annals of International Race Week, completing a hat-trick of triumphs as racing concluded in the Great Sound yesterday.

Surprising was the manner in which Shore was able to dominate what was a competitive field, reeling off four straight `bullets' to close his 1994 campaign in championship style.

Needing to merely stay afloat in the final race, Shore did better than that, racing to a sizable margin of victory, which was symbolic of the brilliance displayed all week by the defending champion.

Shore totalled eight-and-three-quarter points compared to 123 for runner-up Blythe Walker and 133 for third-place finisher Bill Widnall.

As a result, among his most pressing concerns was how he was going to carry home all the silverware.

The Bermuda Race Week Championship, Norwegian Series and overall Vrengen Gold Cup were there at his beckoning, booty from the conquests by this year's IOD master.

"I think we had very good days, yesterday and today,'' said Shore, a five-time world champion. "The heavier wind made it very steady, so we could really work hard at getting the sails trimmed and getting the boat speed up as well as picking up a couple shifts.

"That's what did it for us.'' Shore appears to be making up for lost time after suffering through a string of years as the bridesmaid in Bermuda.

"This year I came representing my home yacht club, Ida Lewis, and you hope to not embarrass them.'' To say that the club need not be worried would be a vast understatement as its image was definitely enhanced by Shore's showing.

Shore carded his fifth first-place finish of the week -- he finished out of the top three only once, and that after having already won the opening series.

The modest victor championed the work of his four member crew of Charles Shoemaker, George Kirk, Nancy Wilson and Kevin Horsfield.

But while one champion savoured the tastes of a repeat, another was left to ponder his methods of revenge for next year.

Tim Patton had brought himself within a grasp of the Etchells title only to have his hungrier challenger recover and snatch the prize.

Namesake Tim Lynch played the role aptly, winning in the clutch when a victory by either man guaranteed the title.

In the end, the Bermudian paid the price for a disappointed opening pair of races where he was eighth in each. Lynch too had a rocky start, but was able to recover more quickly.

"It feel pretty nice (to win the regatta) and this is the man who was pushing me all the way,'' said Lynch, pointing to his friendly rival. "Today we wanted to hold close and see what we could do in the breeze. Patton's normally faster than us and the idea was to hang in close. We got a little less breeze later on in the race and it helped us.'' Meanwhile, Patton hailed the American as a deserved winner and simply "the better man''...at least for this week.

"They just did a better job than us and won because of it,'' said Patton, who aided in his own demise with a sloppy turning manoeuvre heading into the final leg. "Making it a particularly good win was that we were faster, but they were better on the corners, manoeuvres and tactically stronger than we were and I congratulate them.'' Nevertheless, Patton announced clear intentions for next year, adding: "Oh! He belongs to me! Third overall was another Bermudian, Stevie Dickinson.

Jay Cross won his first Race Week crown, capturing the International 14s, Pease Glaser was the Tornado winner, while John Alofsin rounded out the big boat champions with a win among the J24s.

Among the small boats, Lynn Shore seized honours in the Lasers, Bill Buckles championed the Snipes, while Mark Hess and Donny Martinborough ruled the Comets and Sunfish respectively.