defending his title in the 49th running of the Long Distance Comet Race.

The victory was Dickinson's ninth overall and he now stands just two short of the record of 11 held by Alton Millett.

Breezes, which were practically nonexistent for much of the race, contributed to the slow pace of the race and it turned out that the winning time of four hours, 41 minutes and 32 seconds was the slowest ever, eclipsing the 4:13 performed by Rudy Bailey in 1986.

Captivating though was the manner in which the St. Georgian achieved his latest triumph, as early on it appeared as if arch-rival Bailey would walk away with the title.

Bailey, with crew Fred Bulford, led from the outset leaving the start at West End Sailboat Club and creating a gap of almost a mile by the time they reached the end of Dockyard.

But as they entered the North Shore Dickinson made his move, choosing an inward line near the shoreline and picking up some good lifts, while Bailey began to flounder as he stayed further out.

Darren Heyliger and David Wall also were able to make up ground on the inside, with veteran Howard Lee and Jamie Harvey enjoying some luck travelling further out.

"I played the shore today because I knew the wind had to come from the shore,'' explained Dickinson, who had Scott Fox on board as crew. "The wind was supposed to switch around to the southwest and that's exactly what it did and everybody that went out there (away from the shore) ... including Mr.

Bailey ... got punished.'' Indeed the race really began to take shape heading through Flatts with six boats in close contention.

For the first time there was a leader other than Bailey when Dickinson overhauled the former near Crawl only to have Lee storm to the front while passing Coney Island.

However this would be but a fleeting illusion, as Dickinson again surged to the front at the oil docks and now in home territory, the odds were firmly in his favour.

Dickinson rounded Fort St. Catherine and powered through the cut, with its banks lined with spectators, amid a colourful flotilla of pleasure craft.

He crossed the finish line over three minutes ahead of Bailey (4:44:45) with Jamie Harvey (4:49:13) a surprising third on his first venture into Comets in two seasons.

Thus ended another chapter of the Dickinson-Bailey rivalry, one which has been playing for the past three decades. And as is typical, Dickinson did not hesitate to take a parting shot at his adversary.

"I didn't worry too much about Rudy,'' he said. "I know Rudy worries more about me than I worry about him. All I concentrated on was sailing my race and sailing it well and just being consistent out there.

"It was a very boring race in the beginning.

"I was sweaty. I was tired. I was ready to drop anchor!'' Meanwhile, Bailey blamed his misfortune on the weather and as for Dickinson, vowed to return the favour during next weekend's Comet championship series in St. George's.

"Mother Nature did us in...not any tactics,'' said Bailey, a four-time winner of the event. "I think it was a good race.

"In my opinion the wind was shifting in too many directions at the same time.

I did all I could from the leading position.

"But I'll see him (Dickinson) on Sunday.'' VICTORY SAIL -- Stevie Dickinson (left) and Scott Fox are shown after crossing the finish line yesterday.