Former world champion John Burnham tore a leaf from the book of arch rival Bill Widnall to muscle his way to the ‘A’ Series IOD International Race Week title in the Great Sound yesterday.

Relying upon his vast match racing experience, the American skipper captured the first trophy up for grabs in this year’s regatta after outmanoeuvring six-time world champion Widnall with one of his rivals’ own aggressive tactics at the start line.

“Bill is the master of this class and so anytime you can pull one on him you know you are really doing well,” an elated Burnham told The Royal Gazette.

With victory in yesterday’s opening heat, Widnall threw the race for the ‘A’ Series title wide open and set up a winner-takes-all scenario. But what he might not have realised is that history sometimes has a peculiar way of repeating itself.

In 1994 Widnall covered Burnham — match racing-style — at the start line at the World Championships. But yesterday the latter was able to return the favour.

Burnhman virtually pinned his compatriot down behind the start to allow the remainder of the fleet to open an unassailable lead and deny Widnall a top three finish in the day’s final race that might’ve easily landed him the title instead.

“What we decided to do was try and slow him down at the start. We were able to push Bill away from the start line way pass the pin and only let him go a minute or so after everyone else had started,” Burnham explained. “So we crossed the line two minutes late and in front of him, and it was almost impossible for him to have caught up to first or second. And he taught us that move.”

With today set aside as a rest day, Burnham and crew had every reason to celebrate last night at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, hosts for this week’s regatta, sponsored by Bacardi.

“You always hope to win but when it happens it always feels great. The weather is beautiful here and the boat is in good shape . . . it’s really a treat all the way around,” the Cruising World Magazine editor said.

“I think we have a very confident crew and we’ve sailed together for a long time. Everybody just did their jobs and I’m sure we got a little bit lucky too.

“We sailed really well the first day and won two races, but we were behind Somers Kempe at the end of the day because our other race wasn’t as good as his.”

Burnham began yesterday ahead of Widnall on points. But things quickly changed dramatically for the two-time world champion when compatriot Widnall won the first race.

“Suddenly our lead was gone. Everything that happened before was now of no account,” Burnham said. “Now we have to beat him and he had beaten us in all three races on the second day. So it was interesting.”

But Widnall’s decision not to follow his rival on the first beat ultimately worked against him in the second race and it allowed Burnham to ease off the hook to keep things fairly evenly poised heading to the day’s finale.

“We went one way and he went the other and our way was faster as we rounded the first mark in second place and he was way back. He never recovered while we finished second to set up the last match scenario,” Burnham said.

If it was any consolation at the end of the day, Widnall still remains in contention for overall class honours in third place, in a series far from over, five points adrift of second-placed Urban Ristorp.

Even Burnham admitted that the race for overall honours will be anything but a leisurely cruise out in the Great Sound.

“We still have an overall series for the rest of the week. And I’m sure he (Widnall) is going to play hardball for the rest of the week,” Burnham said.

Bermuda’s Peter Bromby retained his lead in the Etchells fleet, but it was three-time women’s International Match Race champion Paula Lewin who stole the show yesterday. Lewin posted a second bullet for the week in yesterday’s first race, and followed that up with an equally impressive third.

She now trails Bromby by seven points after the first drop with three races remaining in the overall series.

“Unfortunately Bromby has a got a bit of a jump on us. We are sailing well but there is a gap and so we will have to sail very, very well to close it up,” Lewin said.

The world-ranked match racer began her day on solid ground, posting a first place to distance herself further away from third-placed Tim Patton.

“It was a tricky day with the shifts, but we knew where we wanted to be. We got a little bit of leverage on the rest of the fleet and ended up with a solid lead which we were able to maintain after that,” Lewin said.

Bermudian Trevor Boyce kept up his hot pursuit of leader Stuart Jardine in the J-24 fleet. Boyce had a first and a fifth, which he promptly discarded during the first drop, to remain four points off the pace with four races remaining. Another Bermudian, Pete Ramsdale currently sits in third.

In the all-local J-105 fleet, Jon Brewin continues to lead over Jon Corless and Jaimie Lewis with only two races to go for the overall title.

Brewin kept the pressure on his rivals yesterday by posting a first and a second and should wrap things up tomorrow when the final two races will be held.

Bermuda’s Malcolm Smith continues to lead the Laser class after the first drop. Smith returned to his absolute best yesterday by grabbing two firsts and a second to maintain a five-point lead over compatriot Brett Wright who also sailed consistently yesterday.

Class president Tracy Usher remains in third despite enduring his worse day so far on the course. However, the race for the Laser title has now been reduced to a two-horse battle between defending champion Smith and fellow Bermudian Wright, a race that will be decided when racing resumes tomorrow after today’s rest day.

Meanwhile, Pan-Am Games-bound Sarah Lane Adderley didn’t cope as well in yesterday’s white water conditions. Adderley got two fifths and a fourth but still managed to hold onto to fourth spot just ahead of Laser training partner Rockal Evans.

Not much has changed in the Snipe fleet, currently battling for the North American Championship.

American skippers have yet to loosen their tight grip on the regatta with Augie Diaz, Ernesto Rodriguez and George Szabo occupying the top three spots.

Stephen Dickinson leads all local skippers in eighth place overall, followed by Luis Chiapparro (15th) and Timothy Lynch (19th).

As with the Lasers and J-105s, the Snipe title will also be decided tomorrow.