The traditional Swan 68, Chippewa, owned by Clayton Deutsch of Newport, took the fleet lead in the 2008 Onion Patch series following the 154th New York Yacht Club's annual regatta over the weekend.

Chippewa stands on top of the series with nine points.

The regatta has attracted 34 individual entries competing for the Henry B. Du Pont Trophy as well as four three-boat teams.

All are hoping to claim the Onion Patch Trophy, a series traditionally held before, during and after the bi-ennial Newport to Bermuda ocean race which gets underway from Rhode Island this Friday.

The leading three-boat team after the New York regatta is the US trio comprised of George David of Hartford, Connecticut, in his Reichel Pugh 90 Rambler, David Askew and Ken Comerford of Annapolis in their J122 Flying Jenny and Hap Fauth's new Reichel Pugh 69 Bella Mente from Jamestown, Rhode Island.

The second stage of the series is the Newport to Bermuda Race which begins at 1.00 p.m. on Friday and the finale is the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's Anniversary Regatta on June 27.