Hamilton, Bermuda -- The centennial Bermuda Race finished with a regal flourish Saturday with the visit of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who presented the winning trophies in the grounds of Government House during a sunset prize giving ceremony that was marked by both solemn tradition and good humor.

"The wonderful enjoyment of sailing the Bermuda Race has brought people together for over a century," said the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, who was greeted with a roar of applause when she added, "I went from sailing as a young girl to riding horses but at the end of my career I am now firmly back to sailing. I have to confess though, that I never felt seasick on a horse."

85 crews received Newport Bermuda Race awards, and the Princess Royal presented the major trophies to each division winner. Richard Shulman from Barrington RI and his crew on the IMX 45 Temptress, won first place in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse ORR Division and Timothy McAdams from Brewster MA, owner of the First 44.7 Four Stars had an identical trophy for his first place finish in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse IRC Division.

In the St. David?s Lighthouse IRC Division, William Hubbard, from New York, owner of the veteran Carter 37 Lively Lady II, brought his 12-year old daughter Alyssa on stage to accept the St David's Lighthouse Trophy from the Princess Royal and Peter Rebovich, from Metuchen NJ, owner of the Cal 40 Sinn Fein won the St David?s Lighthouse ORR Division. Rebovich picked up an additional six prizes, including the William C. Finley Trophy for the best-corrected time in the St. David?s Lighthouse Division for a yacht older than 15 years. In fact, Rebovich was back and forth to the winner?s podium so often that Lady Vereker, wife of the Governor of Bermuda, asked jokingly if he would like to take her seat in front of the stage.

In the Cruiser Division, the Princess Royal presented the new Carleton Mitchell Finisterre Trophy for the best corrected time to a beaming Eleonara de Haas from St. Maarten. Her all-women?s team on the Frers 49 Synergy, racing to raise awareness of their fledgling WAVES organization - Women Against Violence Everywhere - are the first to win a major award in this event.

The Royal Mail Trophy was presented to Joe Harris of Hamilton MA and his Open 50 Gryphon Solo for the best-corrected time in the Demonstration Division. The Princess Royal also presented the Philip S. Weld Prize to Richard du Moulin of Larchmont NY and Chris Reyling aboard the Express 37 Lora Ann racing in the Double Handed IRC Division. Raymond Renaud and crewmate Kristen Wenzel on the C&C 35 Aggressive from Warren RI picked up the ORR division award.

The Princess Royal said "For those of you who have won a majority of the trophies, your penalty is that you pay more for getting them all back home. The prize for everyone is that you sailed to Bermuda and participated in this historic race. Although most of us will not be here for the 150th celebration, I hope that you will all keep trying."

Earlier in the day, The Princess Royal greeted the winning crews on their yachts during a walk around the RBYC marina. An avid sailor herself, Princess Ann, who was accompanied by his excellency Sir John Vereker, Governor of Bermuda and Lady Vereker, boarded yachts dressed overall and spoke to many of the competitors

"This is truly a destination race with immense history and Bermuda is the best destination in the world," said Hap Fauth, who?s 66-foot Bella Mente was the first to cross the finish line. "The hospitality in Bermuda is exceptional and the facilities are excellent."

In the Corinthian spirit of yacht racing, an initial awards ceremony on Friday saw 2500 sailors gathered in Barrs Park next to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club where winners received secondary plaques and honorary trophies for the Anniversary Regatta and Onion Patch Series.

"What is great about this race for an amateur is that it pits our skills against the professionals. We race against some of the best in the business and we did well," said Jeff White of Philadelphia who owns Makai, the 2nd placed Class 14 finisher in the St David's Lighthouse ORR division. White has been a crewmember in two previouis Newport Bermuda Races and this was his first as skipper.

Swift, a Navy 44, skippered by Midshipman Evan Scott was the top US Naval Academy entry, taking second in Class 4 . Midshipman Joe Campbell, skipper of the US Navy 44 Vigilant placed sixth in Class 4 to win the Captain Scarritt Adams Trophy for second best performance by a US Naval Academy Vessel in the St. David?s Lighthouse Division, said afterwards, "This is a great honor for us to win this for our team and for the Navy. It is something that I will never forget."

In what turned out to be a navigator?s race, the Newport Bermuda classic remains the highlight of a sailing career and remains one of the few corinthian races run entirely by volunteers. The Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club organize the race. For younger sailors, the event is the first opportunity to gain offshore experience and it bonds generations together. While many crews view winning one of the Lighthouse trophies as the holy grail of an offshore yacht- racing career, finishing well within each class is an achievable and coveted goal. "For a navigator, this was one of the most challenging races of our careers," said Dirk Johnson, navigator aboard the first to finish winner Bella Mente.

For most sailors who compete in this centennial event, the light air breezes made the race more mental than physical. Many sailors admitted that sailing for 4 days and nights on flat seas is no hardship but did require intense concentration. Some competitors did find creative ways to relax, however. "We had access to satellite radio and spent our days listening to the Boston Red Sox. We took their wins as a good omen," said Sam Byrne, owner of the Langen-designed Captivity from Hamilton MA which was third yacht to cross the St David's finish line.

As the flags were lowered at sunset Saturday marking the finale celebration of one hundred years of yacht racing to Bermuda, the words of the race founder Thomas Fleming Day still ring true. "Sailors simply want to get a smell of the sea and forget for the time being that there is such a thing as God?s green earth and the universe,? Now, One hundred years later, sailors like His Excellency The Governor of Bermuda Sir John Vereker agree. "It is not hard to understand the bond with the sea when you go out in a small boat," he said. "I loved the vastness. It was just wonderful to be out there for so long under the stars in the Milky Way. When we neared the finish, and the other masthead lights appeared, I actually felt it was a bit of an intrusion."