national keelboat sailing championships, held Sunday off the eastern shore of Sandys in the Great Sound.

And although the event was pushed back from Saturday because of high winds, the conditions still took their toll on the lighter yachts with some six Etchells sustaining damage and one J-24 pulling out.

The racing, which was hosted by the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, was attended by six International One Designs, ten Etchells and four J-24s at the first start but some of the boats eventually gave in to the conditions.

Barboza prevailed in the Etchells class with his crew of Paul Wring and Bob McCutcheon, after initially being challenged by Tim Patton and Andreas Lewin.

Patton had to withdraw with a broken spreader after trying to squeeze between two IODs under the windward mark in the fourth race. He was towed back to Hamilton Harbour.

Lewin went in after race number five, having secured second place overall and Steve Hannon, showing great improvement this year and placing well in each race, held on for third overall.

The Bermuda Nationals are the qualifiers for the Etchells World Championships.

Chatfield, who helmed Solaise with Jonathan Custance-Baker, won the J-24 class, which was reduced in numbers because several crews are attending a regatta in Toronto, Canada, including former champion Michael Emery.

Chatfield's husband, Simon Templeman, placed second overall with Jonathan Corless in Anarchy finishing third in very rough conditions which must have given all crew members many bruises.

Simmons continued his dominance of the IOD fleet in Ariel , and closely fought with Craig Davis who was sailing his father's boat Solna II in order to get experience for the upcoming IOD World Championships, which will be held in Fisher's Island (New York) from September 8-13.

Simmons is the IOD defending world champion and Davis will be attending the Worlds for the first time as a competitor.

Nicky Lewin held on for third place overall with the Walker family bringing up fourth and fifth in Peppercorn and Bounty .

In all, six short tactical races were held in just under six hours.