Despite having a vital piece of equipment stolen just a few weeks ago, powerboat enthusiast Guy DeSilva had a good feeling about how things would turn out in the annual BTC Mobility Round-the-Island race when he woke up yesterday morning. His gut instincts were to be proved right.

Rough conditions, which had not been on the cards at the start of the day, were to give DeSilva and his co-pilot Eddy Roberts a distinct advantage in their 18 foot Phantom -- as well as obliterating much of the opposition.

A total of 26 vessels took to the water at Ferry Reach just before 2 p.m. for the staggered start of this year's event. Ten crews would not complete the course.

DeSilva's victory was made even sweeter by the fact that he had had to use a last minute bit of technical improvisation. His favourite propeller was stolen just a few weeks before yesterday's start and he ended up fitting a pleasure boat blade. Fortunately for him, the stand-in worked.

With fists waving triumphant in the air, DeSilva and Roberts were brought home to a fanfare of cheers and foghorns in a time of 56 minutes and ten seconds.

After a celebratory dunking a delighted DeSilva emerged from the water and explained how he was justifiably confident before the race.

"To be honest I just had this feeling this morning,'' he said. "It was the same feeling that I had when I won the A class back in 95 or 96. I told my mechanic about it when I saw him this morning -- he just looked at me and smiled, but I proved myself right.

"I don't think I was seen as being one of the favourites. The problem was our propeller got stolen about three weeks ago and we ended up having to use a pleasure boat propeller -- it ran beautifully.

"South Shore was extremely rough which probably gave me an advantage.

Paul Rodriques, partnered by Jessie Fertado, came in second to pick up the D class prize and were followed a minute or so later by Sean White and Michael Mello in their D Class 22 foot Ocke Mannerfelt.

Kirk Roberts and Douglas Davies, the only competitors in the S Class, came in fourth overall.

A Class winners and fifth to make it to the finish line overall were Brian Smith and Calvin Virgil while Michael Araujo and Chris Roque finished top of the C Class.

One of the first teams to limp home just ten minutes after the start, was Aaron Sims and his co-driver Chris Osbourne, their 16 foot Phantom having suffered electrical problems.

Sims summed up the disappointment and frustration of the day.

"The boat has been running really well in practice,'' he said after helping haul the vessel back on dry land. "But I came in this morning and it just wasn't running right. Every time we hit a wave it just wasn't happening. We changed a few parts but we just didn't have the time. We just decided to retire -- there was no point in carrying on and blowing the engine.

"Up until today I was feeling pretty good -- I was pretty confident. Today just changed my mind.'' Group C winner Michael Araujo agreed that conditions had been treacherous.

"It was pretty rough out there -- almost as bad as it's ever been.

"But it was readable -- you could read the pattern of the swells and that's where we made up on them. Steven Bridges was in front of us by the time we hit Pompano and we caught him up on South Shore.

"But you also have to have a lot of luck. This is a real endurance test and it's such a relief when you see those pylons -- the amount of times we have reached those pylons and never finished...''.

Two of the other three boats racing in the C class failed to finish, including last year's winners Michael Lopes and Joseph Viera. The unlucky Viera was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder after his 16 foot Phantom `hooked' -- bouncing heavily into the water at an awkward angle rather than gliding smoothly across the surface.

The seas also took a heavy toll on Class B. De Silva's machine was the only one of a starting line up of five to make it home safely.

Vice Commadore Shawn Johnson was happy with the final result, bearing in mind the hazardous conditions.

"We expected some boats to drop out but it came out pretty good when you consider how rough it was on South Shore,'' he said.

"The winning team put in an excellent time -- I don't think it was too far off the course record for the B class.'' Lift off: Five-time winner of the Round the Island race Craig Selley finds there's going to be no repeat this time as his craft takes off before going into a nosedive, putting him out of the event.

Winners: Guy DeSilva and co-driver Eddie Roberts spread word of their victory.

Jet-propelled: Steve Williams, winner of yesterday's jetski race which opened the afternoon's activities, is all concentration as he ploughs through the water.