Wheeler and Dennis Jermaine roaring to victory in the International One Design Norwegian Series `B', while Graham Bailey and Matthew Berridge solidified their unassailable positions as winners of the Etchells and International 14 classes.

Still it was Fisher's Island's Kevin Farrar perhaps with the biggest reason to smile as he waltzed away with the much prized Vrengen Gold Cup, awarded to the overall winner in the IOD fleet.

With all the other titles decided, the spotlight was directed to the elegantly sleek IODs and the Wheeler/Jermaine tandem dutifully took their place front and centre, continuing a remarkable second series revival after struggling earlier in the week.

"It was a matter of teamwork, everybody came together and started working like a well oiled team,'' said the soft spoken Wheeler. "We came from California and it took us a while to get acclimated and used to working together as we hadn't sailed as a group before.'' Added Jermaine: "...being from San Francisco we were four hours asleep and it wasn't until the second half that we became accustomed to the time change and also the fact that the wind really picked up.

"What we did (later in the week) was to look a lot more for shifts and headers going up the beach -- getting used to the boats and the new equipment as well the chop, because as the wind picked up the chop became more like San Francisco.'' After an admittedly disappointing venture to Bermuda a year ago, Farrar made amends this time around notching the `double' of the `A' Championship and the Vrengen Gold Cup.

Farrar did well to hold off Bill Widnall in the final race, as he went in needing to beat the nine time world champion in order to secure overall honours.

"After our dismal results of last year it was absolutely wonderful coming back and sailing as consistently as we did this week,'' said Farrar, who now returns home to continue his tune-up for the IOD World Championships in Sweden next month.

"My crew performed superbly, we minimised mistakes throughout the week and when we made them we recovered quickly.'' In contrast, Bailey entered the day not even needing to touch the water.

However, he dutifully went about the business, finishing second. This despite having to "pull crew from off the dock'' for the last few races to fill the gap alongside the skipper and remaining crew David Heritage after Bailey's fiancee Julia Salt returned to London on Tuesday for a business meeting.

"We sailed really well here. We've had to sail well, there's really good competition,'' said Bailey, who now sets up for the UK Nationals and European Championships.

"We've started well and just taken our chances. It's nice to win like that...without pushing any corners, we were always sort of middle of the course and sailing defensively and still able to score well.'' Wheeler and Bailey each paid great tributes to the organisers of International Race Week, with the former noting Bermuda to be "the best place in the world that I have ever sailed'', and Bailey gushing about its "unique blend''.

Said Bailey: "This regatta has top rate competition without being sort of cut-throat and everybody going and getting early nights and being miserable about it. It's our favourite regatta and we're glad to have done well here.'' Other champions on the week included Brett Wright in the Lasers, George Szabo in the Snipes and Sean McDermott in the J-24s.

Full results, see Scoreboard