Stevie Dickinson stamped himself as the most successful comet sailor in Bermuda's history, with a record setting 12th win during Sunday's Long Distance Race from St. George's to Somerset.

The victory broke the record of 11 triumphs, which Dickinson shared with fellow St. Georgian and mentor Alton Millett, who died last year.

With a picture of Millett pasted to the rear of his craft, Kitty Hawk , Dickinson paid the ultimate tribute to the past great as he displayed the guile of a racing veteran, outsmarting his opponents over the 18-mile trek.

He and crew, Damien Payne, crossed the finish line a minute ahead of Howard Lee in High Yella to the blare of horns from an armada of spectator boats.

Pre-race speculation had Dickinson battling long-time rival Rudy Bailey for supremacy and initially this was the case, with Bailey's Temptation leading the fleet out through St. George's Cut and around Fort St. Catherine.

From there Bailey and crew Fred Bulford made the decision to head offshore, with Dickinson briefly following, before electing a more central line towards the West End Sailboat Club.

Bailey was soon forced into the role of pursuer as Dickinson's move paid off in finding clean air. Dickinson moved into a 50-yard lead as they passed Spanish Point, with Lee now in the picture, just behind Bailey.

Lee would eventually overhaul Bailey, as did Colin Clarke, but none could touch the gleaming red craft of Dickinson, who crossed in two hours, 22 minutes.

So satisfied was Dickinson with winning and claiming the record all to his lonesome that he declared he would take off next year and allow Payne to take the tiller instead, while he crewed.

"It's a wonderful feeling. I can now relax ... I can totally, totally relax,'' said Dickinson. "I think next year I'm going to crew for Damien.

"I'm not that old. I feel I can take off for a year and help Damien and return next time ... I have nothing to worry about.'' And Payne concurred, revealing a pact he and Dickinson had made when the latter had tapped the former for his help earlier in the week.

"He's serious, I'm taking it next year and he has to crew for me,'' said Payne. "He promised me before the regatta that `If we do well, I'm crewing for you next year'.'' Meanwhile, as promised, Dickinson dedicated the win to the memory of Millett, who represented the East End Mini Yacht Club for many years, just as Dickinson does today.

"This race is for him. He is truly a miss,'' said Dickinson. "It means quite a bit. To go past Mr. Millet's record is quite an achievement, because you're talking about one of the best sailors in his time.

"And I have done it in less time, with this making 12 wins in 25 years ...

so it means a lot.'' Dickinson added that the key to his success was his willingness to go to whatever extreme necessary to ensure boat speed. This system has paid off with startling success and it may be that taking a break is the only way someone else can win, although the sailor was more modest in his self analysis.

"I'm a very aggressive sailor and will pull the boat apart to make it go and that's the way I sail. And I think that's what makes me a little bit dominant in this class. Not that I win everything, but most of the time I do because I'm aggressive.''