Spanish Point Boat Club was left California Dreamin' yesterday as George Szabo became the first skipper to be crowned champion at International Race Week, winning the Snipes Class.

The San Diego resident left all challengers in his wake in notching a perfect score of three and three quarter points following five straight wins.

He and crew Carol Newman Cronin proved best at adapting to shifty wind conditions off Spanish Point and will enter the six race North American Championships, which commence tomorrow, as favourites.

"It feels great. I think there are a lot of people here that are going to be tougher at the end of the week than they were at the beginning of the week,'' said Cronin, recently nominated for the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Award.

"I think we got a little bit of a jump that will not be there for the NA's.

We regarded this more as a tune-up for the NA's than anything, but winning always feels good.'' Szabo and Cronin, polar opposites in tactical approach -- Cronin preferring to test the edges and push the envelope, while Szabo heeds more to the middle-of-the-road -- found the ideal compromise.

Such was the duo's domination that second place finisher Henry Filter ended a full nine points in arrears.

"I didn't expect to do that, no,'' said Szabo, his `surfer dude' ambiance evident in his near apologetic response. "I hoped to come out and win, but I didn't expect it to be like that. We worked pretty hard and sometimes you get out on the water and everything makes sense, you know where all the shifts are. Other times you don't know what's going on...this was the week that it all clicked for us.'' Among the keel boats in the Bacardi-sponsored competition, Connecticut's Kevin Farrar drew first blood in the International One Design Class when he snatched the `A' Championship crown from the clutches of fellow New Englander and multiple former winner Bill Widnall by a scant one and a half points.

In finishing second and -- more importantly -- placing a boat between himself and Widnall, the American took a solid step towards the `triple crown' of the `A' Championship, the Norwegian Series `B' and overall Vrengen Gold Cup that goes to the low point skipper.

Yet, it would be foolish to count out the wily veteran that is Widnall, who has more than a quarter-century of local knowledge reserve to call on.

"We're in the hunt, but there are a lot of hot sailors out there trying to win it...'' said Widnall in his trademark, low-key style.

"Tony Houston from Long Island Sound and his all-star crew of Peter Bromby and Martin Siese and some of the other hot Bermudians have got their act together -- they're used to sailing with each other now -- and are doing very well.'' Bermuda's Timmy Patton managed to move up to third in the Etchells Class, but squandered an opportunity to advance even further when he was beaten by series leader Graham Bailey of Great Britain after leading most of the afternoon race.

Patton had a two boat length advantage heading to the leeward mark. However Bailey made a brilliantly decisive move in tacking underneath the fleet, leaving the local unable to cover and with two more tacks the Brit was gone.

"Graham Bailey is a hugely talented sailor,'' said Patton, who also trails Peter Duncan of the United States. "He's won European Championships in Lasers, which is about the most competitive dinghy class in the world. He's the British Laser champion. He skippers a boat in the Admiral's Cup, which is one of the biggest regatta's in the world... he's a very talented sailor and it's good that Bermuda can have people of that calibre come here for us to sail against.'' Another Bermudian, Brett Wright, lost his grip on the Laser Class, as work commitments forced his absence from the day's proceedings, leaving Mike Lewis to install himself as the new leader.

Meanwhile, in the remaining classes, Sean McDermott of Canada heads the J-24 Class with 12 points and another Canadian, Matthew Berridge (41 ), leads the International 14 Class.