Stevie Dickinson won all three races in the Patricia Washington Memorial Trophy series hosted in St George’s Harbour on Sunday as Comet sailors gear up for the Edward Cross Long Distance race in 11 days’ time.

The pair topped the standings on three points as 11 boats competed in the second of three races in the East End, with another day of racing scheduled for this Sunday ahead of the long distance race on National Heroes Day, on June 21.

Dickinson, with Wesley Tucker back as his crew, will be one of the favourites in the race that will start in Dockyard and finish in St George’s Harbour. Dickinson, sailing Kitty Hawk, won the last of his 20 long-distance titles in 2017 to complete five straight wins before Malcolm Smith, Dale Brangman and Maxwell Curtis all claimed maiden victories in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Last year’s race was put back to what would have been the first day of Cup Match, because of the Covid pandemic. It produced a thrilling finish, with Curtis beating Dickinson to the finish line by just six seconds.

Now the excitement is growing as the race prepares to return to its regular date, National Heroes Day. Veteran sailor Gladwin Lambert, of the West End Sailboat Club, expects a fleet of about 22 boats to compete in the 77th annual race, possibly with even another appearance from clubmate and multiple winner Rudy Bailey.

Lambert and his crew, Stefan Maybury, had a good day out in the East End, finishing second on eight points behind Dickinson and Tucker with two seconds and a fourth. Dale Brangman and Tajahri Rogers, of East End Mini Yacht Club, were third with nine points while Curtis and crew Matai Phipps, and Quinton Simons and Greg Proctor were fourth and fifth.