Stevie Dickinson and crew Khia Hodsoll celebrated a hat-trick of Flag Pole to Flag Pole comet race victories when they successfully defended their crown for the third straight year on Sunday.

Throwing caution to the wind, the two-time defending champion overcame a slow start in Hamilton Harbour and conquered 25 knot westerly winds heading to the finish line in St.George?s Harbour where he beat out nearest rival Gladwin Lambert by a 250-yard margin.

Making Dickinson?s win all the more sweet was the fact that he had to claw his way back into contention after Lambert had initially threatened to run away with the regatta.

?Had he (Lambert) sailed more aggressively it might have taken me longer to catch up with him,? Dickinson said.

Lambert wasted little time gaining pole position near Two Rock Passage, and opening up a sizeable lead.

?I knew he (Lambert) had more weight in his boat but I didn?t expect him to open a big lead on me,? Dickinson added. ?By the time we got down to Hog Fish Beacon he had about a 350-yard lead on me easily.?

But then Lambert made a decision just after passing the channel marker that ultimately cost him the race.

?I should have stayed on the corner of the reach and went to sea for about another six hundred yards or so,? he lamented.

?That would have forced Dickinson to come out to me in the higher seas with a lighter crew and from a strategy point of view I would have stood a better chance of holding him off.

?However, Stevie was just too fast for me.?

Dickinson took full advantage of Lambert?s misfortunes.

?He was sailing a little too high while I rode the waves going deep and caught up with him near Mid Atlantic Boat Club (in Devonshire),? he said. ?And then after that I just walked away from him because I was making much more speed than he was.?

Lambert added: ?I would have liked to have beaten Dickinson because I?m really feeling it these days. But I?m quite pleased to have finished second.?

Lambert was accompanied onboard by long-time crew Gregg Proctor.

Third placed went to Quinton Simons and crew Ronnie Dzurus who pipped a close covering James (Smokey) Perry by four boat lengths at the finish line.

Meanwhile, Scott Fox finished a creditable fourth after capsizing near the Oil Docks ? the same landmark where he relinquished the lead in last summer?s Long Distance Race to eventual winner Rudy Bailey.

George Hayward, though, was not as fortunate as his afternoon came to an abrupt halt after capsizing off Spanish Point.

Anthony Smith also failed to make it to the East End finish line.

Bailey, 2003 Flag Pole to Flag Pole champion, did not compete in the regatta.

The West End Sailboat Club stalwart will be gunning for a hat-trick of Long Distance titles next month.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club entry sounded an early warning after winning two of the opening day?s three Fitted Dinghy races in St.George?s Harbour on Wednesday. beat out in both the Heritage Trophy and Anniversary Cup races before settling for third in the Leon D.Fox Cup.

Sandys Boat Club?s finished all three races as runner-up.

The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club?s managed two thirds while St.George?s Dinghy Club?s completed the day?s first race but was forced to retire early after breaking her mask in the second.