Stevie Dickinson dashed Rudy Bailey's hopes of a winning a third straight Flag Pole to Flag Pole Comet Race on Sunday.

Sailing with crew Pat Young, Dickinson crossed the line first a minute and 20 seconds ahead of his West End nemesis who finished second.

Third place honours went to Dickinson's East Mini Yacht Club stablemate, Romano Ramirez.

Dickinson and Bailey swapped the lead on several occasions before the former eventually pulled away down the North Shore and covered his rival the rest of the way to claim top honours.

"It's always nice to spoil someone else's hat trick," Dickinson smiled after getting the better of arch rival Bailey who was confident of retaining his crown heading into the race.

"It was a good battle between Rudy and myself, particularly heading out of Hamilton Harbour.

"Pat and I worked extremely hard, kept good boat speed and eventually sailed away from Rudy to win the race."

Bailey's West End Sail Boat clubmate and pre-race favourite, Gladwin Lambert, did not race due to work commitments.