With colours bared to the elements of wind and sea and cannons blasting, teams participated in a staged rematch of the famous Battle of Trafalgar last month to mark the 200th anniversary of this great battle which saw the Royal Navy, under Lord Nelson, defeat the Napoleon?s French Navy off the coast of Spain.

But this time the setting was the Great Sound, Bermuda and battling teams ? wearing period costumes and buckets of water replacing cannonballs ? sailed around the race course.

Much to the relief of Governor Sir John Vereker, the ?British? team once again defeated the French, represented by the honorary French Consul, Edgar Humann, and a contingent of the Bermuda Sea Cadets who were preparing to take part in Trafalgar Day celebrations in the UK.

This week the Bermuda Offshore Cruising Association (BOCA) presented the Bermuda Sloop Foundation a cheque for $1,550 raised by the event.

BOCA vice commodore Allan Williams, who presented the money to Bermuda Sloop Foundation directors Malcolm Kirkland and Dwayne Trott, said his members obviously love the sea and have great admiration and respect for those who sail on it.

?BOCA wants to encourage young people to get to know the sea, to build character through sailing and to experience the excitement and enjoyment of sailing the ocean. It?s hard to imagine a better organisation for BOCA to support than the Bermuda Sloop Foundation,? Mr. Williams said.

BOCA organises yacht racing in and around Bermuda throughout the year, while the Bermuda Sloop Foundation is currently building a replica Bermuda sloop, , which will be put to use as a sail training ship for young Bermudians. It is scheduled to be completed next year.