He recovered from a capsize in the opening race to place second and then won the next one despite a broken traveller line. Quickly repairing the damage, Smith was able to return without missing a race.

A number of challengers produced good results in individual races but critical errors deprived them of the overall prize.

Bill Pollack won the first race but fouled out in a later race.

Brett Wright's mast snapped moments after the start of the first race and after he found a replacement he capsized in the second race. However, he sailed well enough in the other five races to grab second place overall.

Christian Luthi missed the first three races, but won the two he did sail in.

Racing will resume in the Great Sound on Sunday. There will be weekly races until the end of November.

JUNIOR SAILING SLG Mother Nature provided a strenuous test for several of the Island's young sailors on Sunday in Hamilton Harbour as the Fall Optimist Regatta continued.

Ten boats jostled during the period before the start, but by the time the opening whistle had sounded the number of hardy souls had been reduced to six as strong winds took their toll on the fleet.

In the end a familiar story unfurled, as the proclaimed `A team' of Alexandra Crane, Alexander Lines and Alexander Kirkland dominated the top three places.

The two Alexanders appeared to have taken in much of the Brut Gold Cup a week previous, as they engaged in often spectacular match racing type battles during the day's five races.

Meanwhile, Crane sailed along unperturbed by her two rivals, notching two firsts, two seconds and a third to move into a tie with Lines for the overall lead at 113 points after 11 races of the 15-race series.

Kirkland remained third on 223 points followed by Eric Deichmann (35 points).

A broken mast on Cameron Hollis' craft during Sunday's second race put him out of action for the rest of the proceedings.

LADIES HOCKEY HOC It was a case of Orioles A not being able to capitalise on their chances as they lost to Bluebirds A 1-0 in Bermuda Ladies Hockey Association action at National Sports Club at the weekend.

Bluebirds goalkeeper Carla Pedro proved unbeatable and the game was quickly out of reach for Orioles after Claudette Sherwood scored.

Andrea Cann lifted Bluebirds B to a 1-0 triumph over Orioles B while goals by Colette Doughty and Renee Ray spearheaded Canaries A to a 2-0 victory over Swifts A.

In other action, Canaries B topped Cardinals B 3-1 while Longtails A and Cardinals A played to a scoreless draw.

CROSS COUNTRY CC Over 60 schoolchildren lined up for Saturday's third race in the Minute Maid Junior Cross Country Series, held over a challenging course at Hog Bay Park in Somerset.

The closest affair was in the Primary Boys division where Shane Morrisey barely beat Ryan Swan, nipping the latter at the tape by one second.

Morrisey was timed in six minutes, 49 seconds over the 7/8 mile course with Swan at 6.50. Third was Lawson Williams in 6.54.

Similarly close was the Primary Girls' race that had Tiffany Eatherley emerge victorious by six seconds over Mylinda Johnson, clocking 7.17 and 7.23 respectively. Kristin Eve (7.29) was third.

Much wider margins existed among the Secondary Girls and Boys, with Patrina Swan winning by nearly a minute ahead of her closest competitor, being timed in 14.49 over two miles. Second was Jennifer Young (15.42) followed by Nicola Mello (16.07).

The boys ran over three miles with Calvert Lee crossing the finish line first in 17.03, followed by Garon Wilkinson (17.46) and Kris Hedges (19.01).

The fourth race in the series is slated for this Saturday at PHC Stadium.

Included among the activities is a special parents' race.

BOWLING BOW Porgies, Barracuda and Snappers remained in the top three spots in the Fishbowl League following recent action.

Marlins, meantime, continue to climb the charts and are suddenly in fourth place.

Porgies increased their lead slightly as a result of their 4-0 win over Dolphins while Barracuda topped Mackerel and Snappers defeated Wahoo by similar 3-1 scores.

Tuna were sparked by Mansfield Allen who compiled men's second high series (562), but they fell to Marlins 3-1. Allen was aided by Marie Richardson Tyine's ladies second series honours (520). Their efforts, however, were overshadowed by Joe Correia's third high series (553) and top game (245).

Marlins also received a boost from Marj Correia who bowled ladies top series (537) and game (202). Team-mate Sharon Mallory tied for ladies second series.

Porgies were led by Quinton Mallory who bowled men's top series (598) and second high game (222).

Karen Marshall propelled Angel Fish with a 4-0 triumph over Goldfish producing ladies second high game (191) and a handicap 646 series.

Hinds defeated Cow Pollies 3-1 behind Bertie Lines' 242 handicap. Hilton Hayward bowled men's third high game (213) in a losing cause.

Mark Brooks led Rockfish to a 4-0 victory over Piranhas with men's third high handicap game (237).

TRIATHLON TRI It was incorrectly stated in yesterday's Royal Gazette that Greg Hopkins held the record for the Snickers Sprint Triathlon. The record is, in fact, held by Sunday's winner, Neil de Ste Croix, who clocked 1:00.08 in 1993.