vowed to file after an allegedly near-collision with winner Rudy Bailey during Monday's comet Long Distance Race.

Dickinson, who was attempting to tie Alton Millett's record of 11 victories, officially had up to an hour after the race to hand in his complaint but the West End Sailboat Club decided to extend the deadline by 24 hours.

And although he hadn't filed a report by Tuesday night, WESC commodore Howard Simmons confirmed he would be given even longer to follow through with his threat.

"The rules call for the protest to be handed in within an hour of the end of the race, but since he may have got caught up in all of the celebrations afterwards we decided to extend it to 24 hours,'' said Simmons yesterday.

"But I hadn't received anything from him within that period and I don't really know his intentions. We're willing to give him a little longer to get it in, although it should be settled once and for all within the next day or so.'' If any report is handed in it will be the first in many years and will be considered by the protest committee, which is made up of several members of the race committee.

Simmons, who was the defending champion, finished down the order in the 16-boat fleet and consequently did not see the near miss when Bailey and Dickinson were battling it out.

He said there had been accidents and near misses before but sailors had preferred to settle their arguments privately.

"Most people have bypassed filing protests by telling the other what he did wrong and thus avoiding a situation that calls for a protest committee to arrange a hearing to settle any dispute,'' said Simmons.

Dickinson claimed after the race that Bailey tacked too close to him, forcing him to alter his course to avoid a collision.

But Bailey countered that Dickinson was just "whining'' because he was beaten to the finish line.

FIRST IN -- Rudy Bailey and crew O'Brien Morrissey head for the finish line to win Monday's long distance comet race. But the pair could face a protest which rival Stevie Dickinson has threatened to file.