Rudy Bailey became the first Comet skipper in six years to win back-to-back Edward Cross Long Distance titles yesterday and first to do so in the new millennium.

And the manner in which the West End Sail Boat stalwart achieved a ninth overall Long Distance title was nothing short of miraculous.

Just when it appeared a decision to sail through the protected shallows near the Francis Patton School in Bailey?s Bay would cost Bailey any chance to defend his title, the veteran skipper?s sailing pedigree shone through.

Leaving absolutely no stone unturned and relying upon every trick in the book, Bailey made a series of gutsy moves to first distance himself from 2001 champion Heath Foggo, reel in leader Scott Fox and then hold the East End Mini Yacht Club pair at bay to take line honours in St.George?s Harbour in a wining time of four hours, 42 minutes and 42 seconds.

Bailey?s West End stablemate Gladwin Lambert placed second (four hours, 46 minutes and ten seconds) while Foggo finished third in a time of four hours, 47 minutes and 40 seconds. Fox limped across the finish line in fourth in a time of four hours, 47 minutes and 52 seconds.

Yesterday?s regatta, the 61st edition, went down in the record books as the longest ever, eclipsing the previous record of four hours and 13 minutes set in 1986 ? the year Bailey captured his very first Long Distance Race in

?This would definitely have to go down as one of my best wins ever,? commented a weather beaten Bailey afterwards, clearly exhausted from a day of drama on the high seas.

?My daughter (Danielle) worked extremely hard and I also had to work very hard,? he added. ?This was a tough battle and only the strong survived. But I never doubted we could do it and we never panicked out there today.?

Bailey?s win could be attributed to two cunning and daring moves. First the veteran skipper tacked across the jagged rocks near Long Arm Dockyard to distance himself from a small pack of boats.

?I sailed right over the rocks because I wanted to go straight,? Bailey explained. ?I didn?t want to make any detours at that particular stage of the race. I wanted to hit the shoreline because I knew the tide was about to change.?

Bailey then demonstrated why he has multiple titles to his credit, reading the shifts to perfection and breezing past a stationary Fox off the Oil Docks to open a sizeable lead and take line honours.

?There were plenty of holes out there and I knew sooner or later Scott (Fox) would get into one,? Bailey explained. ?And that is exactly what happened between Coney Island and the Oil Docks. Sometimes you are behind but then the wind shifts in your favour. I never panicked. I just had to work a little harder and keep the speed up. And that?s what gave us the edge we needed to finish the job.?

Bailey?s perennial rival, Stevie Dickinson, was never in contention during the entire race. Dickinson and crew Ty Trott had to settle for fifth this time around.

Though disappointed to have the race slip away from his grasp heading down the home stretch, Fox took consolation in his fourth overall position ? his best ever finish in the annual regatta.

?I was leading the race and then the wind left me and Rudy took advantage of it,? Fox conceded. ?So I have to take my hat off to Rudy. But it was my best finish yet and so I will put it under my hat as a learning experience and look out next year because I will definitely be back.?

1990 champion Lambert, sailing with son Lorenzo onboard commented: ?This is a nice feeling having my son with me and to place second is really pleasing.?

Foggo, likewise, seemed satisfied with a top three finish.

?I am very pleased with the day?s performance. It was very light and shifty out there today but the most important thing was to keep the boat moving,? the 2001 champion told

?It was too bad we didn?t have a little more breeze but it was all good and we finished third which was actually a first because we were the first St.George?s boat to finish.?

Yesterday saw a total of 24 boats make it to the start line in the Great Sound.