Bermuda's sailors were on the crest of a wave last night after securing five titles on the penultimate day of International Race Week.

Peter Bromby (Etchells), John Thompson (105s), Rudy Bailey (Comet), Malcolm Smith (Lasers) and Chuck Millican (505s) all handsomely wrapped up their respective fleets out on the Great Sound yesterday.

At times the breezy 12-14 knot southerly winds wreaked havoc at the start line where restarts, yellow flags and 720 degree penalty manoeuvres were witnessed all afternoon - especially in the J-24 and International One Design fleets.

With the race course set at 180 degrees south, after plenty of jousting and barging at the start, competitors set off on their journey up to the first windward mark just off of the former US Navy Annex, before promptly jibing their way back down to the leeward mark.

Bromby immediately heaped praise upon his crew after retaining the K.F Trimingham Trophy.

“Today the key was the crew work,” he said. “It has got better all week.

“It's the first time that Martin (Siese) and Brian (Hillier) and myself have sailed together as a team and today we were spot on!

“We were fortunate to get out into the lead on the first weather leg of each race and from there we just maintained great pace.

“I'm happy with my crew and the boat which was travelling as fast as it had gone all week.”

An ecstatic Thompson will now go down in records as the inaugural B.W. Walker Memorial Trophy winner in the J-105s.

“It feels great. Derek (Ratteray) was certainly giving us a really hard time,” said Thompson.

“He was sailing very well and than he encountered some bad luck. I think that if he hadn't blew off a spinnaker in the morning race he would have won.

“It was anybody's race and we were very lucky this afternoon to get a first.”

Meanwhile, Ratteray's crew member Glenn Astwood remained pleased despite watching his skipper's chances blown away.

“Everything was going perfect until the second last run where we leading by six boat lengths,” said Astwood. “We went to do a jibe and the chute collapsed and when it filled again it just disintegrated.

“If we would have won that race than it would have been a great battle to the finish. That definitely costs us the race.

“But it's just the first regatta in the 105s and it was fun.”

In the J-24 fleet, Canadian Jim Burns still enjoys a considerable lead heading into the final day of racing today.

“We had a good day today,” said Burns. “We had our first win of the regatta and winning a race is very special.”

At the end of yesterday's racing American Bruce Dyson topped the International One Design fleet. However, pending the drop compatriot Charlie Van Voorhuis should be at the head of the fleet before today's start.

Meanwhile, in the Comet fleet, there were protests yet again.

However, by the end of the day Bailey successfully defended his International Race Week Championship Trophy in an event not held last year.

“It was fast out there and very windy for most of the series,” said Bailey. “We had good speed, made few mistakes and we are happy to retain the title that we last won two years ago.”

In the Lasers a returning Malcolm Smith got back to his winning ways to grab top honours. Smith was full of praise for race organisers, who he said had done a tremendous job.

“It's good to be back in the Laser class,” added Smith. “Last year I sailed in the Sunfish, so it's been two or three years since I sailed in the Lasers.

“The level of competition was good. It was better than in previous years. But other than that, all in all, things went well for us throughout the week.

“Brett (Wright) and I seemed to battle it out along the way and I am pretty sure that it could have gone either way.”

Meanwhile, American Eric Reinke wrapped up the Snipe fleet to apply the finishing touches to an eventful week of racing, while Bermuda's Stevie Dickinson, last year's winner in this class, rallied late to take runner up honours.

Racing concludes today.