Nearly 50 boats enjoyed near-perfect sailing conditions as the Ocean Patch Series concluded in the Great Sound yesterday.

The popular series, which takes in races at the New York Yacht Club regatta as well as the Newport-Bermuda Race itself, was won by Martin Jacobson's yesterday as sailors enjoyed glorious sunshine and up to 15 knots of breeze.

The conditions were as good yesterday as they had been bad for the boats the last five or six days, as the record fleet laboured across from Newport in a light air race that took longer to complete than many can remember.

Steve Sherwin's ? which finished third among Bermuda boats on elapsed time in the main race behind and came 43rd in the Onion Patch event.

Some boats have already left the Island for their next competition, but those that remain at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club have been on display in all their finery for an inspection on Thursday by the Governor and another from Princess Anne today.

The mutual back-slapping has already begun for the event, with second-to-fourth placed boats picking up their gongs at a ceremony at Barr's Bay Park. That event was immediately followed by the Onion Patch awards before sailors partied through the night at the traditional Gosling's bash.

A far more sombre affair will take place tonight at Government House where just the class winners will attend a ceremony with the Princess Royal, herself a keen sailor, the guest of honour.

One crew which narrowly missed out on an invitation to the main prizegiving event were that of the only Bermuda boat to place in any class.

Dr. David Roblin's team of five picked up second place in Class 13 in their Morgan 45, the first time the owner/skipper has put his own boat in this race, although he has completed three Marions, including 2003 when he took four prizes.

"It was very enjoyable as always, although it got a little frustrating, a little trying on the patience," said Roblin, a sailor of 30 years, immediately before picking up his award last night.

"We wanted to do it because it was the centennial, we didn't expect to do so well. It is a proud moment for us to be the only Bermuda boat among the prizes."