For some, a changing of crews may seem normal.

But not for Hewitt Gaynor and his father Edwin who have been sailing together ever since Hewitt was a teenager.

This year, however, marked the first Newport-Bermuda race the two had ever sailed apart.

For the past 12 races, the Connecticut father and son duo had teamed up, their boat Emily winning Class One twice and placing a further five times.

This year marked Edwin's 21st and Hewitt's 13th Newport-Bermuda race. Together, they have also won numerous events, including the Marblehead-Halifax and the Stanford Vineyard race earlier this season.

But despite this prior success as a team it was decided that Hewitt would enter the Newport-Bermuda this time without his father, in the double-handed division. His partner instead was Jay Raymond, with whom he had been training for three years. His boat Mireille, a 40-foot J120, finished second in Class 12.

Edwin matched that performance, also coming home second in his class.

The two say that it was really no different racing against each other. "I think we were both rooting for the other," said Edwin, who began sailing with the Sea Scouts when he was only 15.

Although Hewitt grew up around his father sailing, he said: "He never pushed me to sail. I didn't really get into it until my late teens. Then I started sailing on my dad's boat, and I learned the finer points."

Hewitt has three children of his own. His son has an interest in sailing, and has entered a junior sailing programme. His younger daughter was also entered in the programme, but Hewitt added: "I think she enjoys her ballet more right now."

Both say their whole family enjoys cruising. Their wives, Jean and Elizabeth Gaynor, flew down to Bermuda for the event, but will return home on their husband's boats on Sunday.

Hewitt and Edwin say they plan on returning for the next race and will most likely sail separately again.

"You bet I'll be back. This is a great place to sail to. It's nice to have an actual destination at the end of a race," said Edwin.