The season has barely ended but the crew of Victory are already looking forward to the 1997 fitted dinghy campaign.

For the first time in five years and only the second time in the past ten, the Jubilee Cup is sitting on the mantle at the St.George's Dinghy and Sports Club. It will remain there all winter and serve as incentive for next September's showdown with arch-rivals Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.

Better yet, Victory skipper Alan Powell said, it means that the race will be held in St.George's Harbour, owing to tradition which calls for the winning club to host the following year's event.

And tradition is what the Jubilee Cup is all about.

It has been continuously contested for more than a century and "other than the Coronation Cup, it's the only (fitted dinghy) cup anybody sails for,'' said Powell. "Plus it's much older than the Coronation Cup (which is awarded to the overall season winner).'' Moreover, this year was the 100th anniversary of the Victory syndicate -- the current boat is the fourth such version -- and the 50th anniversary of the St.George's Fitted Dinghy Club.

Powell and Victory had a disappointing season a year ago and finished by losing to Port Royal in the Jubilee Cup. This year, Victory brought up the rear of the standings -- but as Powell points out, the boat "tends to execute better in heavy air. And three of the heavy air races this year were cancelled.'' (Ironically, this year's 45-minute triumph in Granaway Deep over William White and Elizabeth came in light air.) Compounding Victory's troubles this season were three sinkings and another race when she struck the stake boat.

Joining Powell were David Hillier, Damian Payne, Chris Fortnam, Paul Farrington and Leatrice Roman.

Fitted dinghies are a uniquely Bermudian craft, 14 feet long with up to seven crew and about 1,000 square feet of sail.