The winner of the 82nd Edward Cross Long Distance Race could potentially be determined behind closed doors by a protest committee rather than on the water.

Two-times defending champions Benn Smith and Christian Ebbin won the race on Monday by a landslide to comfortably retain their title. However, a protest has been lodged against them after a collision they are alleged to have been involved in during the early stages of the race.

“There has been a protest between two boats and so that protest will have to go through the protest committee to make an official conclusion,” race committee chairperson Waynette Curtis told The Royal Gazette.

“The unofficial results may change once the protest committee has made their official decision on the call. Once that has happened then we can send over the official results if there are going to be any changes or not.”

Smith and Ebbin were firm favourites to tighten their grip on the coveted Edward Cross Cup heading into the race and they produced yet another masterful display in the one-design Comet dinghy.

The Mid Atlantic Boat and Sports Club sailors were forced to come from behind after getting caught up in heavy traffic coming off the start in St George’s Harbour but they quickly worked their way to the front of the fleet, taking the lead for good shortly after passing Fort St Catherine, which they extended on the gruelling hike up North Shore.

“It was hard on the body,” Smith said. “We were hiking pretty good to start with and we got a little lead. Then we were able to get into a groove, get comfortable and really play the shifts. Christian was doing a great job calling the shifts.”

Ebbin felt the conditions worked to the team’s advantage.

“This year was kind of set up in our favour, upwind, being younger people in the fleet and sailing more consistently and internationally,” he said.

It now remains to seen whether Smith and Ebbin’s dominant victory will be allowed to stand.

Siblings Alan and Sarah Frith pipped East End Mini Yacht stablemates Maxwell Curtis Jr and crew Wesley Tucker in an exciting tacking duel to the line to finish second in the iconic race for the third straight year.

“Max and Wesley were pushing us right up until the end and it was hard work to be able to hold them off,” skipper Alan Frith said.

“The conditions were brutal and that’s a long slog up North Shore but I think we did a good job and we’re pleased with it.”

Sarah Frith also found the going tough in the trying conditions.

“It was gruelling but always a pleasure sailing with my brother and happy to share the podium with Maxwell this year,” she said.

Curtis, the Comet class president, was pleased to earn a spot on the podium.

“All in all it was a good day,” he said. “Took a lot of water in at Oil Docks; basically had a submarine from Oil Docks all the way up.

“The bottom half of the boat that we can’t get to was full of water. The bailer wasn’t working properly so we actually thought about turning around because we were trying to push the water out with our hands. It was so much water in the boat.

“But we just blocked that out and kept sailing and I’m glad we did because it paid off in the end.

“We only lost one boat; Alan was able to get by us, so we’ll take that for all the troubles we had. It was work.”

The trying conditions took its toll on the fleet with three boats being forced to retire due to a damaged rudder, mast and jib.

In a moving gesture, colleagues paid tribute to late Mid Atlantic Boat and Sports Club commodore, Zaniko Hendrickson, whose siblings Zane and Zanikae also competed in the race in his honour.

“It was a good race. Definitely rough and a lot of hiking today,” said Zane, who crossed in fifth serving as crew for West End Sail Boat Club stalwart Quinton Simmons.

‘‘Competition was kind of tight up the top and Quinton and I done well.”