West End Sail Boat Club stalwart Rudy Bailey has demanded an apology from arch rival Stevie Dickinson who accused his rival of gaining an unfair advantage by sailing in a lighter boat during last month's Flag Pole to Flag Pole comet race.

Relations between the two men soured following the race with Dickinson threatening to boycott the class until Bailey's boat, Temptation, was officially weighed.

Since Dickinson's remarks, the entire comet fleet has been weighed in what is believed to have been an unprecedented move, with Bailey's boat among those passing the grade.

Bailey yesterday described Dickinson's recent accusations as "highly insulting" and hopes his rival has it within his heart to make amends.

"Stevie accused me of having a lighter boat and I think he should apologise for his insult because I'm the cleanest and fairest sailor out there," he argued. "For someone to accuse me of cheating really hurts the standards I try to maintain.

"Everybody knows I'm the cleanest sailor on the race course, and I am. Stevie wouldn't even shake my hand or congratulate me after I beat him in the other race (Flag Pole to Flag Pole)."

Bailey's famed Temptation was actually weighed by East End nemesis Dickinson and found to be within required regulations.

"My boat was weighed by Mr. Dickinson himself and it weighed 261 pounds, as I had mentioned it would be before," Bailey said. "He weighed it himself in front of eight witnesses and I was nowhere near the boat when it was being weighed.

"My boat is one pound over the minimum weight, so what's the big deal?"

With the Long Distance Race Race from St. George's to Somerset just days away, defending champ Bailey is already in battle mode to defend his title.

The veteran skipper has won three of the last four races and if all goes accordingly hopes to continue his winning streak in front of the home crowd in the West End on Monday.

"I'm just hoping the conditions are ideal," he said.