Local Class A entry Morgan’s Ghost remained well on course to become the first yacht to complete the 2007 Marion to Bermuda Race at press time last night.

The New York 42 German Frers design — captained by Bermudian skipper Preston Hutchings — and fellow Class A entry Kathleen both managed to open up a considerable lead over the remaining 69 boats in the fleet and were reported yesterday afternoon to be 200 miles north of the Island moving along at ten knots within half-a-mile of each other

It is anticipated that they will cross the line at the St.David’s Lighthouse finish line between 9 a.m. and noon today.

“If the breeze holds up and they can maintain that pace they should be able to cover 200 miles in 20 hours. So they should be sometime tomorrow in the morning,” commented race press officer Talbot Wilson.

Kathleen, a 72-foot Renato Levi design owned by American Jim Feeney who sails out of Marion, Massachusetts, is the oldest boat in the fleet while Morgan’s Ghost is the newest.

According to additional reports, several other Class A entries remained in the chase for line honours yesterday, though the ongoing classic battle betweenMorgan’s Ghost and Kathleen appears to have stimulated most of the interest both locally and in Marion.

“It is very close between these two boats and I think this shaping up to be quite an interesting battle between the newest and oldest boats in the fleet,” Talbot said.

Should Hutchings’ New York 42 cross the finish line first today it will mark the first time a local boat has been the first boat to complete the 645 nautical mile crossing since Robert Mulderig’s Star Trail achieved the feat in 2003.

“There is a bit of national pride here and we Bermudians would like to win this,” stated Morgan’s Ghost crewmember Derek Ratteray.

US entry, Panacea, captained by American skipper Gus MacDonald, was the first boat to cross the finish during the 2005 Marion to Bermuda Race.

The inaugural Marion-Bermuda race was held in 1977, a year that saw 104 starters cross the line.

Meanwhile, leading Class B at press time last night was James Barnes’ Lynley III which was clocked travelling along at 9.3 knots with Mark McClure’s Swift ahead in Class C.

Earl Libby’s Malolo currently leads Class D with Peter Stoop’s Swan 40 Chase and Bob Robbins Corsair 36 Hi Flyer the leading boats among Class E entries and multihulls respectively.

Another multihull, Falcor, one of only three in the fleet, has now withdrawn from the race while Class D entry Anjaneya required assistance from Class B boat Cetacea over the weekend after losing all power onboard.