spotlight from more illustrious rivals aiding his team-mate and skipper, Martin Siese, to victory at International Race Week.

Once again it was Huston uncanny ability to correctly read the fluky shifts of the Great Sound and spur his IOD team to first place, earning praise from all corners.

"It's just incredible the foresight this man has,'' said a jubilant Siese after the race. "I wouldn't trade him for the world...not even for someone like Chris Dickson.'' "Mark it down in bold. He is the greatest,'' said fellow crew member Steven King's.

A much more modest Huston, currently residing in New York put it all down to old fashioned luck.

He indicated that he spotted a few clouds on the right side that might carry an extra puff of wind to aid their progress and Siese went for it.

"It was a gamble that paid off, that's all,'' said Huston. "Nothing more, nothing less. Martin deserves the credit, that's why he's the skipper and I'm a lowly deckhand.'' However, Huston's heroics could not prevent Bill Shore from collecting the first prize on offer at this year's International Race Week when he repeated his 1993 triumph in the Norwegian `A' Series.

A third place finish in the fourth race of the five race series yesterday gave the American an unassailable lead among the International One Design fleet, allowing Shore and his crew to bask in the spoils of victory at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

"This one was more fun as we had better finishes and seem to have sailed better, but we still feel a bit lucky,'' said Shore when asked if the second time felt as good as the first.

"Kevin Horsefield, a local guy on our crew who knows the conditions here well really helped us in picking the shifts.'' With the title wrapped up, Shore added that he would use the fifth race to try and fortify his standing as the overall series becomes the focus.

"We have one leg left in this series and it gives us a chance at doing very well if we can maintain top three finishes,'' he said. "We're going to let it all hang out and try to get a good position. We're not going to worry about where the competition is, but sail our own race.'' However, while Shore collected accolades for yet another conquest, Siese was organising his own plan of attack for the rest of the week along with brother Mark, Steven King and that man Huston.

"I'm overjoyed with the first place today,'' said Siese, who won handily over second place finisher Brad Burnham. "In past Race Weeks, Worlds and stuff I seem to save the firsts for the very end of the week. It's nice to get one in now and have something that we can work with.

"I think we got a bit fortunate today at times -- mostly because of Tony -- but once we got ahead I think we just played it conservatively and did well to stay ahead.

"Bill Shore has already won the first series, but we're within four points of him.

"With five races to go it's not a big lead, there's six boats still in contention and there's no point right now giving any attention to one single boat, we'll just try and fleet race...no different from today we'll just go out and try to win, right Tony.'' There was an historic event when the official gun fired signalling the start of the first International 14 race to be held on the Island in 30 years and Canadian Jay Cross wasted little time having his name etched in the record books.

Cross darted to an early advantage, faltered midway through the race, but was able to come from behind to usurp the challenge of countryman James Kidd.

The race was tight throughout as Kidd controlled the middle stages and he along with Cross and Peter Hayward were within a boat length of each other as they rounded the mark for the final upwind leg.

Cross, however, found a beneficial pocket of air on the left side of the course which carried him to victory ahead of Kidd and Phillips.