The event was held under challenging conditions with winds from the south at 20-25 knots.

Rules prevented skippers from receiving any assistance, although for safety reasons observers were allowed. Seven boats entered with both racing and cruising classes starting together.

The course length was 151 nautical miles and selecting the right sail combination before the start proved an important factor. Once underway, attempting a headsail change or reefing without assistance would have been difficult and time consuming.

The fleet got underway with Tonka (Gary Venning) taking the lead out of Hamilton Harbour. A fast reach through the islands allowed the skippers to settle down to the task at hand, but on emerging into the Great Sound it was obvious from the white caps the wind was considerably stronger than first throught.

By the first mark Fellowship (Carl Soares) had surged through the fleet with Lullaby (Dave Roblin) in second place and Tonka close behind. The fleet slowly spread out with Lullaby dropping back into fourth place after having problems with a customised self tacking jib arrangement while Reckless moved up into third.

Why Knot (Al Keeler), a relative newcomer to sailing and BOCA, sailed an impressive race, battling it out with Lullaby throughout. Matahari , a Cape Dory 27 sailed by Geoff Gardner, looked to be enjoying the conditions as was Cyclone (Mike Tucker). But an incident within sight of the finish line saw both boats forced out of the race.

Meanwhile, Fellowship , having sailed well, was leading the way back to the finish when she lost her steering shortly after passing Two Rock passage and seemed headed for the Fairylands shoreline.

But Soares and his observer were able to turn the boat broadside to the shore and prevented a bow first collision with the rocks.

Tonka , who was following close behind at the time, abandoned the race in order to assist and consequently did not complete the course, leaving Reckless to cross the line first.

In second place was Lullaby followed by Why Knot , Matahari and Cyclone . On corrected time, Reckless was the overall winner in both Class One and Two. Why Knot took second place with Matahari third. The next event is the RHADC race on Sunday.

SQUASH SQU Local squash buffs will receive a special treat next week as two of the world's top players visit Bermuda.

Long time visitor Brett Martin of Australia and world number 11 Anthony Hill are due on the Island to participate in an exhibition match next Friday (7.30 p.m. start) while members of the Bermuda Squash Racquets Club and visitors will get chance to test their skills against the two professionals on the preceding Wednesday.

Martin, having slipped to number eight in the world in the past year, is a multiple winner of the Bermuda Open and just completed a successful set of tournaments in Britain where he was runner-up to top ranked Jansher Khan of Pakistan in the Super Series finals at Hatfield that featured the top eight players from last year's events.

He also reached the quarter-finals of the British Open and made it to the final of the Hewlett Packard Open last weekend before being beaten by Rodney Eyles, the world's number two player.

Currently Martin and Hill are competing at the Mutualite Francaise tournament in Bordeaux, France.