Fitted dinghy racing enjoyed its traditional May 24 start before a colourful flotilla of boats in St George's Harbour on Friday.

But the day's action was curtailed to just one race as increasing winds forced the sailors back to shore.

The sole event for the coveted Heritage Trophy was won handily by Sandys Boat Club's Challenger.

Although the RBYC's Contest tried to push the envelope by hoisting a larger spinnaker on the second leeward leg, which cut heavily into Challenger's lead, it wasn't enough to force any errors from veteran skipper Paul Fisher.

Elizabeth and Victory, sailing out of the RHADC, struggled in the stiff breeze, finishing further behind in third and fourth respectively.

The fitted dinghy class has suffered over the years, depleted in some cases by a lack of funds to maintain the boats, but mostly by the inability to recruit sailors willing to commit the time it takes to mount a successful Coronation Cup campaign.

This moved Bermuda Fitted Dinghy Association to shorten the racing schedule.

However, former Sandys Boat Club commodore and Challenger crew member, Mike Tatem, has gone a step further by recruiting and organising a rotating contingent of some 25 "retired" fitted dinghy skippers and crews from across the Island to ready and race the Somerset boat, which otherwise would not have been able to participate.

This appeared to catch the imagination the May 24 crowds, many of whom were cheering loudly for the familiar light blue hulled boat, which has not won the Coronation Trophy in over 10 years.