Rudy Bailey reaffirmed his status as one of the Island’s top dinghy sailors after capturing a third Comet International Championship title in Cambridge, Maryland.The veteran West End Sail Boat Club skipper clinched the seven-race series with a race to spare and underlined his pedigree with an impressive haul of five bullets.Bailey coped best in the variable conditions sailing in his US-based boat, Equaliser, to finish six-points clear of nearest rival Wick Dudley on the leader board at the recent regatta after discarding his worst score (sixth).The Bermudian was joined on board by American crew Gabrielle Newbelt who was more than equal to the task.“This was the first time sailing with Gabby and she did extremely well,” Bailey told The Royal Gazette. “I’m actually looking forward to sailing with her again in the future if she takes up the offer.”The mostly moderate conditions during the regatta, hosted by Cambridge Yacht Club, played right into the hands of Bailey who thrives in the lighter air.“I’ve always had the ability to concentrate in the lighter breeze and that’s what they get down there (New Jersey) most of the time,” he said. “In a light breeze with a light crew I can go anywhere and win and I like the idea of racing against guys that are on top of their game that know the areas.”Bailey put himself firmly in the driver’s seat after reeling off three straight bullets on the opening day. He then added two more bullets to his points tally on the second day of the three-day regatta to put the championship beyond his rivals’ reach.“I really didn’t want to sail the last race but I had promised one of the guys that I’d show up so we went out and sailed,” he said. “We didn’t have to sail because we had already won the championship.”This summer has been a truly remarkable one for the Somerset resident.In June Bailey captured a fourth North American Comet Championship title in Shrewsbury, New Jersey with American crew Jessica Gruskos just weeks after winning the Long Distance Comet Race with brother George. Bailey now has 11 Long Distance Comet Race wins under his belt.“Overall, I think it’s been a very successful year for me,” Bailey said.Perhaps making the sailor’s achievements all the more remarkable is the fact the veteran sailor has only sailed in four regattas this year, including the North American Comet Championship and Comet International Championship on foreign surf.Bailey said he finds sailing domestically these days somewhat discouraging.“I would like to sail more on the local scene but I’m just having difficulty getting out there to race against these guys who refuse to get out of their little pocket,” he said. “They just want to stay here on the Island and race against each other and that’s not going to make them better.”When asked what has been the key to his success in the boat this year, Bailey replied: “More than anything else it has been mental preparation.”Bailey’s latest success in the United States arrived just prior to the death of Comet stalwart Howard Lee.“It’s really sad that Howard is gone,” he said. “He was a big veteran of the class.”Bailey dedicated his latest International success to the memory of late wife Tori, who died from cancer, and actually clinched the championship on the third anniversary of her death.“This victory was definitely for my wife,” he declared. “She used to race with me at one stage so this victory was for her.”