying rounds for 16 unseeded teams. The eight top skippers from the qualifiers will race against eight seeded skippers in a knockout competition to decide the eventual winner.

The local skippers will be up against a veritable `who's who' of the world's top match racers.

America's Cup champion skipper Russell Coutts, American Dennis Conner and Australian Peter Gilmour will be among a star-studded fleet which also features Chris Dickson, Magnus Holmberg, Dean Barker and the defending Gold Cup champion, Andy Green. The finals will be sailed on October 29, followed by the official prizegiving.

Golden girls: Skipper Paula Lewin (second left) and her crew who will compete in the Gold Cup.