The Annual Long Distance Comet race continues to grow in popularity - and so too do the risks of competitors colliding with spectator boats.

There were two separate incidents during Monday's race which jeopardised sailors' safety - one in which disaster was barely avoided.

Prior to the start in Somerset, a Police rescue boat was summoned to clear the start line after at least two boats ignored cries to shift. And when sailors tacked upwind to the finish in St.George's Harbour, the final marker was obscured by a large flotilla of spectator boats.

Even the official race committee boat had to negotiate several smaller vessels in order to make it to the line in time for the finish.

During another close encounter, competitor James Perry nearly collided with a spectator boat as he tacked starboard side upwind to the finish line at Ordnance Island.

"I think boaters need to be educated on where they should be situated for next season," said local Comet Association spokesperson Gladwin Lambert yesterday.

"We need to help the people to understand the positions to cruise by because we want the spectator boats out there (on the course) but we want them to understand sailing and where they should situate their boats.

"On Monday big boats were blanketing our sails and they were just looking at it as cruising along down the sidelines but people just don't understand being on the windward side or the leeward side."

Lambert advised spectators to always remain on the leeward side or to avoid being directly behind the sailors whenever they competed.

"The other problem we encountered was that a lot of boats were crossing in front of the sailboats and it was very difficult for the sailors to control their boats because we were encountering cross swells, as well as the swells that were already out there," added Lambert.

"I had at least three occasions where I nearly curved my mast inside out because there was a big 40-foot boat that crossed in front of me and went straight down a bit and then crossed again.

"They just didn't understand what could've occurred, but I nearly flipped over on three occasions."

Comet racing resumes this Sunday in St. George's harbour.